Over the weekend, a Diné pro athlete from the Glendale-based Arizona Ridge Riders ascended to the top ranks of competitive bull riding, while claiming one of the sport’s most prestigious titles in the process.
For the first-time, Keyshawn Whitehorse from McCracken Spring, Utah, won the Ty Murray Invitational after hanging onto a bucking bull named Lights Out in the championship round.
The 28-year-old Navajo had a perfect record, going 4-4 on his rides.
It was a career-defining weekend-long performance for Whitehorse inside the Pit — home of the New Mexico Lobos in Albuquerque. And pretty much everybody inside that building was right behind him.
This annual event is named after the all-time most decorated rodeo athlete, Ty Murray, who is a nine-time PRCA world champ. PRCA stands for Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. He's also known as the “King of Cowboys.”
Murray handed a trophy, belt buckle and $40,000 check to Whitehorse.
During his CBS Sports post-ride interview, Whitehorse thanked the crowd being in the home of the Navajo Nation, adding “I’ve dreamed of this moment in my entire life, and now we’re on track for a gold buckle.”
“This is a great stepping stone.”
Whitehorse is now among the top 10 riders in the world.
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Appointed by George W. Bush, Judge Richard Leon in D.C. ruled last week that granting an injunction is “unwarranted” — writing he expects the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will “follow through on its guarantees of consultation.” -
The Indian Health Service’s Tucson Area Office serves more than 28,000 tribal members from the Pascua Yaqui, Tohono O’odham Nation and other tribes. -
![Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren [left] Gov. Katie Hobbs and Hopi Chairman Lamar Keevama sign a memorandum of understanding for coal-impacted communities at the Desert Botanical Garden on Aug. 11, 2026.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7ad88d7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4158x2317+0+505/resize/280x156!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa5%2F46%2F67ddb3664347bcd872157bbfffaf%2Fnavajo-hopi-az-agreement-cg-20260811.JPG)
The six-page MOU is being touted as a blueprint for cooperation between the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe and the state of Arizona — all of which are “vulnerable to future coal mine and generating station closures.” -
Leadership clarified that non-members — including employees or residents, guests of tribal members, travelers on public roadways and vendors tied to the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise — may still travel freely “without any restrictions.” -
Since last year, the Trump administration has awarded billions of dollars in construction contracts for its so-called Smart Wall, and work has been ongoing for months in various parts of Arizona.
![Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren [left] Gov. Katie Hobbs and Hopi Chairman Lamar Keevama sign a memorandum of understanding for coal-impacted communities at the Desert Botanical Garden on Aug. 11, 2026.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/bcf9baa/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4158x2317+0+505/resize/560x312!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa5%2F46%2F67ddb3664347bcd872157bbfffaf%2Fnavajo-hopi-az-agreement-cg-20260811.JPG)
