SANTA FE – With solid bipartisan support, the Senate today passed by a vote of 29 – 11 legislation that strongly reforms New Mexico’s medical cannabis laws for the first time in ten years.  The bill was sponsored by Senator Cisco McSorley (D-16-Bernalillo), who also was the sponsor of the original medical cannabis law in New Mexico.  Last-minute changes to SB 177 were made on the Senate floor including requiring that veterans be diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition to enroll in the program, like any other patient or applicant, and mandating that patient renewals occur annually, albeit in a streamlined fashion thereafter.



“I am proud of my colleagues from...

GMCS gets a chance to shine

The annual graduation rate at Gallup-McKinley County Schools went down one percentage point in 2016, but remained steady with rates in the mid-60s for 2015 and 2014, state Public Education Department statistics show. The district-wide graduation rates for elementary, middle and high schools in New Mexico were released Jan. 16.

Gov. Susana Martinez issued a news release on the state’s graduation rates on Jan. 16. In the release, Martinez noted that more students are graduating from state high schools than ever before. Graduation rates increased for Native-American, Hispanic, African-American, low-income and disabled students, according to the governor’s...

Feb. 17 parent intro meeting planned

The Gallup-McKinley County School Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution Feb. 6 that permits two world history teachers to pursue plans for a 2018 student trip to Eastern Europe.

The matter was met with a little opposition from board members, who argued that a $3,000 overseas trip might prove too costly for most of the district’s students. McKinley County is one of the poorest counties in New Mexico.

This is not a trip to Canyon de Chelly (Chinle, Ariz.) or the Grand Canyon in Flagstaff, the board suggested. Board member Sandra Jeff did not attend the meeting.

“I’d like to see you (the group) go,” outgoing board member Joe...

Major Singh to appear in court May 9

A local man with roots in India remains incarcerated at the McKinley-County Adult Detention Center on a $10,000 cash surety bond with a court date set for May 9, according to district court papers. The court date was set at a Jan. 20 arraignment.

Major Singh, 47, was initially arrested Nov. 20 after a report of a rape at the EconoLodge at 3101 W. Historic Highway 66. Singh’s bond at the time of the arrest was $100,000. Singh works as a cook at the Bombay Restaurant and Buffet, 3404 W. Historic Highway 66.

According to jail records, Singh is charged with criminal sexual penetration in the second degree (force or coercion, personal injury, harm or...