FARMINGTON - Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez was joined by Navajo Agricultural Products Industry Board of Directors, Nov. 18, as he signed the first-phase master agriculture lease for the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry to continue operations on approximately 72,000 acres of Navajo land located south west of Farmington, N.M. NAPI officials said the Navajo enterprise had worked toward finalizing the lease agreement for several years.

The Navajo Nation created NAPI in 1970 to operate and manage the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project, which authorized the use of over 110,000 acres of land and water resources to be used to grow agricultural products. Since then, the enterprise...

Former Acting Director takes the lead

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. - Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer finalized a contract Nov. 18 for James D. Zwierlein, who has served as the acting director of the Navajo Nation Veterans Administration since July. With the new contract, he will serve as the executive director.

“Mr. Zwierlein’s military background and knowledge will be very beneficial for the Nation as we work with federal and state agencies and Navajo veterans organizations to assist and empower our veterans on the Navajo Nation,” Nez said.

Zwierlein has resided in Nahodishgish, N.M. for nearly four years with his wife Marie Zwierlein and their two...

New Community Hospital insurance chairman

Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services CEO David Conejo was named Chairman of HealthSure’s Community Hospital Insurance Coalition Member Relations Committee Nov. 19.

CHIC is one of the many options available through the Rural Hospital Insurance of America program. RHIA empowers rural hospitals with group buying power, reduced risk and shared wisdom.

As chairman, Conejo will educate rural hospital leaders about CHIC membership benefits.

“David will be instrumental to CHIC’s continued growth,” HealthSure CEO Brant Couch said. “His strength as a thought leader, speaker and rural healthcare professional will accelerate...

Vitamin E Acetate Implicated in Vaping-Related Lung Injury

SANTA Fe - The New Mexico Department of Health reports three additional cases of severe lung injury related to the use of e-cigarettes for vaping, bringing the total of cases in the state to 20.

This is part of the spike in e-cigarette, or vaping product associated lung injuries reported throughout the United States. Thirteen of New Mexico’s 20 patients have required hospitalization in intensive care units. Of the patients interviewed by the NMDOH, 77 percent reported THC use, with three patients reporting only nicotine use.

Recent laboratory testing by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of samples of fluid...