New councilor, new district judge; mayoral runoff imminent




Folks crammed into the City Council Chambers after the polls closed March 3 to hear the unofficial results of the City of Gallup’s Municipal Officer Election.




Four positions were about to be decided: Dist. 2 Councilor, Dist. 4 Councilor, Municipal Judge, and the Mayor of Gallup.




Three of those elections delivered a clear winner, but a runoff will likely be required to determine the new mayor.




City Clerk Alfred Abeita said the official canvass will be held before the McKinley County Board of Commissioners March 10. Based on the results, if a runoff election is required, it is slated for March 31.




DISTRICT...

The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau was contacted by the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office to investigate a police shooting involving a McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy March 2.



State Police Investigations Bureau agents learned that at around 11:30 pm, March 1, a McKinley County Sheriff's Deputy responded to the Flying J gas station located on Interstate 40 near mile post 39 for a call of a disorderly man. The deputy arrived to find the man on the westbound off ramp to Interstate 40 at around mile post 39.



During the encounter with the individual, the deputy fired his weapon and struck the individual. The man was transported by ambulance to an area hospital where...

Third year in a row

President Donald Trump is making a third attempt to eliminate the Higher Education Grant Program, which is administered by the Dept. of Interior and provides federal funding for scholarships to tribes, including the Navajo Nation through a P.L. 93-638 contract. The Trump Administration zeroed out funding for tribal scholarships in the FY 2021 federal budget released Feb. 17.

“I absolutely disagree with the budget proposal put forth, but the Navajo Nation has tremendous support from House and Senate members who will stand with us to support Navajo students and funding for college,” Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said.

Rose Graham, director of the Office...

Possible reduction of voting members

The Gallup City Council heard the reading of an ordinance that amends the Business Improvement District Ordinance to bring the BID into compliance with the New Mexico statute that enables the creation of BID districts at their Feb. 18 meeting.

This is the aftermath of a lengthy discussion the council had with several members of the BID during their meeting  Dec. 10. The council debated whether or not to dissolve the BID or update the ordinance with clear directions to guide the BID into fulfilling its duties.

Some of the amendments requested by city councilors in the December meeting included the requirement of a monthly report, individual...