Methamphetamine seized before reaching New Mexico

WASHINGTON –Attorney General William P. Barr and Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Administrator Timothy J. Shea announced the results of Operation Crystal Shield, DEA’s six-month-long effort targeting the command and control elements of Mexican cartels that operate major methamphetamine “transportation hubs” in the United States.

At a press conference Sept. 10  in Phoenix, Ariz., Barr and Shea announced that in just six months, Operation Crystal Shield generated a total of more than 750 investigations, resulting in nearly 1,840 arrests and the seizure of more than 28,560 pounds of methamphetamine, $43.3 million in drug...

Legislators in the Yazzie/Martinez case seek answers

As the new school year gets underway in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, educators are doing everything they can to secure the necessary equipment to ensure their students have the capability and access to remote learning.

While larger school districts in urban areas are likely to be better prepared, districts in rural areas face a number of unique challenges that were highlighted during a Legislative Finance Committee meeting on Aug. 28.

These comments were given by counsel for plaintiffs in Yazzie/Martinez v. the State of New Mexico, who then urged the state to develop and implement a comprehensive plan for overhauling...

The McKinley County Board of Commissioners had two items on the agenda of their Sept. 1 meeting that reflects the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the local economy.

County Manager Anthony Dimas, Jr. presented the items to the board. Both items involved adjustments in the county budget that was discussed at a prior meeting.

“When we presented the regular budget back in May, Sara [Saucedo] and I said we knew the pandemic was going on, and that we’d look at the first quarter results of FY21 and then we’d have the results for you by October,” Dimas said. “With the recent announcement of the Gallup refinery losing their number three taxpayer, we felt it best to bring to...

RMCHCS hires third interim CEO since Conejo’s departure

Mary Bevier took the helm as interim CEO at Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services when CEO David Conejo was terminated June 11. She had been the hospital Chief Financial Officer.

She was then joined by Steve McKernan as acting CEO. McKernan had also been a CFO at UNM Hospital for almost eight years and a CEO for 21 years.

Bevier has now returned to her duties as CFO at RMCHCS and the hospital board of trustees has announced the appointment of interim CEO, Don Smithburg.

Smithburg began his work at the hospital Sept. 1 and will remain for 12 months.

A native of Albuquerque and senior healthcare executive, Smithburg...