WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, Vice President Myron Lizer, Speaker Seth Damon and several members of the 24th Navajo Nation Council issued a letter to the Gallup McKinley County Schools Board of Education members, requesting their support of a resolution to have students return to virtual learning, as opposed to hybrid learning, as cases of COVID-19 continue to increase significantly in surrounding areas.

The resolution was unanimously passed by the board members by a vote of 5-0-0 during a special meeting held on Friday.

“As you are aware, the pandemic has impacted governments, communities, schools and our families. The harm COVID-19 has caused is...

 

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact education by keeping schools closed and having many students learn from a distance, there is growing concern that students are becoming less engaged from learning and participating, stemming from a lack of accountability.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, a non-profit group that has created one-on-one youth mentorships for over a century, is aware of the unique challenges faced by students at this time. To that end, they want to recruit more mentors to help more students around Gallup.

Sarah Piano, regional director for Big Brothers Big Sisters Mountain Region, said their main focus right now is recruitment.

“Due to the...

Plans to utilize the Gallup Municipal Airport more often as a transport hub came up during the Gallup City Council’s Nov. 10 meeting.

The Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation worked with the City of Gallup to submit an application for an Economic Development Administration grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce on behalf of the city to develop an airport master plan for the Gallup Municipal Airport and to develop an self-governing vehicle plan.

The city and GGEDC were awarded the grant for $600,000. Along with the city’s match of $150,000, GGEDC has $750,000 to devote to the project.

CB Strain, planning and development director for the City of Gallup, said during...

One hurdle that many businesses and governments have had to face during the COVID-19 pandemic is deciding how best to utilize CARES Act funding. While the funds have a deadline to be used by the end of the year, some of those groups continue to debate how and where they should allocate the funds.

The McKinley County Board of Commissioners thinks they have found one means to spend the funds: set up wifi hotspots with Sacred Wind Communications Telesolutions, Inc. at fire stations across the county.

“This is a bid we’re working with CARES funds for, to get internet access for public safety, the community, children who need internet for schools,” McKinley County Manager Anthony...