In March 2020 the boy who grew up in Gallup was launching his first syndicated television show in New Mexico, Utah, Southern Colorado, Montana and Kansas [Gallup Sun, Vol. 6, Issue 260].

Now, the show has evolved. Balok and his team have created “The Game Changer.”

The Game Changer is a segment of “The Colt Balok Show,” which is currently airing as filler on the CABQ Network at this time. City of Albuquerque Media Resources Manager Diego Lucero told the Sun that there is no current contract with the show. But he indicated a contract for new material could be signed in the future.

The Game Changer can be found online at coltbalok.com/gamechangers in three to five minute...

The need to ensure an inclusive recovery

As the New Mexico legislature geared up for the 2022 budget session, research and polling firm BSP Research released a statewide survey revealing a large segment of the state’s Latino population, including immigrants, continues to struggle financially as a result of the pandemic. A thousand families were polled in December, and a significant percentage indicated a loss of income, increased debt, exclusion from government stimulus rebates and unemployment benefits, inability to pay basic household bills, and an overall need for additional economic support.

Some of the poll’s key findings include:

28 percent of Hispanics across the state...

Lundstrom bill catches governor’s eye

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the introduction of a bill co-sponsored by Rep. Patricia Lundstrom, D- Gallup and Nathan Small, D-Las Cruces on Jan. 25.

Dubbed the “Hydrogen Hub Development Act,” House Bill 4 would expand the clean energy economy in New Mexico while lowering greenhouse gas emissions through incentivizing low-carbon hydrogen production and export.

It would:

Create tax incentives for low-carbon hydrogen production, distribution, use, refueling, and electric generating facilities across the state to further decarbonize our economy.

Offer the option to develop regional hydrogen hubs through the creation of...

A potential non-fossil fuel future for the Navajo Nation

In considering an update of the Navajo Nation’s 2013 energy policy, the subject of underground helium took the spotlight Jan. 25 as 24th Navajo Nation Council Speaker Seth Damon joined by Navajo Nation Oil and Gas Chief Executive Officer, James McClure, and Board Chairman Lennard Eltsosie held a community meeting to hear from local leaders, elders, medicine people, and grazing permit holders regarding potential helium development in Sanostee, N.M.

The Bureau of Land Management describes helium as a non-renewable natural resource commonly recovered from natural gas deposits by drilling. Helium is useful in the medical field...