WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The 25th Navajo Nation Council convened a special session and unanimously approved emergency legislation to amend and strengthen the Radioactive Materials Transportation Act of 2012 on Aug. 26.

Legislation No. 0198-24, sponsored by Council Delegate Casey Allen Johnson and co-sponsored by Delegates Brenda Jesus and Danny Simpson, will strengthen the Navajo Nation’s regulatory authority over the transportation of uranium and other radioactive materials across its lands if the resolution is signed into law by the Navajo Nation President.

The discussion, led by Simpson and Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency Executive Director Stephen Etsitty...

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The Navajo Nation is facing an escalating challenge with feral horses, and efforts are being intensified to find a solution.

On Aug. 21, Gloria Tom, the manager of Navajo Nation Fish and Wildlife, organized a meeting between her department and the Navajo Nation Department of Agriculture to strategize a new approach to the issue.

“This shouldn’t be political, but it is,” Tom said, highlighting the complexities surrounding the feral horse problem.

Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, who frequently travels across the reservation, has witnessed the growing impact of these horses firsthand and is determined to take action.

Earlier this year, in response to the...

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives Task Force conducted in a hybrid format meeting with both virtual and in-person attendance on Aug. 22, focusing on enhancing collaboration with law enforcement agencies, reviewing case studies, and discussing strategic initiatives to improve the response to critical cases.

“The Task Force is committed to ensuring that every missing and murdered Diné relative received the justice they deserved,” Council Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty, Chair of the MMDR Task Force, said. “This meeting marked a crucial step in strengthening our partnerships with law enforcement and community advocates, as we worked together to bring...

New Mexico’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4% in July, up from 3.9% in June and up from 3.7%  in the previous year. The national unemployment rate in July was 4.3% up from 4.1% in June and up from 3.5% in July  2023.

Total nonagricultural payroll employment grew by 19,200 jobs, or 2.2%, between July 2023 and July 2024. The majority of gains came from the private sector. The private sector was up 15,700 jobs, or 2.3%, while the public sector was up 3,500 jobs, or 2%. Within the private sector, the private service-providing industries were up 12,800 jobs, or 2.2%, while employment in  the goods-producing industries was up 2,900 jobs, or 2.7%, from the level in July...