WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The Health, Education, and Human Services Committee met with the Navajo Nation Veterans Advisory Council Jan. 13 to discuss critical issues affecting Navajo veterans, including housing, resource allocation, and communication gaps.

HEHSC made recommendations and identified areas for improvement to better support veterans. Committee members highlighted ongoing communication issues between the Veterans Administration and the Advisory Council, which have caused confusion and delays. HEHSC Vice-Chair Germaine Simonson called for more effective use of chain-of-command principles.

“Grassroots concerns must flow through the appropriate channels,” she said. “This...

ALBUQUERQUE — A Church Rock man was sentenced to 264 months in prison Jan. 15 after pleading guilty to multiple counts of sexual abuse involving three young victims, two of whom were under the age of 12 at the time of the offenses and one who was under the age of 16.

According to court documents, between January 2014 and December 2021, Nathaniel Luz, 32, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, engaged in sexual contact with two victims, both children who had were not yet 12 years old.

In August 2022, Luz also engaged in a sexual act with a third victim, a child who was older than 12, But not yet 16. had attained the age of 12 years but had not yet attained the age of 16...

CARLSBAD, N.M. — The New Mexico State Parks will celebrate the 20th birthday of Carlsbad local legend Maggie the Bear Jan. 18 at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park.

This is a great opportunity for families to enjoy a day of fun activities while also celebrating the incredible life of Maggie, the zoo’s black bear who has become famous for her unique ability to create art with her paws.

Maggie’s story began when she was orphaned as a one-month-old cub and raised by a wildlife rehabilitator in Missouri. She arrived at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park at five months old and has since charmed visitors with her signature paw-painting hobby, which started as a form of...

SANTA FE — Alcohol-related deaths decreased in 2023 for the second consecutive year, marking progress in the state’s efforts to combat alcohol misuse, according to the New Mexico Department of Health.

In 2023, NMDOH reported 1,896 alcohol-related deaths, down from 2,067 in 2022 and 2,274 at peak in 2021. New Mexico has historically had the highest alcohol-related deaths in the nation, with the most recent national data (2021) showing its rate was more than twice the national average. However, the state has achieved a 17.3% decline in the age-adjusted rate of 102.3 deaths per 100,000 in 2021 to 84.5 deaths per 100,000 in 2023.

“The decline highlights the positive impact of...