WASHINGTON, D.C. – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham  met with federal lands and emergency response officials in Washington, D.C. on May 20  to discuss national forest management in New Mexico and advocate for additional federal assistance as multiple wildfires continue to burn across the state, including one that began as a federally prescribed burn that escaped containment.

Following both her call with President Joe Biden and her meeting with Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell earlier in the week of May 16, Lujan Grisham met with U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore before also meeting with U.S...

CIBOLA COUNTY, NM - On May 19, New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau agents were requested by the New Mexico State Police Uniform Bureau to investigate a former Western New Mexico Correctional Facility correctional officer for having sex with a female inmate.

Agents learned that on or about April 26, the New Mexico Department of Corrections Security Threat Investigations Unit (STIU) began an investigation on then CO Robert Smith, 37, of Milan, N.M., for bringing contraband into the prison and giving it to female inmates.  Through investigation, they also learned that Smith had an ongoing relationship and had been engaging in sexual acts with a female inmate.

STIU told agents...

Traveling is about to get a little bit easier for locals. Starting in August, Gallupians will be able to fly directly to Phoenix, Ariz., and back for a little under $200.

Advanced Airlines will offer the service daily. Tickets will have a fixed price of $75 each way, which comes out to $80.63 with tax for the trip down, and $90.73 to come back (taxes are higher in Phoenix). Discount booklets will be offered on the company’s website soon, said Advanced Air President Levi Stockton, who started the company in 2005 as a charter service.

“The business started with me and one airplane, a King Air 350, flying charters out of Los Angeles,” Stockton said. “That’s been our core...

Extreme fire danger remains

Drought conditions in New Mexico have only gotten worse in recent weeks.

According to an article that was published on KOB 4’s website on May 10, the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire has destroyed almost 204,000 acres of land. The fire started over a month ago.

Although Gallup and McKinley County haven’t experienced any extreme fires, extreme and severe drought conditions still remain.

McKinley County’s drought conditions put it in the D2 (severe) and D3 (extreme) zones on the Drought Monitor, which is put out by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the National...