Rep. Patty Lundstrom, D-Gallup, was not expecting to be removed from her position as chairwoman of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, but that’s exactly what happened on the first day of the new legislation session Jan. 17.

In an interview with the Sun, Lundstrom confirmed that the new Speaker of the House Javier Martinez, D-Albuquerque, stripped her of her title during an evening floor session on committee assignments.

Two weeks following the removal, Lundstrom said she is still shocked by the decision.

“I think generally speaking I’m still incredibly disappointed because there’s so many things I could contribute to that committee,” she said. “[I’m] very...

The alleyway between Aztec Avenue and Coal Avenue to Second Street will be closed starting Feb. 13 and ending on Feb. 24, as long as the weather permits.

Murphy Builders will close the alleyway, but traffic will still be open to travel on Coal Avenue. Murphy Builders will demo a section of the road to install a drop inlet on Second Street. This will reportedly improve drainage at this intersection.

The city is asking vehicle and pedestrian traffic to utilize alternative routes to access businesses, or call businesses directly for alternate access instructions. they're also asking people to exercise caution near the active construction zone.

For more information contact the city at...

District superintendent argues media outlet didn’t do their research, created their own narrative

When a non-profit online publication published a series of articles claiming that Gallup-McKinley County Schools is responsible for the majority of the state’s expulsions of Native American students from schools, GMCS Superintendent Mike Hyatt spoke out against the accusations.

The Dec. 21 article from the publication alleged the district has a quarter of New Mexico’s Native American students, but it also had “at least three-quarters of Native student expulsions in the state during the four school years ending in 2020.”

The article went on to explain that the reporter...

During the school board meeting in which Gallup-McKinley County Schools Superintendent Mike Hyatt addressed a recent article published by a New Mexico publication, he told the school board that the school district had only expelled 15 students in the past seven years. The Sun was able to obtain the list of expulsions.

These expulsions are from the 2015-2016 through the 2022-2023 school years.

Two students in the 2015-2016 school year. One Hispanic student from Crownpoint High School was expelled for multiple drug charges. One Native American student from Ramah High School was expelled for possession of a firearm.

Four students in the 2016-2017 school year. One Native American student...