Gallup officials have joined the state Human Services Department’s 988 Crisis Lifeline program for mental wellness. The program provides mental health resources which are easily accessible through calling or texting the number 988.

There are three ways to connect to the support services, either by calling or texting 988 or chatting with a crisis center by visiting https://988lifeline.org/chat/. The 988 Crisis Line also has a Veterans Crisis Line and Spanish subnetwork. Gallup Police Department Chief Erin Toadlena-Pablo believes this is a great tool to add to the array of strategies her department uses to address mental health crises.

“We believe this is a great tool for community...

Each month, the Sun recognizes a local teacher for his or her determination to help students go above and beyond. Anyone can nominate a teacher by emailing the Sun at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and providing the teacher’s name, where they teach, and why they should be selected as that month’s winner.

This month’s award went to Makena Wenning, a kindergarten teacher at Jefferson Elementary. This is Wenning’s first year teaching, although she is no stranger to the Gallup area or teaching.

ROAD TO TEACHING

She grew up in Gallup, with her mom teaching preschool at Jefferson and her dad teaching at Hozho Academy. Despite growing up surrounded by teachers – her grandparents and...

TimelyCare app available for free to improve student well-being

A new partnership between The University of New Mexico and TimelyCare,  a virtual health and well-being provider used by many higher education facillites, is giving students at the Gallup branch campus access to free and equitable mental health support, medical care and basic needs assistance.

The partnership with TimelyCare is an extension of campus health and counseling center resources offered by UNM Student Health and Counseling, with a goal of improving student well-being, engagement and retention.

“Mental health has a direct impact on the well-being and safety of students, which ultimately impacts their...

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed HB 171 into law, a bill that updates high school graduation requirements in New Mexico for the first time in over a decade, on Feb. 10.

“High school should be about preparing students for the real world while providing more opportunities to pursue their unique interests and future careers,” the governor said. “These changes will lead to more young New Mexicans staying engaged in school, graduating, and continuing that success in their adult lives.”

The requirements outlined in HB 171 will impact students entering the ninth grade in the 2025-2026 school year. The bill makes key changes to graduation requirements that better...