Navajo High Court Says Voters Will Choose President Tuesday – The Associated Press
The Navajo Nation Supreme Court has overturned a lower court's ruling that called for Tuesday's presidential election to be canceled.
The high court justices issued the brief order Monday and said they would elaborate on their decision later.
Window Rock District Judge Carol Perry had granted a request last week to halt the election, saying a referendum on language requirements must be held before Navajos choose their next leader.
The Navajo Election Administration appealed to the tribe's Supreme Court, which said Tuesday's election will proceed as scheduled.
Joe Shirley Jr. and Russell Begaye are facing off to become president on the country's largest American Indian reservation.
Tribal President Ben Shelly addressed lawmakers gathered for their spring session for the final time Monday. His successor will be sworn in next month.
Appeal Expected Over Navajo Nation Presidential Contest - The Associated Press
The Navajo Nation's elections director says he plans to appeal a court decision that said officials couldn't move forward with Tuesday's belated tribal presidential contest.
Elections director Edison Wauneka says officials don't believe that Window Rock District Judge Carol Perry had the power to overturn a tribal Supreme Court order that called for the election to be held Tuesday.
Perry ruled the law is clear that a referendum vote on language requirements for the presidency must be held before Navajos choose their next leader.
Wauneka says he hopes to get the Supreme Court to review the matter in time for the election to take place Tuesday.
Tribal lawmakers passed to fund a referendum that essentially would eliminate a Navajo language fluency requirement for the tribe's top two posts.
Nuclear Waste Drums Appear Stable After Signs Of Reactions – The Associated Press
Federal officials say dozens of drums of radioactive waste at one of the nation's premier weapons laboratories are stable after some showed signs of chemical reactions over the past year.
The drums are being closely monitored after a container with similar contents broke open in 2014, resulting in a radiation release and the indefinite closure of the country's only underground nuclear waste dump.
The U.S. Energy Department says there have been some chemical reactions in the containers at Los Alamos National Laboratory, but the gases building up inside have decreased over the past several months, indicating the reactions have reached a steady state.
The drums are packed in protective waste boxes and stored inside a temperature-controlled facility with filters.
Los Alamos is working on a plan to dispose of the drums.
Proposal Would Let Tribes Gather Plants In National Parks – The Associated Press
The National Park Service is proposing a permit system for tribes that want to gather plants for traditional purposes.
The agency's rules have prevented American Indian tribes from taking willow shoots, cacti, mesquite and other plants from national park units, although it's happened under informal agreements.
Under the proposal published Monday, members of federally recognized tribes would have to prove a traditional association to the land and describe the plants they want to take. Park officials would conduct an environmental assessment before granting permits.
The public comment period runs through July 20.
Loretta Jackson-Kelly, cultural director for the Hualapai Tribe in northwestern Arizona, says the proposal is a great idea. But she says the tribe will review it further to determine whether the requirements are reasonable.
Fed Lawsuit: Albuquerque Police Violated Rights In Shooting – The Associated Press
The estate of a man who was shot and killed by Albuquerque police is suing the department in federal court over allegations of civil rights violations.
The lawsuit filed last week in U.S. District Court says infrared police helicopter video in the 2013 fatal shooting of 41-year-old Parrish Denison conflicts with an officer's account.
Authorities say Denison, whose name is spelled Dennison in police records, was shot by officers following a two-hour search and chase. Police say he had pointed a gun at officers during the chase involving stolen goods.
The lawsuit says the video shows Denison didn't point a gun before the shooting.
An Albuquerque police spokesman declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Court records showed Denison had felony convictions for burglary, drug trafficking and burglary plus other arrests that didn't result in convictions.
New Mexico Utility Marks Milestone In Energy Efficiency – The Associated Press
New Mexico's largest electric provider says its programs have reached a major milestone when it comes to energy efficiency.
Public Service Co. of New Mexico recently filed its annual efficiency report with state regulators and says it surpassed a state goal. That mark required the utility to achieve cumulative energy savings equal to at least 5 percent of 2005 retails sales by 2014.
PNM business and residential customers received nearly $9 million in rebates and incentives last year and saved 74 million kilowatt hours of electricity from participating in the utility's efficiency programs.
And by reducing use, PNM says its customers also have saved more than 521 million gallons of water since 2007 and carbon dioxide emissions were cut by more than 905,000 metric tons.
Gila Forest's Wilderness District Plans Prescribed Fire - The Associated Press
Officials with the Gila National Forest say they're planning a prescribed burn on a portion of the Wilderness Ranger District in southwestern New Mexico.
The work is scheduled to begin Monday weather permitting. It will cover 420 acres.
The project has the support of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish since it's aimed at improving wildlife habitat and reducing hazardous fuels in the forest.
Fire managers are advising hunters to be aware of the project. The area, including along State Highway 35, will be signed and posted for public safety.
Smoke will likely be noticeable during days of ignitions and may linger at night and early morning, especially in the Mimbres Valley.
Water Trust Board Forgives $562,000 Debt From Las Vegas - The Associated Press and Las Vegas Optic
The state Water Trust Board has forgiven a $562,000 debt from the northern New Mexico city of Las Vegas.
The Las Vegas Optic reports that City Council members made the debt reduction official last week.
The Water Trust Board awarded the city $330,000 in funding in 2011 for an effluent project and another $1.5 million for a well replacement project.
When that funding was awarded, the board determined that 60 percent of it would be a grant, which wouldn't have to be repaid, and the remaining 40 percent would be a loan.
But the board recently decided to change the funding it allocated for those two projects into a 90 percent grant and 10 percent loan, effectively forgiving $562,000 of the original debt.
Doctor Says He's Met Requirements For Reactivating License - The Associated Press and Albuquerque Journal
A Hobbs obstetrician and gynecologist whose medical license was suspended after he was accused of having sex with patients and leaving some giving birth unattended has told regulators that he has joined a new practice.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that Dr. Chris Driskill has informed state Medical Board that he had fulfilled the requirements to reactivate his license.
His license was suspended in November based on allegations that he kept patients waiting, had affairs with patients and staff and drank on the job.
His attorney disputed the allegations, but Driskill eventually acknowledged that sufficient evidence existed to find he violated the state Medical Practice Act.
Driskill says in a statement that the events of the last several months have had a profound effect on him and his family.
Nature Education Center In Los Alamos To Hold Grand Opening - The Associated Press and Albuquerque Journal
A grand opening will be held Wednesday for a new nature education center in Los Alamos.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that the Los Alamos Nature Center will serve as a site for discussions on subjects ranging from bighorn sheep to honeybees.
Los Alamos County provided $4.3 million for the building and hired the nonprofit Pajarito Environmental Education Center to run it.
The Pajarito Environmental Education Center has been renting a pre-school building since 2005 to offer its ongoing programs, which include nature playtimes for toddlers, local hikes and wildflower walks.
Arizona Agency Seeks To Intervene In Wolf Lawsuit - The Associated Press
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has asked a federal court for permission to intervene in a lawsuit over revised rules for managing Mexican gray wolves in the Southwest.
Arizona officials say their motions are aimed at protecting the state's interest in the wolf reintroduction program and recovery of the endangered predator in Arizona and New Mexico.
The motions were filed in response to a lawsuit by environmentalists.
Aside from asking to intervene, the wildlife agency also wants the lawsuit to be dismissed.
Arizona officials say under the revised rules, there's more habitat available and potential for growth of the wolf population than previously.
The agency is also working with the Arizona attorney general's office to challenge the federal government's failure to develop an updated recovery plan for the wolves.