WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Over $226 million in initial CARES Act Hardship Assistance checks are in the process of being printed and mailed. The Navajo Nation Office of the Controller reported that the checks for over 200,000 applicants will soon be on their way.

The Office of the Controller said it began mailing the checks in batches of 20,000 – 25,000 Jan. 18.

For mailing addresses on the Navajo Nation, the time for delivery could be longer than mailing addresses in major metropolitan areas such as Phoenix or Albuquerque. The Office of the Controller advises applicants to wait three to four weeks before calling the Support Center to check on the status of a payment.

Navajo Nation...

Nearly three weeks into her freshmen term, Congresswoman Yvette Herrell, R-N.M., is adjusting to life in the nation’s capital, representing New Mexico’s second district.

Herrell was sworn in as a part of the 117th Congress on Jan. 3, and despite being away from family, colder weather, and no green chile, she said she is excited to represent her district.

“The new freshmen class has been amazing, and it’s really kind of surreal to be serving side-by-side with some of my friends and colleagues, who I have such a great deal of respect for,” Herrell told the Gallup Sun.

Due to the pandemic and security in the nation’s capital, Herrell watched President Joe Biden’s...

SANTA FE — On Jan. 16 Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued the following statement upon news of the death of former state Sen. James White, R- Dist. 19:

“I am saddened to learn of the passing of Jim White. He was an honorable public servant. He served his country as a member of the Air Force and his state as a representative and later senator. His district was well-served by his willingness to put his constituents before party interests. I offer my condolences to his family and friends, and my prayers are with those who loved him.”

Lujan Grisham ordered state flags to half-staff from Jan 19-21 in memory of the late senator.

White served Dist. 19 from 2016-2020.

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health announced the updated statewide COVID-19 map for the two-week period beginning Jan. 13, with 30 counties at the Red Level.

Twenty counties saw a higher average daily per-capita rate of new cases in the last two weeks, and 17 counties saw a higher test positivity rate; 16 counties worsened in both metrics. Only 12 counties improved in both of the two health gating criteria metrics.

The state’s county-by-county system uses key health metrics – the per-capita daily incidence of new COVID-19 cases and average COVID-19 test positivity within county borders – to determine the level of public health risk and requirement for each...