New Mexico

Gathering will mark 45 years since the largest radioactive release in U.S. history hit New Mexico • Source New Mexico

Published

2 years ago

July 12, 2024

Gathering will mark 45 years since the largest radioactive release in U.S. history hit New Mexico • Source New Mexico

It’s been 45 years since the largest radioactive release in U.S. history occurred at Church Rock New Mexico. Members of the Navajo Nation will gather on Saturday to commemorate the anniversary of the uranium spill.

On July 16th, 1979, a dam ruptured and released more than a thousand tons of radioactive waste and nearly 95 million gallons of toxic radioactive wastewater spilled into the nearby Rio Puerco and surrounding Navajo Nation lands.

“And the folks that live in the area tell stories about being out herding their sheep and seeing this wave of green liquid come their way, you know, they weren’t warned about it, and many of them waded in it to get their livestock out and ended up with sores on their legs,” said Susan Gordon, coordinator for the Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment, which she is helping organize the commemoration event.

She said the contaminants flowed downstream through Gallup and across nine Navajo chapters.

Radiation from the spill was detected as far as 80 miles downstream. As a result, communities around the spill have experienced health problems associated with radiation exposure.

Gordon said the mining company, United Nuclear Corp. did little to clean up the radioactive waste.

“They sent a handful of people out with shovels and buckets to try to gather up this green sludge that was all through there. And that’s it. That’s all that was ever done,” Gordon said.

According to Stanford University, the company dug new drinking wells and removed about 1% of the estimated total spill material. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission permitted the company to resume operations five months later. The mine was abandoned in 1982.

The Church Rock spill is the third largest radioactive waste release globally, after the Fukushima disaster and the Chernobyl meltdown.

Gordon said they’re hoping to continue to educate people.

“But also to bring pressure on the National Institute of Health and our congressional delegation to provide more money for cleanup and for health research,” she said.

The ceremony will have an opening prayer and a walk to the spill site. Speakers will include former uranium worker Larry King, and scientists discussing the impact of the radiation.

Support for this coverage comes from the Thornburg Foundation.

Source link

Related Topics:Church Rock Featured National Institute of Health Navajo Nation Uranium spill

Click to comment

New Mexico

New Mexico spoils Nevada’s Senior Day as Lobos leave Reno with 63-56 win

Published

11 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

New Mexico spoils Nevada’s Senior Day as Lobos leave Reno with 63-56 win

The Nevada women’s basketball team dropped its final home contest of the 2025-26 season on Saturday with New Mexico spoiling Senior Day and pushing past the Wolf Pack for a 63-56 win.

The Wolf Pack led 36-34 at halftime behind a hot-shooting start. Skylar Durley, Imbie Jones and Ahrray Young each had six points as Nevada shot 14-of-25 from the field (56%). But things cooled off in the second half, with the Lobos outscoring the Wolf Pack 19-13 in the third quarter to take a four-point lead into the fourth. Nevada’s shooting woes only worsened in the final period when it made just three field goals, including none in the final four minutes.

Durley led Nevada with 16 points and six rebounds. Young finished with 10 points, three rebounds and three assists. The Wolf Pack made just one three-pointer out of its nine attempts.

The loss drops Nevada to 9-20 overall, 5-14 within the Mountain West Conference. The Wolf Pack now heads to Utah State for Tuesday’s regular-season finale before opening the Mountain West Tournament play next Saturday in Las Vegas.

Watch our coverage of the game below.

Highlights and reaction from Nevada’s loss to New Mexico.

Source link

New Mexico

San Diego State vs New Mexico Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today’s College Basketball Game

Published

23 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

San Diego State vs New Mexico Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today’s College Basketball Game

Expect the offenses to shine when SDSU visits New Mexico in The Pit today, per our college basketball betting picks.

Feb 28, 2026 • 10:23 ET

• 4 min read

Source link

New Mexico

Public Service Company of New Mexico Declares Preferred Dividend

Published

1 day ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Board of Directors of Public Service Company of New Mexico, a subsidiary of TXNM Energy (NYSE: TXNM), declared the regular quarterly dividend of $1.145 per share on the 4.58 percent series of cumulative preferred stock. The preferred stock dividend is payable April 15, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business March 31, 2026.

Background:
TXNM Energy (NYSE: TXNM), an energy holding company based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, delivers energy to more than 800,000 homes and businesses across Texas and New Mexico through its regulated utilities, TNMP and PNM. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.TXNMEnergy.com.

CONTACTS:
Analysts
Lisa Goodman
(505) 241-2160

Media
Corporate Communications
(505) 241-2743

SOURCE TXNM Energy, Inc.

Source link