News

Gallup detoxification center set to close doors

Submitted by Sara Montoya on Friday, June 14th, 11:33 am

New Mexico's largest social detoxification center says that it’s closing down due to unavailable funding.

Jay Azua is the program manager for the Na'Nizhoozhi Center Inc. in Gallup. He says that the facility projects that they will only be able to operate another 30-90 days without committed donors.

Azua said. “We will offer the detox program until we go broke. However dietary and short-term housing programs will cease to exist.”

In 2009 the center was made aware that they would no longer receive ongoing congressional funds. Since then, Na'Nizhoozhi said they have done their best to scale back on certain programs for budgeting purposes.

“For example, we used to offer transportation services for members of the detox program.

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'Special Spaces' helps Albuquerque boy

Submitted by KOB.com Staff

Friday, June 14th, 2013, 10:57am

There’s a big surprise in store for an Albuquerque boy battling cancer.

Matthew Pedrotty will have a chance to see a mural when he gets back home from the hospital in New York City next month.

Artists Rick Martinez, puts the air brush to the dragon. In the mural the dragon represents cancer. Matthew is going to whip it with some help from his pal the incredible hulk.

We met Matthew back in September. He is five and battling stage four, high risk neuroblastoma. He spends a lot of time at Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York where he is a study patient.

The artists were able to paint his backyard thanks to a group called Special Spaces. They do things like this for children with life threatening illnesses.

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N.M. Lottery Scholarship still coming up short

Submitted by Sara Montoya on Wednesday, June 12th, 9:26 am

For years, the New Mexico Lottery has said the scholarship program was projected to run short of money. The newest report reflects that could be the case as soon as the 2014-15 school year.

Officials for the Legislative Lottery scholar ship say that if current trends hold true, the demand on the scholarship will mean a $10.5 million difference for fiscal 2014 between the need for the scholarship and the funds available.

Larry Behrens, a spokesman for the New Mexico Higher Education Department, explains why the scholarship has yet to see a solution to the problem. “By law, the Legislature is the only body that can pass requirements for a permanent solution to the scholarship.

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Bieber headed to space from N.M.

Submitted by Sara Montoya on Friday, June 7th, 10:23 am

The LA Times reports that Justin Bieber is the next big celebrity to visit space via New Mexico.

Richard Branson, billionaire, and creator of Virgin Galactic tweeted on Wednesday that the superstar and his manager signed up for a Virgin spacecraft flight. Not too long after, Bieber himself retweeted the message to his 40 million plus followers.

Bieber now resides on the list of fellow celebrity travelers like Ashton Kutcher and Leo DiCaprio.

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Tres Lagunas Fire Update

Submitted by Sara Montoya on Wednesday, June 5th, 9:18 am

More smoke is expected from the Tres Lagunas fire near Pecos in Northern New Mexico.

Officials say residents will see an increase in the next few days due to maintenance efforts. Firefighters plan to burn an area to clear unburned fuel, and the fire management team says that will increase smoke in the early afternoons and early evenings along the fire's east side.

“We are prepping by thinning out vegetation in the southeast corner, but we won’t light anything if winds are bad, or if moisture is too low,” said Dick Fleischman of the U.S. Forest Service.

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BCSO arms gun owners with safety info

Submitted by KOB.com Staff

Monday, June 3rd, 2013, 9:29pm

The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department is hosting a series of citizen firearm safety classes this month.

Participants will learn everything from proper handling to safe storage at home. These classes are offered free of charge and will be taught by certified firearms instructors. The department will also be giving away free gun locks to participants on a first come first serve basis.

For more information on when and where the classes are held click here.

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Program aims to feed kids, keep them active

Submitted by KOB.com Staff

Monday, June 3rd, 2013, 7:41pm

Free summer meal programs kicked off across New Mexico today.

Any child can get a free lunch and some places are even offering breakfast. No registration is required. They’re served on a first come first serve basis. Today we checked out day one for Bernalillo County.

There are 55D different locations around Bernalillo County, that doesn't include the 180 sites where the City of Albuquerque is also serving. Parents like Leila Bergman appreciate it.

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