Week ending Friday, April 30, 2021

Lightning Capital

Florida, especially around the Tampa Bay Area, has long been renowned as the capital of lightning strikes in the United States. But researchers from the Finland-based environmental monitoring company Vaisala say that Oklahoma has narrowly surpassed the Sunshine State for that distinction. Its research found there were 83.4 lightning events per square kilometer in Oklahoma between 2016 and 2020 compared with 82.8 in Florida. But Vaisala meteorologist Chris Vagasky says with statistics that close, it’s hard to say that one state has truly overtaken the other.

Earthquakes

A temblor in eastern India’s Assam state cracked walls and...

The McKinley County Humane Society is offering a deal to help homeless animals find their forever homes.

During the dates of the Empty the Shelters Bissell Pet Foundation promotion, May 5-9, they will lower their adoption fees.

The McKinley County Humane Society is not one of the 200 shelters originally listed as a participant in the promotion, and may not receive the financial benefits from it. Nevertheless, Animal Protection Supervisor Cosy Balok told the Gallup Sun May 5 that the shelter would join in.

Bissell Pet Foundation includes McKinley County Humane Society on the list of shelters and rescue operations it partners with across the country.

The Empty the Shelters event is...

Lots of reassurances, few clear answers

It’s hard to know whose signature is on Gallup’s signature event.

To listen to New Mexico Tourism Department Secretary Jen Schroer and the Intertribal Ceremonial Office Executive Director Melissa Sanchez tell it to the Gallup City Council April 27, the ICO is inclusive, with a task force Sanchez describes as “comprised of some of the local Ceremonial office members, as well as event coordinators, special events people who have worked at other special events … and also Ceremonial volunteers.”

But not everybody listening came away with a warm, fuzzy feeling.

Kyle Tom, president of the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial, said the...

During the pandemic, many people without homes have been at risk of contracting the virus. But they’re getting a break thanks to the city, the non-profit Heading Home, and the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department.

In a previous interview with the Sun, Gallup City Manager Maryann Ustick said the Lexington Hotel had been purchased by the city about three years ago when the CARE 66 Foundation gave it up. When they bought the property, it was in bad shape, and Ustick explained that the city simply “kept the utilities going.”

The hotel was finally able to open on Feb. 1.

According to Heading Home’s website, the charity opened the 26-unit building that provides...