These stories are not in a particular order, but were chosen based on their impact to the country, the globe, the state and the Navajo Nation

 

DEB HAALAND NOMINATED AS INTERIOR SECRETARY

Deb Haaland of the New Mexico Laguna Pueblo was confirmed as the first Native American Cabinet secretary in the history of the U. S. and took office March 16.

She is also one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress.

As the Secretary of the Interior Department, she is in the unique position of being an Indigenous leader with a position in the U. S. Government that allows her to take measures to countermand many of the Department’s damaging moves against sacred...

These stories were chosen, not in a particular order, but in terms of their impact on the community. Since some, such as COVID-19, are already mentioned in the national stories list, they are not included here.

 



REHOBOTH MCKINLEY CHRISTIAN HEALTH CARE SERVICES

RMCHCS continued to experience turbulence throughout 2021 as doctors and nurses left the hospital and community members expressed concern about the administration and the hospital’s financial condition. The Wellspring Recovery Center suspended operations on May 14 and the Women’s Clinic was closed for most of October after its last ob-gyn doctor, Dr. Hannah Palm, announced her resignation. A group of doctors...

No direction but up

Gallup Mayor Louis Bonaguidi has waded through a trial by fire, starting his first 18 months in office with a pandemic lockdown of the city. COVID-19 is his main concern these days as he considers Gallup’s future.

“It’s changed everything in our world, period,” he told the Sun, Dec. 27. “We have so many priorities, but our priorities are on hold.”

Bonaguidi mentioned that he was responding to issues on multiple fronts including infrastructure, which he said is in dire trouble. He said the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project is at a standstill. It was to be completed in 2024, but now the Bureau of Reclamation is saying it could be 2029 before it’s...

Week ending Friday, December 24, 2021


Arctic Beavers

Beavers are slowly migrating farther north into the Arctic due to the warming climate, producing what a new U.S. government report says is a “significant impact” on the landscape.  NOAA’s Arctic Report Card 2021 says western Alaska has seen a doubling of its beaver population to more than 12,000 during the past 20 years, compared to none between 1949 and 1955. Their dams are increasing surface water and adding to the rate of permafrost melt, which in turn releases the greenhouse gases methane and carbon dioxide. The ponds are also said to be helping new fish and invertebrate species move in.

Earthquakes

A temblor along the...