One student, one teacher IN MCKINLEY COUNTY

SANTA FE — The Public Education Department announced seven new positive cases of COVID-19 as of Sept. 17, after implementing a rapid response and verifying all pertinent information with the schools and school districts. The following new cases were reported:

• One case at a public school in McKinley County. The infected individual is a teacher. The infected instructor was last in the school building on Sept. 15.

• Five cases at a public school in Roosevelt County. The infected individuals are staff members, including two teachers. They were last in the school building or a district office on September 9, 11, and 14.

• One case at...

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GALLUP — The City of Gallup has announced funding from the State of New Mexico for the Small Business Continuity Grant Program in the amount of over $2 million. Through this program, the City will offer a one-time grant up to $10,000 to qualifying small businesses and non-profits to cover costs related to business interruption caused by the required closures due to the coronavirus pandemic.

These include but are not limited to mortgages, rent, utilities, insurance, payroll, personal protective equipment, and more. Funding is available as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act federal stimulus package provided to the City of Gallup by the State...

SANTA FE — The state of New Mexico has created a new partnership between the State Attorney General, State Auditor and Ombudsman to protect seniors and specialized care individuals at nursing homes and long-term care facilities from poor or abusive treatment.

The Ombudsman will also partner with the Department of Health and Adult Protective Services to review data and elevate complaints to executive departments that have the power to investigate, level civil penalties and prosecute if needed.

The creation of this partnership follows a request by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for the Ombudsman to review complaints occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic and to recommend a course of...

ALBUQUERQUE — Lost Wages Assistance payments are coming to an end for New Mexicans.

The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions began processing payments to unemployed workers under the federal Lost Wages Assistance program Sept. 3. New Mexico was one of the first states to apply and be approved for the LWA grant when it was announced four weeks ago.

Funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, LWA provides $300 per week to supplement unemployment benefits to individuals that meet the eligibility requirements of receiving at least $100 in unemployment benefits per week and self-certifying that they are unemployed, or partially unemployed, as a direct result of the COVID-19...