What would it be like to wear a pair of goggles that made you feel drunk?  Or to put on a pair of goggles that made you feel stoned?  Some people found out Sept. 28 at the 7th Annual Emergency Preparedness Event at the Rio West Mall in Gallup.

The event is held in conjunction with National Preparedness month and is designed to bring safety awareness and preparedness for all types of emergencies to members of the public.

Event organizer Emergency Manager Susan Mahooty said the event was to inform the community about available resources.

“They come out every year to show the public what’s all out here,” she said. “We just want people to come out so that they can have an...

Recognized for contributions to Mexican community in U. S.

ALBUQUERQUE – ​Congressman Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., the U. S. House Assistant Speaker, received the Ohtli Award at the U. S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce National Convention in Albuquerque, Sept. 30.

The award – ​presented by Consul General of Mexico Norma Ang Sánchez – ​recognizes leaders who‘ve made significant contributions to the Mexican community in the United States.

“I‘m extremely humbled to receive the Ohtli Award – ​a recognition of my work to uplift Hispanic communities, combat the president‘s anti-immigrant agenda, and make America a more welcoming and inclusive home...

Will address fire safety; Native American tax exemption forms

New Mexico Public Regulation Commission Chairwoman Theresa Becenti-Aguilar will make three stops in McKinley County Oct. 4.

Her first stop will be to make oral reports to her Gallup constituents.

That will be followed by a visit to Stagecoach Elementary School for a fire safety presentation where she will be joined by the New Mexico State Fire Marshal‘s Office and the Gallup Fire Department. Becenti-Aguilar and the State Fire Marshal‘s Office will review fire safety and prevention practices and bring a fire truck for students to explore.

Becenti-Aguilar‘s day will commence with a meet-and-greet with community...

A look at border security issues, migrant conditions, ranchers‘ needs

Three Republican senators and other members of the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee spent Oct. 1-Oct. 4 touring New Mexico‘s border with Mexico to study security issues, unmanned aircraft surveillance systems, ranchers‘ needs, economic development needs and migrant conditions.

The LFC is comprised of both Senate and House members. It meets during the interim, when the legislature is not in session, to examine the state‘s financial needs and makes recommendations to the full legislature on how expenditures should be made to fund those needs.

Sen. Jim White, R-East Mts., Abq., said taking the...