City approves funding for ongoing tourism promotion

Gallup’s primary guardians of tourism are funded for another year, after the city council passed a raft of tourism-related measures that will keep the Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce, Gallup Cultural Center and airport services humming.

Tourism is big business for Gallup, accounting for about a third of the area’s above-ground economy, according to Chamber Executive Director Bill Lee. That estimate probably falls short because of the money that changes hands in the underground artisan economy.

The council approved a $120,000 contract with the Chamber to keep the Visitor Information Center open year-round ($75,000)...

PHOENIX, Ariz. — Speaker Seth Damon and members of the State Task Force Sub-Committee of the 24th Navajo Nation applaud the signing of the historic $18 billion Fiscal Year 2023 budget signed into law June 28 by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey. The  bi-partisan budget allocates $55 million for road infrastructure projects, veterans services, housing construction, tribal education programs, and the Kayenta judicial complex that was passed by the Arizona State Senate and House of Representatives the week of June 20.

Senator Theresa Hatathlie (LD7), Representative Jasmine Blackwater-Nygren (LD7), and Representative Myron Tsosie (LD7) worked with Governor Ducey, Senate President Karen Fann...

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez joined U.S. Veterans Secretary Denis R. McDonough in Gallup on June 28 as he officially recognized the Navajo Nation Veterans Administration as a tribal veteran service organization that meets the criteria and standards to be accredited under the Tribal Representation Expansion Program, to assist veterans with benefit and pension claims. The Navajo Nation is the very first tribal nation to earn such recognition in the entire country.

Among many requirements that had to be met through the U.S. Veterans Affairs’ application process, under the leadership of Director James Zwierlein the Navajo Nation Veterans Administration had to demonstrate its...

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — During a two-day Special Session last week, the 24th Navajo Nation Council passed Legislation No. 0066-22, approving $4 million from the Unreserved, Undesignated Fund Balance for Summer Youth Employment Programs with 110 Navajo Nation chapters. Sponsored by Council Delegate Eugene Tso, the bill passed by a vote of 20 in favor and one opposed.

A motion by Vice Chairman Carl Slater passed with an amendment to allow funds to be utilized to reimburse chapters for their verified expenditures since May 2022 for summer youth employment expenses.

“Two years of this pandemic has impacted employment opportunities for our students, and this $4 million will put our summer...