An unscheduled water outage that is affecting parts of North Fifth Street started at 1 am Jan. 13 and is expected to last until 5 pm.

The outage is affecting City of Gallup water customers in the following area:

• 500-600 block of North Fifth Street

The Gallup Water Department will be working on valve assessment in the west side of town Dec. 8 and will need to shut off the water in order to do their work safely.

City of Gallup water customers in the following areas will be affected:

• 3300-3600 W. Hwy. 66

SANTA FE — New Mexico mortality data show a decrease in drug overdose deaths statewide for the second consecutive year since 2021.

Overdose deaths have declined 8% statewide since 2021 when the number of overdose deaths peaked at 1,029 deaths, according to data compiled by the epidemiology team at the New Mexico Department of Health.

In 2022, New Mexico had 997 overdose deaths. That number has fallen to 948 overdose deaths in 2023.

“These decreases are welcome news, but there is still much more to do to reduce the problem of substance misuse in New Mexico,” NMDOH Interim Secretary Gina DeBlassie said. “Substance misuse is a multifaceted and complex public health issue, and we...

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The 25th Navajo Nation Council is deeply saddened by the passing of Diné College President Dr. Charles M. Roessel, who passed away in the early morning of Jan. 6, as confirmed by official notice from Diné College.

“Dr. Roessel was a tireless advocate for tribal education and a visionary leader whose work transformed Diné College from a two-year institution to a four-year university,” Speaker Crystalyne Curley said. “His leadership and dedication were pivotal in shaping educational opportunities for Navajo students, and his efforts have left an indelible mark on the future of our people.”

Before taking on the role of Diné College President, Roessel...