WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The Law and Order Committee convened on July 8 and received a report from the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety presented by Director Michael Anderson.

Anderson introduced the new Director of the Department of Emergency Management Sharen Sandoval to the Committee. LOC Chair Eugenia Charles-Newton questioned Anderson about Sandoval’s qualifications and the hiring process that led to her hiring.

“Concerns have been raised because Ms. Sandoval is the daughter of [Office of the President and Vice President Chief of Staff] Patrick Sandoval, and other candidates applied for the position,” Charles-Newton said. “This committee will be inquiring about her...

WASHINGTON D.C. — Arizona’s two U.S. senators and four members of congress introduced legislation to authorize the country’s largest Indian water rights settlement, which resolves water claims by the Navajo, Hopi and San Juan Southern Paiute nations, on July 8.

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., Congressman Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., Congressman David Schweikert, R-Ariz., and Congressman Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., introduced the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act, a historic bill that will make desperately needed drinking water available to thousands of Navajo people for the first time.

“This legislation and the...

MESCALERO, New Mexico — Wildland fire and law enforcement investigators completed the investigation into the cause of the South Fork fire on July 3. The identification of the point of origin and all evidence and data support lightning as the cause of the fire. Human activity and factors did not contribute to the cause.

The investigation was conducted by wildland fire investigators and law enforcement officers from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, Mescalero Conservation Law Enforcement Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New Mexico State Parks, and the...

Featured DWI

Elton Kaamasee

July 4, 10:10 pm

DWI (Third)

A Window Rock man, Elton Kaamasee, 55, was pulled over after turning without signaling and was eventually arrested and charged with his third DWI.

McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Frank Villa Jr. was patrolling eastbound on Maloney Avenue when he saw a white pickup truck turn out of the parking lot of Applebee’s at 1560 W. Maloney Ave. The truck turned without using its signal and Villa activated his unit’s emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop.

The truck pulled over at Rio West Mall at 1300 W. Maloney Ave. The driver, Kaamasee, and a female passenger both stepped out of the truck. Villa began to...