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.

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

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New Mexico

New Mexico squares off against Saint Joseph’s (PA) in NIT matchup :: WRALSportsFan.com

Published

3 hours ago

March 23, 2026

Press Room

New Mexico squares off against Saint Joseph’s (PA) in NIT matchup :: WRALSportsFan.com

By The Associated Press

Saint Joseph’s (PA) Hawks (24-11, 14-6 A-10) at New Mexico Lobos (25-10, 14-8 MWC)

Albuquerque, New Mexico; Tuesday, 9 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: New Mexico and Saint Joseph’s (PA) meet in the National Invitation Tournament.

The Lobos are 14-8 against MWC opponents and 11-2 in non-conference play. New Mexico ranks second in the MWC with 9.6 offensive rebounds per game led by Tomislav Buljan averaging 4.1.

The Hawks are 14-6 in A-10 play. Saint Joseph’s (PA) scores 73.3 points and has outscored opponents by 3.4 points per game.

New Mexico averages 9.5 made 3-pointers per game, 1.5 more made shots than the 8.0 per game Saint Joseph’s (PA) gives up. Saint Joseph’s (PA) averages 8.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.1 more makes per game than New Mexico allows.

TOP PERFORMERS: Buljan is averaging 12.8 points and 10.4 rebounds for the Lobos. Jake Hall is averaging 16.7 points over the last 10 games.

Jaiden Glover is scoring 16.0 points per game and averaging 4.9 rebounds for the Hawks. Derek Simpson is averaging 14.2 points and 5.4 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Lobos: 6-4, averaging 83.1 points, 35.0 rebounds, 16.1 assists, 8.7 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 74.3 points per game.

Hawks: 9-1, averaging 72.5 points, 35.7 rebounds, 15.5 assists, 5.0 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 43.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 66.1 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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New Mexico

Clovis shooting leaves one dead, four injured

Published

16 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Press Room

Clovis shooting leaves one dead, four injured

CLOVIS, N.M. (KCBD) – A 21-year-old woman is dead and four others are injured after a shooting in Clovis early Sunday morning.

Clovis police said a 911 caller reported hearing multiple gunshots at Grand and Calhoun streets at about 12:28 a.m. on March 22. Dispatch received multiple 911 calls where callers stated that multiple people had been shot.

Officers and Clovis Fire Department Emergency Medical Services were dispatched to the scene, where multiple persons were transported to Plains Regional Medical Center with varying degrees of injury.

Five persons were identified as having sustained gunshot wounds. A 17-year-old female was transported to a Lubbock-area hospital with life-threatening injuries. One victim, 21-year-old Lyrasha Haskins, has died from her injuries.

The Major Crimes Unit is actively investigating this homicide.

Anyone having information related to this incident is asked to call the non-emergency line for the Clovis Police Department at 575-769-1921. Information can also be provided anonymously by using the Clovis Police Department’s tip411 program at www.police.cityofclovis.org . Anonymous tips can be provided to the Curry County Crime Stoppers at 575-763-7000.

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