Experts recommend online learning, advise against reopening casinos

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The Navajo Nation finalized two public health emergency orders and one executive order on Nov. 13 that will go into effect on Nov. 16 for a three-week period. The new measures reinstate a stay-at-home lockdown order for the entire Nation, close Executive Branch government offices with the exception of essential employees, call for all schools on the Navajo Nation to close temporarily, and declares “red status” for all businesses requiring new safety measures as COVID-19 cases continue to rise rapidly.

The Navajo Nation reported 97 new cases of COVID-19 on Nov. 13 while the state of New Mexico reported 1,237 new cases, Arizona reported 3,015 new cases, and Utah reported 2,150. The United States reported a single-day record-high of over 150,000 new COVID-19 cases as well.

“With nearly 900 new cases of COVID-19 reported on the Navajo Nation in the last week and with surging cases across the country, we have to implement these public health measures to protect our Navajo people and reduce the spread of this virus. In addition, our epidemiologists recently identified 34 communities with uncontrolled spread of COVID-19. We are inching closer and closer to a major public health crisis in which we could potentially see our hospitals filling up with patients. Our health care system on the Navajo Nation cannot sustain a long-term surge in COVID-19 cases. The safest place to be is at home here on the Navajo Nation,” Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said.

Executive Order No. 010-20 requires government offices and enterprises to close beginning Nov. 16 thru Dec. 6, with the exception of essential employees as determined by division directors and enterprise management, to maintain essential services and functions of government. Nez noted that all CARES Act projects and processes are required to proceed without disruption or setbacks to meet upcoming deadlines.

The order also requires public schools, including state public schools, grant schools, private schools, higher education institutions, early childhood programs including CCDF, Head Start, FACE programs, and all after school programs on the Navajo Nation to be online from Nov. 16 to Dec. 6, to protect students, teachers, parents, and others from COVID-19 risks. To view Executive Order No. 010-20, please visit: https://www.opvp.navajo-nsn.gov/From-the-Office/Executive-Orders.

Public Health Emergency Order No. 2020-30 implements a three-week stay-at-home lockdown order and restricts travel off of the Navajo Nation and in-person gatherings. Individuals may leave their place of residence only for emergencies or to perform essential activities such as obtaining food or groceries, obtaining medicine, gathering fire wood with appropriate permit, and others.

Only essential businesses will be allowed to operate during the hours of 7 am to 3 pm daily – weekdays and weekends. All essential businesses including gas stations, grocery stores, laundromats, and restaurants and food establishments are required to ensure employees and customers wear masks, practice social distancing, disinfect high-touch surfaces, access to hand wash stations, sanitizers and gloves, and limit the number of customers in any enclosed areas. Restaurants and food establishments must operate on a curbside or drive-thru basis only. All places of business and governmental offices are encouraged to report employee exposures to the Navajo Health Command Operations Center at: https://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/covid-19.

“In order to reduce cases, we have to isolate the virus. The more people move about and travel, the more cases of COVID-19 we will see. The data from our public health officials indicates that we are near the peak of new cases that we experienced in April and May. We brought down the number of cases before, and we can do it again with safe practices and prayer,” Vice President Lizer said.

“The daily increase of new COVID-19 cases on the Navajo Nation mirrors the United States upward trajectory and dangerously approaches our record-high cases in early May. The Navajo Healthcare System isn’t overwhelmed now, but further bed capacity with adequate medical staffing are a concern. Isolation and quarantine sites are available for the Navajo people, please seek these services to further reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Safe isolation is important especially if this can’t be done at home. We all have a role to play to protect ourselves and our relatives,” Navajo Department of Health Executive Director Dr. Jill Jim said.

After several recent discussions with public health officials regarding the surge in COVID-19 cases, vetoed a resolution that requested support for the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise’s reopening plan for casinos at a minimum of 50-percent capacity. Nez said he recognizes and understands the economic impacts and remains committed to finding additional alternative funds to support businesses and enterprises. In August, the Navajo Nation approved $24.6 million in CARES Act funds to avoid lay-offs of gaming employees.

“We cannot put a price tag on the health, safety, and lives of our Navajo people. Revenues do not outweigh the precious lives of our elders, children, and gaming employees. We recently learned that the enterprise did experience a positive case in their gaming facility, so how safe will our elders and visitors be when we cannot predict the spread of the coronavirus? To the gaming employees, board members, and their families, we ask for your patience and understanding due to the significant rise in COVID-19 cases and we are willing to find a way to provide additional support,” Nez added.

Rating: «« and 1/2 out of 4

Running Time: 116 min.

