“The Navajo people were given a big victory today,” LoRenzo Bates said July 30. “I applaud this federal judge who affirms our sovereignty, recognizes our need to continue in our own governance, and our inherent right to be,” Bates said.

Bates is a former Navajo Nation lawmaker who rose to serve four terms as its presiding speaker of the 23rd Navajo Nation Council is from Upper Fruitland, and whose chapter is directly affected by the loss of jobs and revenues from energy.

“The federal appeals court made the right decision today, [July 30] saying ‘no’ to environmental bullyism,” Sharon Clahchischilliage said.  Clahchischilliage left office in January as state...

Designates six polling locations

The Gallup City Council heard two items pertaining to local city elections during their July 23 regular meeting.

The first resolution discussed at the meeting designates six polling locations for Municipal Officer Election Day, in line with state law that requires a governing body to designate the polling place of each precinct or consolidated precinct in either June or July of each odd-numbered year.

The following locations were designated by the City of Gallup staff as voter convenience centers: South Side Fire Station No. 1, 1800 S. Second St.; North Side Fire Station No. 2, 911 W. Lincoln Ave.; East Side Fire Station No. 3., 3700 Church Rock St....

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, July 18, appointed Shannon Pinto to the senate seat left vacant after the May death of her grandfather, Navajo Code Talker and New Mexico icon, Sen. John Pinto.

Sen. Pinto will serve the remainder of her grandfather’s term in Senate District 3. She was nominated to fill the vacancy by the San Juan County Commission.

Pinto, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, is an educator, having worked as both a middle school and high school math teacher in Tohatchi. She earned an associate’s degree in business administration from the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute and a bachelor’s in financial management from the University of New Mexico.

“John...

Landmark education bill heads for Senate

SANTA FE - The House of Representatives has passed House Bill 5 Public Education Changes sponsored by House Floor Majority Leader Representative Sheryl Williams Stapleton (D-Albuquerque), House Education Committee Chair Representative Andres Romero (D-Albuquerque), House Appropriations & Finance Chairwoman Patricia Lundstrom (D-Gallup), Representative Christine Trujillo (D-Albuquerque), and Representative Bobby Gonzalez (D-Taos).

Described as the “moonshot bill” by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, HB 5 calls for a $449 million dollar increase for public education funding, while raising teacher minimum salaries, expanding K-5 Plus, and...