Students are currently on winter break, but the Gallup-McKinley County Schools District is looking forward to the future.

During the Dec. 13 school board meeting, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Jvanna Hanks gave the board an update on all of the construction projects the district currently has going on.

Before Hanks began her presentation, GMCS Superintendent Mike Hyatt told the board that about $100 million worth of improvements needed to be done within the district. He noted that many of the projects hadn’t been done yet because of a lack of state funding.

Many schools will be getting new roofs, including Tse Yi Gai High, Tohatchi Middle School, Chee Dodge...

SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed legislation that updates the boundaries of New Mexico’s three Congressional districts based on 2020 Census data on Dec. 17.

The New Mexico Legislature crafted and approved the new statewide Congressional map.

According to the New Mexico House of Representatives, the map is a “nearly 90 percent reflection” of what was called the “People’s Map,” produced by an independent Citizens Redistricting Committee.

“The people’s elected representatives in the New Mexico Legislature have spoken with respect to data-driven and representative new Congressional boundaries,” Lujan Grisham said. “It is my duty to ratify the will of...

Still higher than the national rate

New Mexico’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in November, down from 6.5 percent in October and down from 8.5 percent in the previous year. The national unemployment rate in November was 4.2 percent, down from 4.6 percent in October and down from 6.7 percent in Nov. 2020.

Total nonagricultural payroll employment grew by 38,000 jobs, or 4.8 percent, between Nov. 2020 and Nov. 2021. All gains came from the private sector, which was up 39,400 jobs, or 6.4 percent.

The public sector was down 1,400 jobs, or 0.8 percent. Most private sector gains were in the private service-providing industries, which were up 31,500 jobs, or 6.0...

Camille’s Teacher of the Month Award goes to a teacher who focuses on Indigenous students

Each month, Camille’s Sidewalk Café recognizes one local teacher within the Gallup area for his or her determination to help students go above and beyond. Prospective teachers are nominated by students who feel they should be recognized. This month, Zowie Banteah of Zuni Shiwi Tsana Elementary School is the recipient of the Teacher of the Month award.

Banteah teaches fourth grade at the elementary school and has been a teacher for almost 19 years.

In an interview with the Sun, Banteah said she became a teacher because she wanted to give back to her community.

“I’ve always felt it was...