Author: Gallup Sun Publishing
Staff Reports UPDATE: Darricka Begay has been located. Gallup Police are asking for the public’s help in finding a missing 16-year-old. Darricka Begay is a 5′ Diné young woman who weighs about 286 pounds. She has brown eyes and brown hair. Begay was last seen July 25 around 5 pm leaving her residence in Gallup. She was last seen wearing a black shirt, blue jeans, and white Nike shoes. She wears glasses and may be with a friend named “Destiny.” Anyone with informaiton on Begay’s whereabouts is asked to call Metro Dispatch at (505) 722-2002 or the Gallup Police Department…
Staff Reports New Mexico’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.8% in June, down from 4.9% in May and up from 4% in the previous year. The national unemployment rate in June was 4.2%, down from 4.3% in May and up from 4.1% in June 2025. In McKinley County, the unemployment rate was 7% in June. Total nonagricultural payroll employment grew by 10,600 jobs, or 1.2%, between June 2025 and June 2026. The private sector was up 9,300 jobs, or 1.3%, while the public sector was down 1,300 jobs, or 0.7%. Within the private sector, the private service-providing industries were up…
Staff Reports New Mexico could soon take center stage in the national campaign scene. One of the Democratic National Committees proposed to select New Mexico as an early state for the presidential primary July 24. The DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee voted to make New Mexico one of the first four states to hold its presidential primary. “This means that New Mexicans will have a say in who can become the president unlike ever before,” Daniel Garcia, Communications Director for the Democratic Party of New Mexico, said. Typically, New Mexico’s primary lands on the first Tuesday of June, but the…
Staff Reports Multiple communities, includig Gallup and the Zuni Pueblo, are cleaning up after flooding occured July 21 and 22. And more is on the way for the remaining days of July. But help is on the way. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an executive order July 23 authorizing up to $250,000 in emergency funds for the New Mexico National Guard. The money will help Gallup, the Zuni Pueblo, and other communities across the state with temporary housing, food, and health care.
Staff Reports University of New Mexico-Gallup bids farewell to Community Education & Workforce Development Director Ashlee Velasquez, who’s last day in office was July 23. Her official end date is July 31. Velasquez is moving on to become the director of community engagement and relations for Gallup-McKinley County Schools. Velasquez is a graduate of UNM and started working at the Gallup branch campus in April 2024. She was instrumental in re-building and strengthening the Community Education & Workforce Development program, which now has six in-person courses and 17 online courses for professional training. “Every ending is the beginning of a…
By Renaldo Fowler For community members like Michael Notah, 45, of Jamestown, learning about fiber optics offers not only the chance for someone like him to transition into a new career, but it helps the region as a whole to close the digital divide. Notah was one of 31 participants who received certifications from the Fiber Optic Technician Bootcamp hosted at The University of New Mexico-Gallup from June 8-12. Notah said he was already familiar with fiber optics before joining the bootcamp, but he was new to the practical application of it and the technology used. “I enjoyed the energy…
Staff Reports The National Weather Service in Albuquerque issued a flash flood warning for southwestern McKinley County at 5:34 pm July 24. It will last until 8:30 pm Around 5:30 pm, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. So far, between 0.25 and 0.75 inches of rain has fallen across areas just north of Zuni Pueblo. Additonal rainfall amount of half an inch to one inch are expected to begin shortly. Authorities are asking residents not to cross flowing water or water of unknown depth. Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths…
Staff Reports TSE BONITO, N.M. — The Navajo Division of Transportation (Navajo is aware of the installation of Flock License Plate Reader cameras in various communities across the Navajo Nation and has received numerous inquiries from community members regarding these devices. In a July 24 press release, Navajo DOT stated they would like to clarify that the installation and operation of these cameras is not a Navajo DOT initiative. The project is being carried out under the lead direction of the Navajo Nation Criminal Investigations and the Navajo Nation Police Department. As questions and concerns regarding the purpose, placement, and…
Staff Reports The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for most of McKinley County for July 25. Showers and thunderstorms will be capable of producing rainfall rates in excess of two inches per hour the afternoon of July 25. This activity will move slowly westward with repeated rounds of heavy rainfall possible through the evening. Recent heavy rainfall will exacerbate the risk for significant flooding in areas already impacted by flood waters. Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood prone locations. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared…
Staff Reports Northwestern McKinley County will be in a flood advisory until 7 pm July 24. Around 4 pm, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms. This will cause arroyo and small stream flooding. Between 0.5 and 1.25 inches of rain have fallen across Tohatchi. Some locations that will experience flooding include Tohatchi, Nakaibito, Brimhall Nizhoni, and Coyote Canyon. Additional rainfall amounts up to 0.25 inches are expected over the area. This additional rain will result in minor flooding. Arroyo and small stream flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected. Authorities are asking residents not to cross flowing water…
