WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The 25th Navajo Nation Council’s Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives Task Force, chaired by Council Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty, recently convened to address pressing issues related to missing and murdered Diné people. The discussion highlighted the need for greater collective action, cultural sensitivity, and strong community involvement.

The agenda included a comprehensive report from DNA Legal Services and the introduction of newly appointed Task Force representatives, Janet and Van Gerry.

The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Coalition provided updates on upcoming events, advocacy training, and mutual aid initiatives for affected...

Only one bill was passed during the 2024 special legislative session, and it had nothing to do with crime.

House Bill 1 focused on funding for flood and fire response funding, pilot projects, healthcare, and resources for the courts.

The bill took over $200,000 from legislative cash balances for expenses from the session. One hundred million dollars from the general fund went toward several agencies for expenses related to wildfire relief. They gave $3 million to the Administrative Office of the Courts for assisted outpatient treatment programs and competency diversion pilot programs.

However, the Senate and House adjourned within six hours on July 18 without addressing a majority of...

Competency isn’t the only thing lawmakers will be discussing. Lujan Grisham released a statement on July 17 outlining several pressing issues necessitating legislative intervention besides criminal competency:

Mental Health Treatment Standards: Current definitions of “danger to self” and “danger to others” are inadequate, preventing individuals with severe mental illness from receiving necessary care.

Crime Reporting: Inconsistent crime and ballistic reporting by local law enforcement agencies hampers effective criminal investigations.

Pedestrian Safety: New Mexico leads the nation in pedestrian fatalities, with many accidents involving individuals on medians.

Gun Violence...

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Leading to the start of the 2024 Summer Session, 25th Navajo Nation Council Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty led an anti-drunk driving advocacy walk with parents Darlene and Dave Peshlakai who lost their two daughters in a tragic drunk driving accident.

The Peshlakais annually host the Angels vs. Drunk Driving Awareness Walk, an event dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of drunk driving. The Peshlakais’ daughters, Deshauna and Del Lynn, were killed in a fatal drunk-driving accident in March 2010, as they were returning home from a basketball game in Santa Fe.

“Thank you to all the families who participated, this was an awareness walk for to stop...