Federal legislators shoot down committee reviewing clinics for closure

Veterans in Gallup, Las Vegas, N.M.; Raton, N.M.; and Española N.M. can breathe a sigh of relief today after a bipartisan group of senators said they won’t support appointments to the committee studying closure of their VA community-based outpatient clinics, effectively scuttling the mission.

“From day one, I’ve been clear that the process to close four veteran health clinics in New Mexico didn’t have my support,” Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., said. “It’s not what’s best for our veterans or those who support them. I’m proud to announce the Senate won’t be moving forward with the process. Our...

Equine horse rescue adds crucial acreage

Wild, surrendered, or abused and neglected horses often find their way into the Four Corners Equine Rescue, a non-profit organization located in Aztec, New Mexico. Rescues are trained using the Natural Horsemanship philosophy of training without fear, pain, or forced submission—an ideal method for wild horses or horses wary of humans due to prior abuse or neglect.

“Usually the horses are thin and haven’t been taken care of,” FCER CEO Debbie Coburn said.  “We get a lot of our horses from the New Mexico Livestock Board. They pick up the stray horses and if they can’t find the owners, the horses come to the rescue. We also take in...

Due to pandemic-related staffing shortages and supply chain issues, the City of Gallup will not be hosting a fireworks display this year. City residents are allowed to use permissible fireworks within city limits obtained from approved vendors.

A few reminders when using permissible fireworks: When igniting, an adult must always be present, fireworks must be confined to areas that are paved, barren, or readily accessible to a source of water by the homeowner or general public. Fireworks must be ignited before 11 pm to ensure compliance with the city’s noise ordinance.

Also, the city would like to encourage the community to take advantage of other local events in the area during the...

McKinley County was one of three counties recognized with a 2022 Risk Awareness Program Award during the 2022 New Mexico Counties 85th Annual Conference on June 16 in Albuquerque.

The RAP is a workplace risk control educational program that aims to reduce the frequency and severity of county claims through better risk awareness and safety practices.

McKinley County has been participating in the program for 14 years now. The county won an award acknowledging this achievement, along with another that celebrated the fact that the county’s auto claims have gone down by 24%.

The program helps train county employees on what to do in case of an emergency.

“It’s just good stuff to...