The Octavia Fellin Public Library has been awarded a Latino Americans grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and American Library Association.  Latino Americans: 500 Years of History is a program created to explore the rich history of Latino Americans in this country and their contributions to the development of the United States.  The $3,000 grant will allow the Library to host Latino American programing throughout the year and purchase related library materials.

The Library will host special Hispanic programming beginning in September.  There will be two viewings of the Latino Americans documentary with local scholar John Lewis Taylor.  The Library will also host...

A lawsuit against the State of New Mexico was presented during a special meeting of the Gallup City Council by City Attorney George Kozeliski June 29. The action would seek to protect Gallup from the loss of revenues if the state of New Mexico does not change the current plan to phase out the hold harmless tax break.

The hold harmless tax break was created during Bill Richardson’s term as governor. The first portion that allowed for abatement of taxes on food was enacted in 2004 and the second, relating to health care expenses was enacted in 2007. Losing the hold harmless status will be devastating to Gallup, according to local lawmakers.

The lawsuit presents two points of...

In a special session of the Gallup City Council, held June 29, a purchase of the land owned by Alpine Lumber was approved. The land is valued at about $ 1 million but the city was able to buy it for $400,000. The buildings formerly known as Alpine Lumber, 104 North Second St., and the parcel west of the buildings are included in the purchase.

City Councilor Allan Landavazo said the procurement of this property is beneficial for future development. No plan has been set for the future of the land but ideas that are in the brainstorming process include a possible convention center, retail space, a park and access for a Second Street underpass that would help traffic bypass the railroad...

Starting July 1, cops in New Mexico can no longer take personal property without convicting someone, child predators will face tougher penalties and frozen powdered alcohol products are now recognized as being under state liquor control.

These are just a handful of the 62 laws passed earlier this year during the regular state legislative session. Seventy-nine other new laws went into effect last month, while others with the emergency clause went into effect even earlier.

The new civil asset forfeiture law is perhaps the most impactful and passed both chambers of the Legislature with wide support, netting no votes against it from either the state House of Representatives or the the...