SANTA FE — The New Mexico Judiciary launched the Rural Justice Initiative Clerkship Program on Jan. 18 to help provide more legal services providers in rural New Mexico.

The program will create four paid law clerk positions in Farmington, Aztec or Gallup, Clovis and Portales under the guidance and mentorship of state judicial district Chief Judges.

“The Rural Clerkship Program addresses the dire need for lawyers in rural areas,” New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice C. Shannon Bacon said. “We’re creating career opportunities for new lawyers who can provide more access to justice in our rural parts of the state.”

Chief Judge Donna J. Mowrer has lived in eastern New Mexico...

Regional law enforcement agencies joined the Gallup Police Department for a collaboration meeting to  promote continued planning and coordination.

The meeting, held Jan. 18 at the El Morro Events Center, covered a variety of issues facing law enforcement across the state and region, especially the ongoing efforts to prevent and investigate cases of  Missing or Murdered Indigenous People. Representatives from the GPD, Navajo Police Department, New Mexico State Police, McKinley County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigations, U.S. Marshal’s Office and Albuquerque Police Department were in attendance.

Reycita Billie, MMIP Liaison with the Navajo Police Department, began the...

Suspect tried to keep victim from leaving hotel

A Gallup man was arrested after he tried to keep a woman in a local motel.

On Jan. 6 around 11:30 am Gallup Police Officer Cindy Romancito was dispatched to the Desert Skies Motel at 1703 W. Hwy. 66 after a man who was later identified as Calvin Johnson was stabbed.

According to witnesses at the scene, the man was bleeding and a woman took off from the room. When Romancito arrived at the scene, she found that one of motel room’s windows had been broken. She met up with Johnson, 35, who was initially hanging outside one of the rooms.

According to Romancito’s report, he was holding a Gatorade and appeared to be confused. He also had...

Featured DWI

Kurt King

Jan 9. 1:40 am

Aggravated DWI (Third)

A Gamerco man, Kurt King, 45, was pulled over for driving with expired registration and eventually arrested for his third DWI.

New Mexico State Police Officer Matthew Williams was patrolling on Highway 118 near Mollica Drive when he observed a gold passenger car of unspecified maker and build. He ran the vehicle’s license plate and the system returned that its registration was expired.

After pulling the vehicle over to conduct a traffic stop, Williams met the driver, King, and began his questioning. King reportedly showed signs of intoxication including bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, smelling of alcohol...