SANTA FE — A bill that aims to establish a visionary Strategic Water Supply for New Mexico cleared its first legislative hurdle Feb. 11.

The House Agriculture, Acequias and Water Resources Committee passed House Bill 137 on a 5-4 vote. This is an important step toward realizing Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s goal of ensuring that the state has enough water to support future economic growth without depleting or endangering its valuable freshwater supplies, part of her 50-Year Water Action Plan.

The bill now goes to the House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee.

HB 137 would establish a Strategic Water Supply Program Fund, which state natural resource agencies...

CROWNPOINT — Navajo Technical University radio station KCZY 107.3 FM received an upgrade to its transmission system to ensure its continuous 6000W broadcast covering a majority of the Eastern Navajo Nation Jan. 28. Broadcast engineer Jim Burt and NTU-IT Specialists Dody Begay and Chris Yazzie switched KCZY’s terrestrial transmission from the original system to a new direct STL system. The installation increases reliability during electrical outages, reduces the recovery time from brownouts, and mitigates other failures that cause the station to go off-air.

"The new equipment also upgraded the sound quality on our tuner radio for a more enjoyable user experience. This was a long...

The Gallup Fire Department responded to a semi-truck fire.

During the morning of Feb. 9, Crew A of the Gallup Fire Department was dispatched to I-40 milemarker 26 on a report of a semi-truck on fire.

Upon arrival crews found a box trailer heavily engulfed in fire. Crews deployed attack lines and started to conduct a fire attack. Crews confirmed with the driver of the semi and the shipping papers that the product being carried was refrigerated food products and no hazardous materials were involved.

Crews requested McKinley County Fire Rescue on mutual aid to assist with water supply. New Mexico Department of Transportation was also requested to bring a front end loader to assist with...

Dallago Corporation has been contracted by the City of Gallup to install a new waterline along Rico Street from Highway 66 south toward the new fire station at the corner of Rico Street and Bengal Road.

The City of Gallup Water Department will need to shut down water service temporarily while the contractor installs a new 8-inch water valve. The affected area will be from the intersection of Highway 66 and Rico Street to the south ending at Bengal Road.

The water shut off will take place Feb. 10 from 4 pm to 8 pm.

Surrounding areas may experience low water pressure.

For any questions, call Utility Dispatch at (505) 863-1200 or after hours dispatch at 833-863-1212.