SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health announced continued progress in addressing prescription drug overdose in New Mexico with its latest state quarterly prescribing report showing improved prescribing practices for opioids Oct. 11.

Opioid prescriptions dropped nearly 12 percent compared to the second quarter of last year. This reduction in prescribing comes after Gov. Susana Martinez enacted legislation making it mandatory for healthcare providers to check a patient’s prescription history in the state’s Prescription Monitoring Program database when prescribing opioids.

Most measures of opioid prescribing have shown significant declines from the second quarter of 2017...

Staff Reports

McKinley County firefighters were unable to save a house in Williams Acres that caught fire the afternoon of Oct. 10.

McKinley County Fire & Rescue Chief Jason Carlisle said the house at 16 Zeta St. was a total loss. Over the years, he said, the house had several additions and was too far gone when county fire firefighters arrived on the scene.

According to fire logs, county firefighters arrived on the scene about eight minutes after receiving the initial call at 10:38 am.

Units from five county fire stations responded to the call, as well as four units from the city fire department.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Staff Reports

WINDOW ROCK — Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye and Vice President Jonathan Nez said the Navajo Nation lost a great leader in the passing of Honorable Delegate Steven Begay (Naschitti, Coyote Canyon, Mexican Springs, Tohatchi, Bahastl’a’a’) on Oct. 4.

On behalf of the great Navajo Nation, President Begaye and Vice President Nez sent their deepest condolences to the family of Delegate Begay.

Originally from Nashchitti, Begay, 43, is Tł’ááshchí’í born for Áshįįhí. His maternal grandfathers are Tódích’íi’nii and his paternal grandfathers are Dólii Dine’é Táchii’nii.

Delegate Begay was a strong advocate who provided traditional...

Staff Reports

A man was pronounced dead on the scene Oct. 4 after he was struck by a train. Gallup Police Department Officers were called out to the railroad area across from Denny’s, 3810 E. Hwy. 66, just after 10:30 pm in regards to a train versus pedestrian collision.

GPD Captain Marinda Spencer told the Sun Oct. 5 the deceased was a Native American male in his late 40s or early 50s.

“We do have a possible ID,” she said of the victim, but the GPD is awaiting confirmation from the Office of Medical the Investigator before releasing his name.

According to Spencer, the driver of the westbound train reported seeing a person on the side or rail of the tracks. He blared his horn to...