A federal judge handed down a 30-year prison sentence on May 17 to a Naschitti man who pleaded guilty to conspiring to kidnap a victim who was lured to a location in Gallup under the false pretense of meeting up with a woman. The victim was then beaten and stabbed to death.

According to court records, on Sept. 16, 2021, Elias Viola, 32, and his then-girlfriend, Shannon Etsitty, devised a plan to lure the victim to a location under the guise of a meetup with Etsitty. Viola sent a text message from Etsitty’s phone propositioning the victim, who agreed to meet.

Etsitty reportedly picked the victim up from his residence and drove him to a location where Viola and another man attacked the...

A man from Fruitland, New Mexico is accused of killing one man — laughing and shooting as the victim begged for his life — injuring another and terrorizing a family on a road trip during an April shooting spree.

Rydell Happy, 30, is charged federally with second-degree murder in the April 24 death of the man.

According to a criminal complaint, officers were alerted to Happy's crime spree after a family traveling southbound on U.S. Highway 491, about 40 miles north of Gallup, reported to law enforcement that they had been followed, rear-ended, and shot at by someone sitting in the front passenger seat of a white SUV. The call came in around 10 pm.

Further investigation revealed...

The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) District Six along with Albuquerque Asphalt, Inc. (Contractor) will begin mill and inlay work on Interstate 40 between Gallup and Thoreau.

Beginning May 10, work will begin at various locations on eastbound and westbound I-40 between mile marker 26.0 and 54.7.

The contractor’s work hours are 6:30 am to 8 pm Monday through Friday.  Drivers should expect minor delays and plan travel accordingly.  All work is expected to be complete by the end of May.

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The 25th Navajo Nation Council recognizes Navajo Nation Police Officer Day on May 10 and honors all the Navajo Nation Police Officers and their families for their courage, strength, and dedication to protecting the Navajo people.

"Every day, our Navajo Nation Police officers bravely risk their lives to safeguard our community," Speaker Crystalyne Curley said. "However, the shortage of manpower in law enforcement across the Navajo Nation means our officers must cover vast areas and shoulder an overwhelming workload. Despite these challenges, our officers have shown remarkable dedication and resilience. On this special day, we honor and pray for our officers...