WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Members of the 25th Navajo Nation Council joined Navajo Nation President Dr. Buu Nygren on Nov. 6 at the Leupp Chapter House as he signed resolution CO-43-24, approving $450,000 to renovate the Crownpoint Senior Center and over $148 million to the Division of Aging and Long-Term Care Support to improve 85 senior centers across the Navajo Nation.

Resources and Development Committee Vice Chair Casey Allen Johnson, who represents Leupp Chapter, thanked Nygren for signing the resolution without implementing any line-item vetoes. Johnson said the condition of the current Leupp Senior Center greatly needs repair.

“We finally got it done,” Johnson said. “ ...

SANTA FE —  New Mexico Environment Department Surface Water Quality Bureau Chief Shelly Lemon was recently elected Vice President of the Association of Clean Water Administrators for the 2024-2025 term.

Lemon’s leadership role puts New Mexico at the forefront of surface water protection efforts throughout the nation. She has served on the Association’s Board of Directors since 2020, representing EPA Region 6 — encompassing New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas.

ACWA is the national voice of state and interstate clean water programs and stands strong as a national, impartial professional assembly dedicated to protecting and restoring watersheds to achieve clean...

SANTA FE — Lung Cancer has long been a killer in New Mexico, the U.S. and worldwide. People often underestimate the toll it takes on human lives. November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the impact of the disease – and the resources available to screen and treat it.

The New Mexico Department of Health’s Cancer Prevention and Control Section and Nicotine Use Prevention and Control program offer treatment advice and resources that help save lives.

“As someone who lost his father to lung cancer, I feel personally the need to encourage everyone to take the steps necessary to take care of their health,” NMDOH Secretary Patrick Allen said. “Not just for...

SANTA FE —  The World Health Organization and the International Diabetes Foundation observed World Diabetes Day on Nov. 14. The day originated in 1991 to raise awareness about diabetes as a public health threat and draw attention to actions people can take to prevent and manage the condition.

Some 12.5% of all New Mexicans were diagnosed with diabetes in 2023. Nearly a quarter of them are 65 years or older. The state’s Hispanic/Latino population makes up nearly 15% of all cases. And 8.46% of all cases fall within the age range of 18 to 64.

While the causes of diabetes can vary by type, it can lead to excess sugar in your blood, which can in turn lead to serious health...