McKinney initiative a hit with residents

Over the past few months, the city’s solid waste pickups have been successful, and there are no plans to scrap the idea. That was the word this week from city Solid Waste Superintendent Adrian Marrufo.

Marrufo said plans are on the table for a 2017 pickup schedule. The pickups began when Mayor Jackie McKinney took office in 2011.

“They went well,” Marrufo said. “Ever since they started, they’ve been successful. One pickup in August was pushed back due to the [Inter-Tribal Indian] Ceremonial.”

Items collected during the six solid-waste pickups —between April and August — included yard debris, household items, chemicals...

Audit reveals state potentially failed to collect at least $193M from insurance companies

SANTA FE – On Sept. 20, State Auditor Tim Keller released a special audit of premium taxes collected by the state of New Mexico. New Mexico’s Office of the Superintendent of Insurance is responsible for accurate and timely collection of premium taxes from insurance providers that do business in the state.

A sample of one-quarter of the total premium tax collected from 2010 to 2015 revealed that the state may have been underpaid at least $193 million just for those transactions. The total amount due to the state for all transactions is likely to be more.

“Given New Mexico’s budget...

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – On Sept. 12, the Health, Education, and Human Services Committee approved Legislation No. 0078-15, which reinstates the Equivalency Clause into the Navajo Nation Personnel Policy Manual.

According to the legislation, the reinstatement of the Equivalency Clause establishes “minimum qualifications for a position, whether a certain number of years of experience, a specific educational requirement, or both, for qualification assessment,” and to seek the best qualified candidates for hiring.

On March 25, 2015, the HEHSC considered Legislation No. 0078-15 and was ruled out of order due to inaccurate language in the bill, and a directive was made to correct the...

Two locals fell victim to a Sept. 14 McKinley County Sheriff’s Office undercover drug operation and remained jailed on trafficking, conspiracy and solicitation charges as of press time.

Shawntel Luján, 21, of Gamerco, and Reyes Castillo, 24, of Gallup, remained behind bars Sept. 20 at the McKinley County Adult Detention Center. Additionally, both Castillo and Luján were wanted by law enforcement on outstanding drug warrants, officials said.

Luján was jailed on a $5,000 cash-only bond, and Castillo’s bond was set at $15,000, according to information provided by jail officials.

Leading up to the bust, MCSO agents conducted methamphetamine buys from Castillo. Although a...