The McKinley County Sheriff’s Office has released information about a body found east of the Gallup Flea Market.

The body was that of Herbert Tom, 53, of Lukachukai.

Tom had been reported missing since December by the Chinle Police Department and was found by people walking in the area on May 3.

Merle Bates, head of investigations for the Sheriff’s Office, said the body had probably been there for some time and was badly decomposed, so much so that it was impossible to determine a cause of death.

“We’re hoping to learn more when an autopsy is done,” he said. The body has been sent to the Office of Medical Examiners in Albuquerque for an autopsy.

The spread of COVID-19 has impacted the Navajo Nation hard given the number of rural areas where families may lack amenities like running water or have to travel long distances to get basic supplies.

This is why a number of groups and organizations have stepped up to support families on the reservation any way they can. Trinity Navajo Bible Church, near Smith Lake, N.M., is one of those places.

Pastor Bobby George said May 13 the church’s support has been going on for about a month. Members of the church were handing out food and water to families at Whitehorse Lake Chapter House, east of Crownpoint.

“The biggest reason why this is being done is because the Navajo chapters...

In a declaration May 12, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer extended the Navajo Nation’s public health state of emergency to include the period from May 18 to June 7 with Executive Order Number 004-20.

That will mean:

All Navajo Nation government offices and enterprises shall remain closed to minimize the spread of the corona virus disease. Only essential employees, as determined by respective division directors or enterprise management, shall report to their respective worksites.

Essential Employees are defined as those workers necessary to maintain basic, direct government or enterprise services, either working in their offices or...

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer gave their thanks to Protect the Sacred, actress Joely Fisher, Nestlé Purina, the Arizona Army National Guard, Navajo Nation Attorney General Doreen N. McPaul, and attorneys and staff with the Navajo Nation Department of Justice for coordinating efforts to provide bags of cat and dog food to help Navajo families during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Throughout this pandemic, we’ve focused our attention on the Navajo people so it’s good to see that we are now helping families with pets. For some, cats and dogs are a part of the family and it costs money to keep them fed. A big thank you to these...