ALBUQUERQUE – On Sept. 26 the New Mexico State Police is partnering with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in the 10th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day hosted by the DEA. From 10 am-2 pm on Saturday, citizens may return all unwanted, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs for safe and anonymous disposal.  Each New Mexico State Police district office throughout the state will be a collection site and will be accepting prescription drugs for disposal.

The purpose of this program is to dispose of unused and expired prescription drugs, which are highly susceptible to accidental poisoning, misuse, and abuse. Additionally, these drugs will be properly disposed in a manner that...

Gallup City Council voted Sept. 22 to accept its purchasing department’s recommendation of awarding Na’ Nizhoozhi Center, Inc., as the entity that will take charge of the Gallup Detox Center, effective Oct. 1.

The city had to issue an emergency Request for Proposals after they received a letter from the Navajo Nation stating they were terminating the agreement to run the facility Oct. 3. NCI will run the detox center for at least five months, starting Oct. 4 at an estimated cost of more than $400,000.

Purchasing departments often weigh RFPs on what entity will serve as both the lowest and most qualified bidder. Qualifications, not amount, gauges the decision making.

Three other...

The New Mexico Office of the State Auditor released its Findings Report Sept. 22.

The report is a comprehensive list of state local government financial workings. This report focused on three main areas: audit opinion, types of annual findings, and repeated findings. The Findings report gave the City of Gallup a Qualified Opinion.

According to the Findings Report, a qualified opinion states that the auditor concludes misstatements, individually, or in the aggregate, are material, but not pervasive to the financial statements.

New Mexico State Auditor Timothy Keller said that historically the city of Gallup has had challenges. However, with the upcoming audit due in October, Keller is...

University of New Mexico Athletic Director Paul Krebs spoke about the college’s current state of athletics to the Gallup Rotary Club at Sammy C’s Sept. 23.

He touched on NCAA government structure, and the more controversial topic of Fantasy Football, which reportedly markets toward college-age males. The NCAA governs college sports and defines Fantasy Football as gambling. If a student-athlete is caught playing the popular game, the penalties are harsh and could result in a suspension or ban from playing college sports.

Meanwhile, Krebs expressed confidence about UNM having a voice on the NCAA Board of Directors. Kendall Spencer, a UNM long jump champion, has become the first...