- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation has reported 46 additional COVID-19 cases and no deaths as of Sunday. The tribe has seen nearly 33,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1,414 deaths from the virus since the pandemic began. Navajo officials are urging people to get vaccinated, wear masks while in public and minimize their travel. Officials say all Navajo Nation executive branch employees will need to be fully vaccinated against the virus by the end of September or submit to regular testing. The new rules apply to full, part-time and temporary employees, including those working for tribal enterprises like utilities, shopping centers and casinos.
- JAIL-ADDICTION TREATMENT
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The Metropolitan Detention Center in Albuquerque has begun a program to give buprenorphine to people in jail who are already using it to treat their opioid addictions. The Albuquerque Journal reports the program can provide an average of 22 inmates per day with the medication. Recovery Services of New Mexico -- a treatment organization run -- received a contract to provide the medication at the jail late. For now, Recovery Services will provide buprenorphine only to those who had already been using the medication before they were locked up. But a county health services spokesman said the county will explore expanding the program to start people on the treatment.
- NAVAJO NATION-ELECTRICITY AGREEMENT
TONALEA, Ariz. (AP) — Tribal President Jonathan Nez has finalized a subgrant agreement between the Navajo Nation and Navajo Tribal Utility Authority to extend power lines to homes in the community of Tonalea, providing long-awaited electricity to at least 23 families. Several Tonalea residents scheduled to receive electricity attended Saturday's signing of the agreement for the 23 homes that are located in the former Bennett Freeze area. Selena Slim said she has lived in Tonalea her entire life without electricity and spends $75 on a regular basis to purchase gasoline for her generator to provide electric power for her home. The tribe's reservation is the country's largest at 27,000 square miles (70,000 square kilometers) and it covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
- VIRUS OUTBREAK-NAVAJO NATION
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation has reported 53 new COVID-19 cases and seven additional deaths. The latest numbers released Saturday pushed the Navajo Nation's total to 32,907 cases since the pandemic began more than a year ago and 1,414 known deaths. Tribal President Jonathan Nez is pleading for residents not to leave the reservation over the Labor Day weekend. Nez previously said all Navajo Nation executive branch employees will need to be fully vaccinated against the virus by the end of September or submit to regular testing. The new rules apply to full, part-time and temporary employees, including those working for tribal enterprises like utilities, shopping centers and casinos.
- POLICE SHOOTING-NEW MEXICO
LOS LUNAS, N.M. (AP) — A pair of shootouts between a suspect and law enforcement officers left the suspect dead and two sheriff's deputies injured. State Police Chief Tim Johnson says Friday he's "beyond disgusted" by recent violence and hopes New Mexico legislators act during their 2022 session to combat violent crime. A suspect and a sheriff's deputy got into a shootout in Valencia County Friday before a chase, crash and second shootout involving the suspect, deputies and a State Police officer. According to the State Police, the two deputies' injuries weren't life-threatening. The State Police identified the man killed as 28-year-old Jose Angel Baca of Los Lunas.
- BARRICADE SITUATION-SUSPECT DEAD
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — The Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office says a man who had shot at a Dona Ana County sheriff's deputy was found dead in a residence Friday after briefly exchanging gunfire with law enforcement officers hours into a barricade situation. The office said the deputy who first went to the residence Friday in response to a report of gunshots was treated at the scene for "very minor injuries to his face and neck" after he apparently was struck by fragments of at least one bullet fired from the residence. Sheriff Kim Stewart said it wasn't immediately known whether the man was killed by deputies or himself. No identities were released.
- KIRTLAND BASE-NEW LAB
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AP) — Kirtland Air Force Base will be home to a state-of-the-art laboratory for development of space technology. Officials there will break ground next week on the Wargaming and Advanced Research Simulation Laboratory. The $6 million, 10,685-square-foot facility will be used for simulations and analysis involving space technology research and development. This includes creating a virtual terrain where warfighters can act out scenarios using energy and space technology. It all falls under the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate. The groundbreaking event is scheduled for Sept. 8 at 10 a.m.
- BANDELIER MONUMENT-AIR TOURS
LOS ALAMOS, N.M. (AP) — The public will have a chance to weigh in on a plan to allow air tours over Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico. The National Park Service and the Federal Aviation Administration are asking for public comment on the draft of the proposed Air Tour Management Plan. Under the plan up to 101 air tours would be allowed each year across nine defined routes. That number is based on the average number that were reported over the monument between 2017 and 2019. Comments can be submitted through the Park Service's planning, environment and public comment website now through Oct. 3.