The latest city council meeting on March 23 provided New Mexico Representative Patricia Lundstrom, D-Gallup, a chance to talk about the bills that passed the House of Representatives during the 2021 legislation session that ended March 20. More than 800 bills were introduced during the session. Nearly 160 made it to the governor’s desk.

Lundstrom explained that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has until April 9 to sign the bills, and if she doesn’t, they would be considered a “pocket issue.” A pocket issue occurs when a governor doesn’t sign a bill in time.

Lundstrom told the council that the state’s budget was $7.4 billion this year, which is a 4.5 percent increase over...

MISSING DOGHOUSE, FLOWER POTS

Tse Bonito, March 15

When a woman who had been renting a property discovered more than $5,000 worth of items missing after the tenants were kicked out, she reported the loss.

McKinley County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Frank Villa Jr. was dispatched to #46 Garden Lane on March 15 where he met the woman from Tse Bonito.

The woman told Villa she had been renting the property to Nicholas Silversmith and his father Alfred. When Villa asked when she had last seen the stolen items in the yard, she placed the time at approximately 11 am on March 2.

She told the deputy she had kicked the two men out and was no longer renting to them.

She said she did not...

Michael Roper

December 6, 7:26 pm

DWI

Gallup Patrolman Darius Johnson was dispatched to Big Lots, 900 U.S. Hwy. 491. When he arrived, he met with the caller who said she had been arguing in a vehicle with Michael Roper, 38, of Gallup, when he got physical with her and she got out at Big Lots.

She said Roper had left the scene to obtain more alcohol, and that he was drinking and driving prior to the incident. Before Johnson could put out an attempt-to-locate, Roper returned to the scene in a white pickup truck. Johnson pulled the vehicle over in the parking lot and met with Roper.

But as Johnson tried to ask questions, Roper was not cooperative. He rolled the window up, so...

Last week I reported that this legislation was doomed. I was absolutely wrong. After a few deletions from the original proposal by the New Mexico First Workshop, it passed in both houses of the legislature with a large majority. This is probably due to heavy lobbying of our representatives by members of the 50+ organizations that supported the legislation.

New Mexico First and Common Cause New Mexico seemed to take the lead in this effort. Below is the well written press release from New Mexico First. Of course, the governor must sign the legislation before it can become law. If you feel strongly about this issue you can Google her office and email a message

“After a whirlwind...