Week ending Friday, September 24, 2021


Climate Dithering

Despite promises by world leaders to curb the greenhouse gases responsible for the worsening climate emergency, the UN warns that the world is now on track to heat up to dangerous levels. Inaction by industry and governments to reduce carbon emissions now means there is likely to be a rise of 2.7 degrees Celsius this century above preindustrial levels, according to Patricia Espinosa, the UN’s chief climate negotiator. Climate experts had hoped to keep the temperature rise to only 1.5 degrees, thus avoiding the worst consequences of global heating. “The disruption to our climate and our planet is already worse than we...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Quinten Smith, 21, of Mexican Springs, N.M., and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was charged in federal court on Oct. 4 with murder in Indian Country. Smith will remain in custody pending trial.

​According to a criminal complaint, on Sept. 24, Smith and others allegedly went to the home of the victim, identified as John Doe, to confront him. When they arrived at the home, a physical altercation allegedly ensued. During the fight, Smith allegedly stabbed the victim multiple times in the back with a pocketknife. Smith and the others allegedly fled the home immediately.

John Doe, who was also an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was found deceased in...

The Federal Communication Commission is adopting  new rules for suicide prevention and mental health crisis assistance, veterans’ crisis assistance and 10-digit dialing.

● The FCC adopted rules to establish a new three-digit number for Americans in crisis.

Dialing 988 will direct callers to 1-800-273-TALK, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which will remain operational even after the transition to the 988 in July 16, 2022 becomes effective.

The idea is to make the number easy-to-recall in hopes that more people in critical need will be able to access services immediately.

● The Veterans Crisis Line is veteran-specific for suicide and crisis assistance and can be reached...

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer urge the U.S. Department of the Treasury to establish an Office of Tribal Affairs with a politically appointed officer at the Assistant Secretary level who advises the Treasury Secretary on issues impacting tribal governments and citizens.

The U.S. Treasury plays an important role in navigating the relationship between the federal government and tribes, and frequently finds itself with vast amounts of delegated authority to determine how funds set aside for tribes by Congress should be distributed and managed, as was the case most recently with the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan Act.

“The creation of an Office...