SANTA FE — The state of New Mexico has created a new partnership between the State Attorney General, State Auditor and Ombudsman to protect seniors and specialized care individuals at nursing homes and long-term care facilities from poor or abusive treatment.

The Ombudsman will also partner with the Department of Health and Adult Protective Services to review data and elevate complaints to executive departments that have the power to investigate, level civil penalties and prosecute if needed.

The creation of this partnership follows a request by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for the Ombudsman to review complaints occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic and to recommend a course of...

ALBUQUERQUE — Lost Wages Assistance payments are coming to an end for New Mexicans.

The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions began processing payments to unemployed workers under the federal Lost Wages Assistance program Sept. 3. New Mexico was one of the first states to apply and be approved for the LWA grant when it was announced four weeks ago.

Funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, LWA provides $300 per week to supplement unemployment benefits to individuals that meet the eligibility requirements of receiving at least $100 in unemployment benefits per week and self-certifying that they are unemployed, or partially unemployed, as a direct result of the COVID-19...

GALLUP— Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer attended the graveside services for U.S. Army PFC Carlton Lane Chee, a member of the Navajo Nation, who passed away at the age of 25 on Sept. 2 while stationed at Fort Hood Army Base in Texas. Services were held at the National Veterans Cemetery in Gallup, Sept. 15.

Nez and Lizer presented a Navajo Nation flag and a proclamation in honor and remembrance of PFC Chee. On Sept. 14, the two leaders also issued a proclamation calling for all flags on the Navajo Nation to be flown at half-staff on Sept. 15, to pay tribute to PFC Chee and U.S. Army Spc. Miguel D. Yazzie, who passed away in July also while...

SHIPROCK, NAVAJO NATION—The Shiprock District Court denied the arguments made by defendant Dineh Benally that the Navajo Nation’s lawsuit against him and his companies should be dismissed on Sept. 10.

In a nineteen-page order, the Court reviewed, analyzed and denied each of the four arguments made by Benally.

Benally had claimed that

(1) the Shiprock Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case,

(2) the Nation must resolve the matter through the San Juan Regional Farm Board – on which Benally serves as President,

(3) the Nation failed to join the San Juan River Farm Board – which is an entity of the Nation, and

(4) Benally denied knowledge of the existence of co-defendants...