State of Affairs

The start of a new year always feels like a small reset.Not a clean slate — life doesn’t work that way — but a chance to take a breath and ask what we’re building, and whether it’s strong enough to last.

Op-Ed

Gallup and McKinley County are defined by resilience, responsibility, and a strong sense of community. At Gallup-McKinley County Schools (GMCS), those values guide everything we do.

State of Affairs

At 11:00 a.m. today, the City of Grants will swear in newly elected council members -including, in District 1, Dolores P. Vallejos.She will raise her hand. She will take an oath.

The Postscript

In Sweden, there used to be a widespread belief that animals could talk on Christmas Eve.My Swedish mother read me stories about this as a child, and it is true. Apparently throughout Scandinavia, folks would give their animals treats so they wouldn’t speak badly of them.

OP-ED...

I want to be clear on some matters regarding the city council meeting on December 17, 2025. My intent in requesting to table the matter of residency for the Councilor elect in question, was to get further consultation with the city attorney. I stated this in my motion.

Get Your H.A.T.

The middle of winter has been a time of celebration around the world for millennia. Centuries before Jesus’ birth, early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter.

Letters to the Editor . . .

War on AmericaTo the Editor:350 words is not much for a satisfying rant, but I’ll give it a shot. His Majesty, the Don of Orange, only a year into his latest reign, has nearly prevailed in his war on America.

Get Your H.A.T.

Ludwig van Beethoven remains one of the most significant and influential composers in the history of music.Though the day he was born is not known, it is said to have been on December 17, 1770, in Bonn, Germany.

The Postscript

I know there are a lot of opinions about the right way to do Christmas.My husband, Peter, feels the holidays are too commercial—too much time spent in preparation, too much added stress buying everyone presents.

Wayfinding

I had the chance to jam with the Grants Noypi Band. “Noypi” is the slangier version of the slang term “Pinoy,” which Filipinos often use when referring to themselves. The band is currently rehearsing for the upcoming Bayanihan on December 12, 2025 (Friday) in Grants, New Mexico.