Well, comic book enthusiasts, yet another Marvel Universe character has made the leap to the big screen. The superhero developed this time out is a somewhat surprising selection, with the film taking a more comedic tone than its predecessors. Ant-man is a decent effort that benefits greatly from a charismatic lead and good cast, although it doesn’t come without a few irritating tics.

Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is a thief and ex-con who wants to go straight and provide financial support for his estranged family. Yet, with a criminal record he finds it almost impossible to hold onto a job, and is lured back into burglary by his good-natured but slow-witted criminal pal, Luis (Michael Pena). Thankfully, the brilliant and wealthy scientist Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) has already taken notice of Scott’s specific skills.

The retired Pym and his daughter Hope (Evangeline Lilly) recruit Lang to wear a secret suit that can not only shirk him to the size of an ant, but give him superhuman powers. With the knowledge that current Pym Technologies President Darren Cross (Corey Stoll) is working on a military version of the same shirking apparatus, our hero is tasked with breaking in and preventing it from being developed and sold.

In truth, it’s a lean plot. And yet, it seems almost overcomplicated in its development. This is a two hour film, with the first half introducing the numerous characters (we haven’t even gotten into the details with Lang’s daughter, his ex-wife, her new cop husband and the many other crooked but pleasant friends of Luis) and the conflict between them all, not to mention explaining the details of Pym Technologies and its research. There are also a few running gags and subplots (including a friendly relationship between man and flying insect) that don’t seem to come full circle, either.

It’s quite talky and as written, often comes across as generic in approach. One would have hoped for a little more wit (or at least some sort of edge) from its characters. At times the humor comes off as too broad, resulting in a successful joke ratio that falls well below fifty percent. Thankfully, Rudd is amusing and engaging. Many of his dry comments do work and have an almost off-the-cuff feel to them. They could very well have been improvised on the spot, and if they weren’t, all the more credit to the actor for selling them in a naturalistic manner.

There are a few impressive visual sequences as Lang wears the suit and is able to jump back and forth in size, disappearing and reappearing in various locales. Early on, there’s an impressive scene involving a bathtub with running water, gushing like rapids and hurtling the character around in its current. The movie could have done with much more of this. There are training montages and a fist fight or two using the special costume, but the script doesn’t really go to town with its premise until the final act.

And as the miniature action goes, the climax is the strongest aspect. While the stakes are high, Lang fights the forces of evil on a very small scale, resulting in some big laughs (particularly a daring face-off on a Thomas the Train set). Characters are shrunk to even more mircoscopic sizes and other miniature items and life forms are blown up to exaggerated states, resulting in some great images. In all, the finale really is a lot of fun to watch.

So while the movie is awkward and uneven, when it takes full advantage of Rudd and the story’s eccentric peculiarities, it is enjoyable. Ant-man isn’t among the best or most memorable films in Marvel catalog, but it’s an agreeable enough introduction to another new superhero.

««« out of four stars

The original Magic Mike (2012) was a bit of downer. Supposedly a semi-autobiographical telling of Channing Tatum’s early days as a stripper (or Male Entertainer as the boys prefer), the film focused on a young man on cusp of growing up and reaching his potential. The moral to the story was that stripping is bad and leads to soulless one-nighters, drugs and excessive tanning.

While Magic Mike was a rare case when Hollywood actually objectified men instead of women, many who went the theaters to see some attractive hunks slink around in a G-string were disappointed. Why so serious?

Fortunately Magic Mike XXL gets it right this time and fans will be dancing in the aisles. Let’s take what we learned in the first film and throw it out the window. This film is all celebration, all fun and doesn’t worry about bogging itself down with a moral. It is entertainment- pure and unapologetic. This is the movie that the ladies were hoping for the first time around. And because the film is funny and engrossing, men (regardless of sexual preference) will be laughing right along with them. Maybe even screaming along with the ladies. I won’t judge.

We find Mike a slave to the working week. He owns his own company making furniture and while it was his dream to create instead of bearing cheeks, the reality has worn on him. He meets up with the old crew minus Matthew McConaughey who was the best component of the first film. What will they do without Matt? Go on a road trip to the annual stripper convention of course. It is a warped Yellow Brick Road the boys travel with stops at house filled with wine-fueled cougars and a place where “Male Entertainment” is not only defined by lap dances but also by serenades to the special lady.

Mike meets a girl, of course, but that plotline is ancillary. The real reason to watch is the relationships and chemistry between the group of guys. These are men at the end of a career that make the best of what is left to them. The movie doesn’t care what happens to them after the dollar bills quit raining all around. It is the moment that matters. Let’s party.

