Three New Mexico-based organizations have joined together to appeal the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers’ Navigable Water Protection Rule also known as the 2020 Rule.

The 2020 Rule, which went into effect June 22, drastically shrinks the number of New Mexico waters that are protected under the Clean Water Act.

Amigos Bravos, the New Mexico Acequia Association and Gila Resources Information Project filed their appeal June 23 with the U. S. District Court for the District of New Mexico.

“The Trump administration has opened the pollution floodgates,” Amigos Bravos Projects Director Rachel Conn said. “This 2020 Dirty Water Rule protects the...

Remaining 150 turtles threatened by border wall



TUCSON, Ariz. —  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced final critical habitat protection June 22 for the endangered Sonoyta mud turtle. These highly aquatic turtles are found only in Pima County, Ariz. and Sonora, Mexico.

“These little turtles are hanging on by a thread and need all the protection they can get,” Randy Serraglio at the Center for Biological Diversity said. “This critical habitat designation is a welcome step, but the hard truth is that the lawless construction of the border wall could render the new protections meaningless.”

The critical habitat consists of 12.3 acres in the Rio Sonoyta watershed of...

Local hospitals can handle current caseload

The Gallup Alternate Care Facility at the Miyamura High School gym closed down in a ceremony held by staff from Gallup Indian Medical Center and Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services June 17.

The facility was established in April as an overflow site for patients recovering from COVID-19 at GIMC and RMCHCS. The reason for the closing is the need for hospital beds for COVID patients at the two hospitals has decreased to the point where they are able to provide the necessary care for patients.

Major General Jeffrey Clark of the U.S. Army Medical Command spoke about how the two hospitals collaborated to run the facility, along...

Donations for children’s home being accepted

Numerous public events in Gallup and across New Mexico have either been delayed or canceled in the past three months as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest addition to that list is one of Gallup’s signature summer events, WildThing Championship Bullriding.

The announcement was made June 10 on the event’s Facebook page.

“Our heart hurts over this situation, and that we will not be able to bring this show to all of our amazing fans,” the post reads. “So many of you Wildthing families have been there and supported us for so many years and helped us to become the number one open bull riding in the entire...