The fresh, clean, and open space of Opo Gallery, hosted two celebrated mural artists this past Arts Crawl March 11– Nani Chacon and Be Sargent.

The exhibit runs for two months, and, it is an excellent opportunity for students and those curious about the people behind some very prominent murals in Gallup, Albuquerque, and elsewhere around the United States. Murals are a highly celebrated art form in New Mexico, not only due to the suitably dry climate, but for the aesthetics of the wide open skyline and constant bright sun.

Sargent was the only one of the two that was present before the show opened, but visitors were already milling in. Sargent grew up in both Albuquerque, and...

LAS VEGAS, NV – In addressing tribal economic diversification, President Russell Begaye said the Navajo Nation needs to move away from coal and oil based revenue generation while addressing infrastructure needs, workforce development and expediting processes for business development.

“The Navajo Nation is at a critical point where it must diversify its revenue sources away from the coal and oil industry,” Begaye said.

The president said the Navajo Nation’s revenue from coal and oil has fallen from 77 percent down to 66 percent.  The nation foresees this dropping 20 percent more if Navajo Generating Station shuts down in 2019.

Begaye spoke on Mar. 14, at the 2017 National...

Aim: help protect farmworkers from heat, pesticides

The Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs is partnering with Help New Mexico to celebrate National Farmworker Awareness Week by participating in its annual National Long-Sleeve Shirt Drive. AFOP, a national organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families, will be collecting shirts from March 26-31.

“We are looking for lightly-worn, light-colored, long-sleeve shirts,” Vashti Kelly, AFOP’s Health & Safety Programs Manager said. “These shirts will be donated to farmworkers across the nation so they can protect themselves from pesticide exposure and...

Scores of music lovers flocked to Gallup’s Second Annual Battle of the Bands Championship, held downtown at the El Morro Theatre March 3. The event was sponsored by The Door Gallup Christian Center, a local church, that wants to both showcase the talent of local bands and spread their message of faith.

After the bands played a winner was chosen, and Kool Country took first place.

Four bands competed to win the grand prize, which was a $500 shopping spree to Serenade Music of Gallup. Bands competing were: Kool Country, Steel Reserve, Bad Country, Students of the New School, and Rippy & and The Sillyettes.

Each band was given the opportunity to play two songs and wow the crowd...