New to the roster is Jada Pinkett Smith who tries to fill McConaughey’s shoes as the MC of the festivities and does a decent job. The women characters are strong here and meet the men in the middle regarding seduction. There are some cameos that will surprise that I won’t spoil. Tatum is one of the most likable “pretty boys” to come out of Hollywood in a long while. Joe Manganiello of True Blood fame has a much more beefed up role here and rises to the opportunity. This will be the film that leads to more substantial roles for the behemoth. Mark it down and remember I was the one that told you.

If you have any interest in Magic Mike XXL go with a group of friends, have a wine party, grab an Uber and make it out opening night. I saw it in a full auditorium filled with overzealous women clapping and hooting at the screen and it made for a great movie going experience. Top 10 all time because it felt like a “happening” and more than just seeing a movie. And I laughed. A lot.

Considering that this sequel gets the equation right this time it is easy to say that regarding box office, Magic Mike XXL is going to be huge!!! Sorry. I couldn’t help myself.

The face and leader of Cash Cow faced one adversity after another in recent years leading to what some local folks thought was the end of an era. But, Tim Delgado is back in the saddle once again, re-opening some of his stores that shuttered last year.

Delgado’s empire started seeing some cracks when it was slapped with a class-action lawsuit for charging customers an application fee for loans. He soon would file for bankruptcy and shutter the doors to his retail locations and car dealership.

It seemed like the end of the spotted cow brand seen around town, but Delgado fought back, and reopened his flagship store - Cash Cow Furniture. He sat down with the Sun to discuss what went into resuscitating his business and brand image.

GS: What businesses are back up and running and tell us about the changes to any of these places?

Delgado: Well, we currently have the furniture store open — Cash Cow Furniture — Cash Cow Tires is open, Cash Cow Auto is currently closed, but we plan on opening that maybe around tax time.

As far as the changes, one of the big changes is — and everybody may think [that] somebody else came up with this idea — but we will no longer do cash loans; that’s the way we started 12 years ago. A big percentage of our portfolio was actually retail installment loans on merchandise, and over the years, when we first started, 100 percent of it was cash loans. But over the last 12 years, it flipped, where we were financing 80 to 85 percent retail, meaning we were selling product, financing product, and customers were coming into the store to buy product.

So we got away from that, my wife and I decided to not loan cash anymore. It was an internal decision that we made, and it wasn’t by the court. We presented to the court, and of course the Consumer Claimants Committee wanted to try to put us out of business, but they agreed with it. We are the only locally Native American-owned in the entire state of New Mexico.

GS: Who tried to put you out of business?

Tim: Well, it’s kind of interesting what happened, we were in the middle of a merger and we got hit with this Class Action law suit, so basically it disentangled; it took apart that merger. The company that was going to merge with us and buy us, they decided to retract the purchase because of the suit. So the biggest problem wasn’t necessarily the law suit, the law suit became the problem because the lawyer wouldn’t settle.

The moment we filed the Chapter Eleven to protect us, it really took the power away from the lawyer, so it upset them and they sent people to investigate us. But through every investigation, we’re still sitting here — it shows you that we’re still trying to run an upright business to the best of our ability.

The biggest issue became the secured creditor that was going to buy us; they began to try to take us over, and that’s what happened. That’s the truth of the matter.

GS: How has Cash Cow survived after what has happened?

Tim: Cash Cow is doing great; Cash Cow has always had a spirit of coming from nothing. We started with nothing 12 years ago. A lot of hard work and sweat, caring for people and reaching out to people, taking care of our consumers is what’s going to continue as we move forward.

We’ll continue to operate the way we always have and we’ll continue to give great service, great pricing, great finance options, and people will continue to shop with us. I just want to thank the community and reassure them we’re here to stay.

GS: What is the status with Baskin Robbins?

Tim: My wife and I own Baskin Robbins; we’re actually selling it on a contract to my nephew and his wife. They’re great operators — [he and] his wife have run it for the last three years and have been our manager. So we decided to empower them with the blessing of ownership, they’re buying from us.

GS: How did shutting your doors impact you?

Tim: It gave me a most necessary rest that I needed. It was a blessing to my family and [me]. I look back because I was blessed to spend time with my family.

GS: Tell me about your family.

Tim: My wife and I were both born and raised here in Gallup; we have six kids. My father’s from Gallup, and he worked for the city in the Recreation Department. My mother worked for the Fort Wingate Depot for 30 years. I learned hard work, honesty, and dedication [and] loyalty from my parents. I love where I’m at, I love the city of Gallup and believe there’s a reason I’m here — and that’s to help people.

By Dee Velasco

Sun Correspondent