- Navajo Nation lawmakers consider extending junk food tax
FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) — Lawmakers on the Navajo Nation are considering a bill to extend a 2% sales tax on unhealthy food and beverages sold on the reservation. The tribe approved the Healthy Diné Nation Act in November 2014 to tax food with minimal or no nutritional value. The tax expires this year unless lawmakers vote to extend it. The bill refines what would be subject to the tax, and clarifies its administration and enforcement. The Daily Times in Farmington reports that the tax has generated more than $7.5 million over the past few years. It is meant to fund things like wellness centers and walking trails.
- New Mexico Land Office offers online Christmas tree permits
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The State Land Office is joining other land management agencies in New Mexico in offering online Christmas tree cutting permits. The Land Office also is allowing people to get permits to gather sand for filling their luminarias, which are traditional holiday fixtures of candles inside paper bags weighted with sand. Permit applications, maps, directions and other information is available on the agency's website. Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard says her office is pleased to offer the low-cost permits as New Mexicans honor two long-held holiday traditions. Like other activities on state trust land, the tree cutting and sand gathering fees help support public schools.
- New Mexico counties have long way to go under virus system
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico is moving to a county-by-county system for responding to COVID-19 that allows local communities to shed some restrictions on mass gatherings, restaurant dining, attendance at religious services and some nonessential businesses — if the virus retreats.. At this point, only one of New Mexico's 33 counties — Los Alamos County — would be eligible to ease restrictions on gatherings and resume indoor dining at restaurants. The new system will take effect Wednesday. Over the past week, one person in every 155 people in the state was diagnosed with COVID-19. The state Republican Part said the governor was stoking false hope that restrictions may be lifted.
- Deadly pursuit could lead to murder charges for defendants
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Supreme Court has ruled that defendants who cause deadly crashes while fleeing police can face felony murder charges under certain circumstances. The court's decision was announced Monday. It came in a case in which two people were accused of stealing a van in 2017 and fleeing police at high speeds through residential neighborhoods. The driver crashed into another vehicle, killing a mother and her teenage daughter. The court said aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer can serve as the underlying offense for felony murder. The case will be reevaluated by a state district court judge.
- Navajo Nation finds 177 more COVID-19 cases, 5 new deaths
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation is reporting more than 170 new COVID-19 cases and five additional deaths. Navajo health officials announced Sunday a new tally of 177 newly confirmed virus cases, bringing the total to 16,427, including 27 delayed unreported cases. The death toll from COVID-19 on the vast reservation that includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah now stands at 653. So far, 8,676 have recovered from COVID-19, and 157,860 COVID-19 tests have been administered. Residents remain under a stay-at-home order, with an exception for essential workers and essential needs like food, medication and emergencies. Essential businesses are limited to hours between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily.
- New Mexico ranks high for coronavirus diagnosis rates
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A rolling average of statewide deaths from the coronavirus has surpassed 25 as New Mexico nears the end of a two-week period of heightened restrictions. Virus-related deaths on Sunday included 60-year-old middle school teacher Sylvia Garcia of the Las Cruces area. The seven-day rolling average of daily deaths in New Mexico has risen over the past two weeks from 14.9 deaths per day on Nov. 14 to 25.3 deaths per day on Saturday. That's according to an analysis by The Associated Press of data collected by Johns Hopkins. State health officials on Sunday announced 1,443 newly confirmed virus cases and 13 related deaths.
- New Mexico to require details of water for oil well drilling
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Officials say New Mexico oil and gas operators will be required to report the amount and quality of water used to drill wells. The Albuquerque Journal reported the data collection is an attempt by state agencies to scrutinize water use across New Mexico's economic sectors. Adrienne Sandoval of the state Oil Conservation Division says the reports will help fill a data gap for industry water use. Operators previously reported the amount of produced water injected into storage wells but were not required to disclose water data for well completions. Companies must now submit water use data within 45 days of completion.
- Navajo Nation health director named to Biden COVID-19 board
PHOENIX (AP) — The executive director of the Navajo Nation Department of Health has been named a member of President-elect Joe Biden's COVID-19 advisory board. KPHO-TV reported Dr. Jill Jim was among the board members announced as part of Biden's transition team preparing to implement the president-elect's coronavirus containment plans. The Navajo Nation member's work has focused on preventing chronic diseases and addressing healthcare and health disparities involving Native Americans and Alaska Natives. She most recently served as a cabinet member in the administration of Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer.