Gallup Sun

‘Can’t New Mexico be a state – can’t we be the state – where everything is possible?’

With a new year comes a new legislative session, and in preparation for that, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham addressed the state in her fourth State of the State on Jan. 18. In her speech, she talked about education, tax credits for New Mexicans, job growth, and public safety.

“I believe we can fulfill, once and for all, after 110 years of statehood, the destiny of New Mexico as a genuine homestead of the American Dream, a place where people can grow and thrive and live in peace and prosperity, where people have the resources they need to support themselves and their...

An out-of-the-box librarian who sees the library as the community

Within its walls, Gallup’s Octavia Fellin Public Library has long provided a community space for its patrons to perform research, study, check out the latest bestseller, and participate in the library’s numerous events and programs. During the last five years, OFPL Director Tammi Moe’s leadership has boosted the library’s sponsored  program attendance by offering inclusive culturally-relevant programming presented at the town’s movie theatre, community fairs, and at various public events.

In recognition of Moe’s successful expansion of public access to programs focused upon important issues impacting...

The continuing COVID-19 pandemic has been hard on New Mexico’s children, families, communities, and small businesses. But not all of the hardship has been equally shared. Families of color – Hispanic families in particular – have been hardest hit by income losses and are more likely to have trouble paying their usual household expenses and putting food on the table.

 

That is one of the findings in the “2021 New Mexico KIDS COUNT Data Book,” which was released on Jan. 19.

This annual accounting of child well-being in the state tracks several indicators across four domains: economic security, education, health, and family, and community. Indicators include issues such as...

Knocking on the wall and noises inside a room at the Comfort Inn at 1440 W. Maloney Ave. around midnight Jan. 19 led to a response from the Gallup Police Department.

An employee at the motel said the sounds seemed to be coming from Room 321. He told police he saw bullet holes in the hallway near the door.

Officers attempted to contact the man staying in the room, but received no response. They were then informed that there might be a second person in the room.

The team breached the door and found Michael Lon Hubbard, 52 of Haltom City, Tex. who refused to obey officers’ commands.

While they were attempting to detain the Hubbard, an officer’s firearm discharged resulting in a...