Week ending Friday, May 7, 2021

Manatee Deaths

An average of seven manatee deaths have been reported each day in Florida so far this year as the U.S. government and local marine mammal experts try to find what’s behind the spike in fatalities. About 675 manatee carcasses were found from January 1 to mid-April, compared to 637 in all of last year. Nearly half of the sea cow fatalities occurred around the Indian River Lagoon. Recent algae blooms and pollution have killed off the area’s seagrass beds, which the manatees feed on. Development and habitat loss are also adding stress to the animals, as is chronic exposure to pesticides such as glyphosate, a key ingredient in Roundup. Red...

Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services  announced on May 5 that it plans to temporarily suspend the operation of its WellSpring  Recovery Center, a residential treatment center for adults struggling with substance use  disorders, while it works to identify a new partner to manage the program.

In a press release, the hospital's media contact Ina Burmeister said, "The move follows significant and ongoing financial losses in the millions at WellSpring, as well as an analysis of investments needed to ensure the continued delivery of safe,  quality care. In addition to financial challenges, WellSpring has experienced staff  turnover and a lower-than-average census due to...

U. S. Senator visits Navajo-Gallup water treatment plant; talks infrastructure while touting legislation

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., toured the Cutter Lateral Water Treatment Plant on May 4 to promote a recently-passed senate bill that could impact the water Gallup residents use for waste and drinking.

Although the plant that’s located more than 100 miles outside of Gallup won’t help deliver water to the city, it’s one that local officials have visited and kept tabs on since it is part of the broader $1 billion-plus Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project.

The NGWSP consists of two pipelines: Cutter Lateral and San Juan Lateral, both of which go north to south and serve...

The ban on big fireworks in McKinley County could possibly continue for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday due to the state’s current drought.

During the May 4 commissioners meeting, McKinley County Fire Chief Brian Archuleta updated the commissioners on the ongoing severe drought situation in the county.

McKinley County is in the D3 and D4 intensity zones as of April 29, according to the U. S. Drought Monitor. These intensity zones show areas where fire damage is extreme, irrigation allotments are decreased, vegetation and native trees are dying, federal lands are closed for fire precautions, burn bans are increased, and large rivers like the Rio Grande are dry.

The...