SANTA FE –The New Mexico Environment Department acknowledged their role in ensuring a safe reopening of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad, while recognizing the first emplacement of transuranic waste into the underground repository.

A press release addressing the reopening was sent out to media groups Jan. 4.

Following a fire and separate radiological event that closed the facility in February 2014, the New Mexico Environment Department began a comprehensive investigation, and led efforts to hold the DOE accountable.

Today’s waste emplacement marks the first waste to be disposed of in the WIPP underground since the 2014...

A man wearing a black Albuquerque Dukes baseball cap tried to rob a northeast Albuquerque bank on Tuesday and fled in a black Chevy Malibu.



The suspect is described as a white male, possibly Hispanic, in his late 20s, and approximately 5'6" to 5'9" tall, with a slender build. He had a short beard. He wore a black baseball cap with a blue Dukes logo, a black sweatshirt, baggy black pants, and eyeglasses.



At approximately 3 pm, the suspect walked into Wells Fargo, located at 156 Juan Tabo Blvd. NE. He gave a teller a note that demanded money, but the suspect left without any cash. The suspect crossed Juan Tabo Blvd. NE, walked westbound on Linn Avenue NE, and got into the...

El Morro Theatre manager moves up the ranks

Jennifer Lazarz, the manager of the El Morro Theatre, has been hired as Gallup’s tourism and marketing manager, city officials confirmed. Gallup Deputy City Clerk Alicia Palacios said Lazarz, a native of Illinois, was recently confirmed for the tourism job.

Klo Abeita, the city’s human resources director, said the city won’t be looking to hire a new theatre manager as the position is now under the umbrella of the tourism and marketing manager.

“Lazarz will continue to oversee the the El Morro Theatre as well as the (Rex) museum,” Abeita said.

As theatre manager, Lazarz earned $46,000 a year, but in her new position, effective...

Write-in candidates can still file

Two incumbents have filed to run for seats on the University of New Mexico-Gallup Advisory Board, officials confirmed.

McKinley County Director of Elections Rick Palolcak said Edwin J. Begay will face Priscilla Smith for the Position 1 post and Marvin Murphy will take on Ralph Richards for the Position 2 post.

Smith, a former owner and operator of a Gallup copying and printing and graphic arts business, is a Democrat. Richards is a Republican.

The political persuasions of Begay and Murphy weren’t immediately clear as of press time.

No one filed to run for Position 3, Palochak said. If no one ends up running for the Position 3 slot as a...