WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – During the opening day of the 2024 Winter Council Session, 25th Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley provided a report that focused on several key issues, including finalizing an Arizona water rights settlement proposal, state legislative priorities, and expending American Rescue Plan Act funds for infrastructure projects.

At the start of the Jan. 22 session, Curley recognized Council Delegate Seth Damon (Bááháálí, Chichiltah, Manuelito, Tsé Lichíí’, Rock Springs, Tsayatoh) who recently announced his resignation as a member of the Council to accept the position of Deputy Secretary of the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department.

In his nine years...

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The 25th Navajo Nation Council Delegate Seth Damon (Bááháálí, Chichiltah, Manuelito, Tsé Lichíí’, Rock Springs, Tsayatoh), former Speaker of the 24th Navajo Nation Council, announced on Jan. 17 that he will resign as a member of the 25th Navajo Nation Council, effective Jan. 22, to accept the position of Deputy Secretary for the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department.

Damon made the announcement in Window Rock, Arizona, during a meeting of the Budget and Finance Committee, which he previously chaired under the 23rd Navajo Nation Council. He has served as an elected member of the Council since January 2015, representing the communities of Bááháálí...

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued her sixth State of the State address, the second of her second term as governor, laying out her legislative priorities for the 2024 legislative session on Jan. 16.

The legislative priorities are supported through the governor's FY25 Executive Budget Recommendation, and encompass initiatives in housing and homelessness, health care and behavioral health, education and child wellbeing, public safety, economic development, infrastructure, and tax reform.

Lujan Grisham’s legislative agenda for the 2024 session of the New Mexico Legislature includes:

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INFASTRUCTURE

Dedicate 2% (approx. $170 million) of the...

SILVER CITY, N.M. — With the New Mexico Legislature beginning its 2024 session Jan. 16, Western New Mexico University leadership is gearing up to advocate on behalf of the university by requesting the state budget include funding for a number of projects.

The focus of the university’s advocacy efforts will occur on Jan. 24, which is Grant County Day at the Legislature. On this day, not only is the WNMU leadership team in Santa Fe, but members of student government will have a chance to meet with legislators, and Mariachi Plata de WNMU will perform in the statehouse.

Heading the list of capital projects for which the university seeks funding is a new Career Technical Education...