Gallup Sun

Gallup citizens will have something to look forward to in December when the Red Rock Balloon Rally returns for its 40th anniversary on Dec. 3-5.

During the Lodgers’ Tax Committee meeting Aug. 17, one of the event’s founders, Peter Procopio, asked for $35,000 for his event.

Procopio explained that the rally had lost some of its sponsors during the pandemic, including Marathon, which usually donated $30,000 to the event, but suspended operations at its Gallup refinery in April, 2020.

“We’re worried a little bit about other sponsors not [being] able to or willing to participate after a bad year, and we understand that,” Procopio said. “But we’re going try to do our best to...

While nurses have always been heroes, they have been held in especially high esteem since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. One of those who has been serving the community for three decades was honored with a DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses Aug. 17.

Lisa Cope, RN, received her award from Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services last month.

DAISY Awards are given to registered nurses who exemplify nursing values of extraordinary compassion, courage and integrity in every situation.

In an interview with the Sun, Cope said that the most difficult part of her job is the fact that her job looks different every day, making it difficult to schedule into the future. She...

Faster internet is on the horizon, in part because of a recent decision by the city council.

During the Aug. 24 council meeting, councilors approved an ordinance that will allow small cell wireless transmitters to be installed around the city.

Gallup City Attorney Curtis Hayes presented the ordinance to the council. In an interview with the Sun, he explained that it is necessary to keep the city in compliance with Federal Communications Commission regulations and state law.

The ordinance limits cities’ abilities to regulate small wireless transmitters. Hayes explained that some cities have huge fees, and many of them will not process applications for transmitters fast enough. He...

Attacks 20 years ago shaped today’s FBI, its agents

Staff Reports

The morning of September 11, 2001 remains one of the most pivotal points in American history—and for the FBI. The ensuing investigation was the largest in the history of the Bureau. The attacks led to far-reaching changes in the organization as it elevated terrorism to the gravest threat against the U.S.

The attacks took the lives of nearly 3,000 people, and the crash sites represented the largest crime scene in FBI history.

Over the last 20 years, the Bureau evolved from an agency focused primarily on criminal offenses into an intelligence-based national security and law enforcement organization. Preventing...