Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren made his third annual state address in Shiprock on Tuesday, outlining his administration’s accomplishments amid ongoing efforts to remove him from office before his term expires this year.
During his hourlong speech, Nygren first touted energy investments from solar to coal, particularly the Four Corners Power Plant in San Juan County, New Mexico. The tribe has been leasing it to Arizona Public Service.
“We are so, so close to making sure that that stays open to 2038 because those are hundreds and hundreds of jobs,” said Nygren. “Those are millions and millions of dollars of revenue that the Navajo Nation receives. That’s coal that some of you haul and get for free from some of our chapters.”
He also focused on progress for broadband, forest carbon offsets, uranium mine cleanup as well as the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement still awaiting to be ratified by Congress. If passed, this historic $5 billion bill would resolve claims for the Navajo, Hopi and San Juan Southern Paiute.
“We need your help. We look forward to working with our Republicans, our Democrats,” added Nygren. “You never know, President Trump might be listening. … How many of you want to get water rights in Arizona? I do.”
Trump’s first vetoes of his second term included rejecting a pair of bipartisan bills. One measure sought to build a drinking water pipeline in Colorado, while another would’ve given the Miccosukee Tribe more control over its lands in Florida. Both proposals were brought forth by so-called political rivals.
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A mining company is considering digging for copper on grazing land near the chapter house of the Coppermine community on the western Navajo Nation. -
The accident occurred about a half mile east of Highway 160 and state Route 98 near Shonto in Navajo County. This is the first reported incident since hauling along the 300-mile interstate route began nearly two years ago. -
A couple hundred ballots were cast by locals to decide a fitting moniker through a recent online vote. Al Ha’icu Ga:gdam — meaning Little Seeker — and Little Dot, or Al Doṣ, were among their choices. -
A split, three-judge panel from the very same appeals court allowed the controversial transfer to proceed after tossing out a slew of lawsuits — while also lifting an injunction back in March. Then, the land exchange was swiftly executed between the U.S. Forest Service and Resolution Copper. -
KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio was announced Tuesday as a winner of a National Headliner Award for his work in 2025 exploring the future of Oak Flat, sacred Apache land that is now home to one of the largest copper mines in the world.
