Noxious fumes, explosion danger close I-40


LUPTON, Ariz. — A BNSF train carrying liquid petroleum gas (propane) derailed, creating an explosion at the Arizona/New Mexico border April 26. Flames from the two railcars nearly engulfed the eastbound lanes of Interstate 40 shortly before 1 pm.

McKinley County Sheriff James Maiorano III said the highway was shut down for 54 hours, causing traffic delays and bottleneck traffic along rural byways.

The westbound train derailed on both sides of the border, bringing together a multitude of law enforcement agencies and firefighters. No injuries were reported.

Dramatic photos of the incident flooded social media channels, and one man from...

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The Navajo Nation Council's Health, Education, and Human Services Committee held a special meeting on April 29 focusing on the progress of Resolution CJY-38-22 in addressing Americans with Disabilities Act compliance relating to chapters and chapter facilities.

CJY-38-22, passed on Aug. 14, 2022, allocated funding from the Unreserved, Undesignated Fund Balance for necessary renovations at various Navajo Nation government facilities. These modifications are designed to make these facilities accessible to persons with disabilities, thereby also benefiting the elderly and disabled veteran communities.

HEHSC Chair Vince James noted that a collaborative effort is...

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department announced on April 29 that oil and gas company Ameredev II, LLC has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle alleged violations of state air regulations. This is the largest settlement the Department has ever reached for a civil oil and gas violation. Under state law, $24.1 million of the penalty will be deposited into New Mexico’s General Fund.

“This settlement makes one thing crystal clear - companies that pollute our air will pay for circumventing New Mexico’s rules,” Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said. “Today’s settlement is about penalizing the bad actors in an effort to protect communities from breathing harmful...

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley placed the topic of sexual harassment prevention, awareness, and response on the Naabik’íyáti’ Committee’s agenda on April 25 to provide an overview of current Navajo Nation workplace policies provided by the Navajo Nation Division of Human Resources.

The Naabik’íyáti’ Committee voiced overwhelming support to initiate legislation aimed at reforming and creating new measures within Navajo Nation policy to prevent and appropriately respond to allegations of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment and assault, and to provide more resources to victims and hold perpetrators accountable.

“The...