Two Gallup residents who sought for years to receive unpaid wages owed by a local business owner finally received their paychecks during the week of April 8 under the terms of a settlement agreement facilitated by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions and Somos Un Pueblo Unido, a non-profit organization that promotes worker and social justice.

“Persistence is the key word. We didn’t give up. We just stuck with it,” Jose "Pancho" Olivas said.

Jose, along with his wife, Sandra Olivas, worked for more than six months for Morgan Newsom, a Gallup business owner, at his Farmington restaurant in 2014 and 2015 and were not paid for all their hours, including overtime...

SANTA FE — During the month of April, the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department celebrates the contributions of senior volunteers across the state.

Based on the national value of each volunteer hour in New Mexico, the financial impact of senior volunteers across the state is estimated at over $13 million. Over this last year, the almost 1,400 senior volunteers serving with initiatives that include Foster Grandparents, Senior Companion and the Retired Senior Volunteer Programs provided over 498,000 hours of service.

"We are tremendously grateful for all of the senior volunteers who serve across our state,” ALTSD Cabinet Secretary Jen Paul Schroer said. “Their...

‘Sun’ reflects on uranium effects


Uranium mining carries a heavy meaning on the Navajo Nation, perhaps more than any other part of the American Southwest. While the mines are mostly no longer in operation, they are still having an impact on many facets of life across the region.

Specifically, some of the mines scattered around the reservation are still contaminated with radioactive materials from their days in operation. The pollution seeps into local water and air supplies, rendering parts of the Navajo Nation uninhabitable and dangerous for people and wildlife.

In the decades since the mines opened and then closed in the middle of the 20th century, livestock have grazed on...

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced on April 17 she will call the New Mexico Legislature into a special session on July 18 to take up additional public safety protections that New Mexicans demand.

The governor said she decided to convene a special session to allow lawmakers to finish what they started during the 30-day session. Based on discussions with legislative leadership, the governor anticipates that the special session will be completed within several days.

“While we made some progress toward a safer New Mexico during the 30-day day session, we agree that we must do more,” Lujan Grisham said. “The special session in July will enable us to deliver...