Gallup Sun

The concept of hot-air ballooning goes back thousands of years, but someone physically putting a hot-air balloon into the air didn’t happen until about 1783.

The Montgolfier Brothers, Jacques-Étienne and Joseph-Michel, initially sent a sheep, a chicken, and a duck up into the air successfully. Following their initial flight triumph, they decided to send up two men up for about 20 minutes.

These two men were Pilatre de Rozier and Marquis François d’Arlandes, who were not condemned criminals as King Louis XVI had originally wanted. In fact, de Rozier, known as the world’s first balloonist, had to petition the King to be on the first manned hot-air balloon flight.

After manned...

The New Mexico Department of Health hosted a public hearing Nov. 22 in Santa Fe regarding proposed rule changes to its Medical Cannabis Program, addressing a variety of issues including product packaging for patients, reciprocity for out-of-state medical patients, and additional testing of both cannabis and the products derived from it.

Due to inclement weather and a two-hour delay for all state government offices, a second hearing was scheduled by Department of Health Cabinet Secretary Kathy Kunkel.

“Although it was still a good turn-out from the public, I want to assure we receive all the feedback and comment to have the best rules possible. For that reason, we will schedule a...

Week ending Friday, November 22, 2019


Nitrous Threats

A new study finds that emissions of the ozone-eating greenhouse gas nitrous oxide have increased more than expected.

Researchers from the Norwegian Institute for Air Research and other institutions found that the increased use of fertilizers containing nitrogen has been the main driver in the increase.

“We see that the N2O emissions have increased considerably during the past two decades, but especially from 2009 onwards, said  author  Rona Thompson. While fertilizer use has made it possible to grow a lot more food, the researchers say it resulted in destruction of stratospheric ozone and further climate...

But you can protect against it

As temperatures continue to fall, the New Mexico Department of Health and the New Mexico Poison and Drug Information Center remind New Mexicans that they can prevent carbon monoxide poisoning by taking a few protective measures.

“As it gets colder, we start seeing more carbon monoxide poisonings,”  NMDOH Cabinet Secretary Kathy Kunkel said.  “To prepare for winter weather, New Mexicans should make sure their heat sources and carbon monoxide detectors are in good working order.”

In 2018 carbon monoxide poisoning sent 187 people to the emergency room according to Environmental Public Health Tracking. These trips to the ER for carbon monoxide...