GALLUP - Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services has received a $390,165.00 grant for a three-year initiative to develop a Psychiatric Care Program to serve Native Americans.

The funding is part of a million dollar grant provided by the New Mexico Human Services Department to develop its first Graduate Medical Education Program. The funds will enable the hospital to add three physicians yearly to fill the GME’s 12 new residency positions in New Mexico that will focus on addressing the region’s Native American behavioral health needs.

The program will require two years of psychiatric training in a major metropolitan area with inpatient psychiatric, neurology, geriatric...

SANTA FE - Attorney General Hector Balderas joined a multistate coalition May 19 in filing a motion for a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s final rule redefining the “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act. The coalition argues that the rule should be enjoined pending the court’s decision on the coalition’s lawsuit in order to prevent widespread harm to national water quality and to avoid disruption to state and local water pollution control programs.

“New Mexico’s heritage, economy, and family safety relies on access to clean water in our State,” Balderas said. “This attack on one of our most valuable and...

ORDER OUTLINES COVID-SAFE PRACTICES FOR AGRICULTURE

SANTA FE - New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a modified public health emergency order May 15 easing restrictions on retail operations, ordering New Mexico citizens to wear cloth face coverings in public, and proposing a series of requirements and best practices for businesses and other services.

The new emergency health order went into effect May 16 and will remain in effect through May 31.

Requirements and best COVID-safe practices  are outlined in the “All Together New Mexico: COVID-Safe Practices for Individuals and Employers” document. Agriculture-affiliated businesses and services addressed include the...

GALLUP — A manager at the Lariat Lodge was inspecting rooms after checkout time  May 17, 2020. When he checked room 15 he found it was still occupied – by a deceased male.

Hitendrakumar Patel contacted police at about 10:30 in the morning after he made the gruesome discovery. Police arrived soon thereafter and immediately suspected foul play.

The victim, later identified as Alvin Adakai, 62 of Manuelito, was found on the floor between the two queen beds. His body was covered with bruises, cuts, and blood.

Detectives learned that Adakai had shared the room he rented with two others the night of May 16, before he was discovered dead.

Larrison Hunch, 44, of Mentmore purchased...