WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and First Lady Phefelia Nez congratulated United States President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris for being elected to serve in the White House, according to projections issued on Nov. 7.

“The people have spoken and change is coming to America. Now that the hard-fought campaign and election have passed, we have to come together, heal, and unite to move tribal nations and the country forward on a positive path. The First Americans of this country, including a large majority of Navajo voters, had a major impact in the outcome of the presidential election in several swing states – that needs to be...

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced her appointment of Dr. Tracie C. Collins, dean of the College of Population Health at the University of New Mexico, as the new leader of the New Mexico Department of Health Nov. 11. Collins will formally begin official work with the administration in mid-December.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Dr. Collins to our team,” Lujan Grisham said. “New Mexico has never needed experienced and compassionate public health leadership more than right now.

“Dr. Collins will hit the ground running as part of our state’s COVID-19 response effort with the Department of Health and indeed all of state government,” she...

SANTA FE – The Legislature has authorized state officials to impose civil administrative penalties to enforce public health emergency orders restricting business operations, the New Mexico Supreme Court concluded in an opinion issued Nov. 5.

The Court’s unanimous written opinion provides the detailed legal reasoning for an oral decision issued from the bench in August following a hearing in which attorneys presented arguments to the justices.

A group of businesses had filed a lawsuit in district court challenging emergency health orders issued during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham petitioned the state’s highest court to resolve the dispute.

The Court concluded...

Data shows NM outdoor recreation economy growth outpaced national average

SANTA FE —The Bureau of Economic Analysis released data on the size and scope of the outdoor recreation industry in the U.S. and in New Mexico Nov. 11.

In New Mexico, the updated data show that the outdoor economy contributed $2.4 billion to the state’s GDP in 2019 (2.2% of GDP). According to the report, 35,065 people were employed in this sector, with $1.2 billion in total income.

At the national level, the data shows that the outdoor recreation economy accounted for 2.1 percent ($459.8 billion) of U.S. GDP in 2019.

Here are a few highlights from the report:

•       New Mexico’s outdoor...