Gallup’s city council will have a work session to talk about potential water rate increases at 4:30 pm Aug. 2 at the City Council Chambers.

The session is to look at possible alternatives to proposed water rate hikes of 22.5% this year and again next year. The council discussed the increases in May, but postponed action after two councilors voiced concerns that the bumps were just too big.

The original proposal would add $5.50 - $6 a month to bills for lower-consumption residential customers, and $12 to $15 for residents who use more.

The meeting will be open to the public and will be broadcast on the city’s Facebook page. No action will be taken at the meeting, but it gives the...

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Higher Education Department has announced that it will award $1 million to establish and expand mental health services for students on college campuses across the state via funding approved by Gov. Lujan Grisham.

The department is awarding $50,000 grants to 20 programs across 14 college and university campuses throughout New Mexico as part of its Mental and Behavioral Health Grant Initiative. The funds will be used to expand existing services, add new resources, conduct staff training, and engage in outreach campaigns encouraging students to seek help.

The announcement comes on the heels of the new 988 crisis support line becoming available to New...

Students given chance to shine at new media academy satellite campus

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham recently announced that the first satellite campus for New Mexico’s Next Generation Media Academy will be co-located with Doña Ana Community College and New Mexico State University at the NMSU Arrowhead Center in Las Cruces, N.M.

The Media Academy is a priority initiative for Lujan Grisham, who has identified film and television production as a priority industry in the state to create higher paying jobs and diversify the economy. The Next Generation Academy will be a certificate program that fast tracks people into in-demand jobs with high-level training and on set...

WASHINGTON D.C.– U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, voted to advance critical legislation that will enhance and enforce online privacy protections for children and teenagers on July 27. Co-sponsored by Senator Luján, The Kids Online Safety Act empowers kids and parents to take control over kids’ online experiences to better protect their health and well-being. The Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act updates online data privacy rules for the 21st century and ensures both children and teenagers are protected online.

“It’s clear social media will continue to be a huge part of our children...