WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. —  The Diné Hatalii Association contends they are the original first responders and their position is supported by recent academic research entitled, “Nihe’iina’ Náás Yiilyéél (Perpetuating Our Way of Life): Diné Local Governance from Tradition to COVID-19,” written by the Diné Policy Institute at Diné College. The paper was published June 16 in the Tribal College: Journal of American Indian Higher Education.

“The Diné Hataałii Association are in reality, the first responders and essential, front line public health workers who have always assisted the Navajo Nation,” as expressed in the statement. Further, the association shared...

Week ending Friday, July 10, 2020


Hotter Longer

Almost every part of the planet, down to the local level, is now experiencing longer and more frequent heat waves than during the 1950s, new research reveals. A team of global scientists writes in the journal Nature Communications that the amount of excess heat is increasing globally on average by 1 to 4.5 degrees Celsius each decade. But in some places, such as the Middle East and parts of Africa and South America, the trend is increasing by up to 10 degrees per decade.

The central United States is the only inhabited region where this trend has not been observed.

Earthquakes

The Indian capital of New Delhi was jolted by another in a...

Hybrid of in-person/online learning to start

The COVID-19 pandemic cut short in-person learning for students across the country last spring. Many students had to transition to learning remotely and adjust to the challenges that came with learning in this manner.

Since the pandemic still has a grip on the country as fall gets closer and students have a school year to prepare for, the conversation has turned to how best to prepare both students and teachers for what could be another year of having to learn remotely.

The Gallup-McKinley County Schools Board of Education discussed these plans during their July 6 meeting.

“Obviously, safety is the number one priority for students and...

After years of planning and preparing, the Coal Avenue Commons project is set to take its first step towards being a reality.

The City of Gallup has scheduled the groundbreaking for the project on July 13. The goal is to turn Coal Avenue into a plaza street with improved infrastructure and design.

Construction starts in July with a scheduled completion window of March 2021.

The Gallup-based firm Murphy Builders is handling the project. They will also collaborate with the city and the Gallup Mainstreet Arts & Cultural District to preserve businesses in Downtown Gallup during construction.

During the duration of the project, Coal Avenue will be closed from Second Street through the...