Navajo ‘Water Warrior’ drives miles during COVID to deliver to those in need

PHOENIX – Water is a precious commodity in rural Native American communities like the Navajo Nation, where a virus that requires good hygiene has taken an especially heavy toll. One man is looking to help, by delivering barrels of water to those in need.


As deadline looms, Congress urged to reauthorize diabetes program for Native Americans

PHOENIX — Some in Congress, with the support of Indian Country leaders, want to extend the Special Diabetes Program for five years and bump the yearly funding to $200 million from $150 million.


AZ leaders applaud NFL Washington team name change

PHOENIX - Arizona Native American voices respond to the news of the Washington team name change.


How Arizona’s COVID-19 pandemic unfolded: A timeline

Cronkite News compiled responses and efforts from Navajo Nation president Jonathan Nez and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey.


‘We have to do something’: Inmate’s brother seeks his release to escape COVID-19 behind bars

PHOENIX – The Navajo County Jail in Holbrook is one of many national detention centers under fire for treatment of patients before a COVID-19 outbreak. Two brothers tell COVID-19 horror stories behind bars, while a third fights for their rights, possibly their lives.


COVID-19 in Arizona: State leads U.S. in growth of new cases, analysis says

PHOENIX – Doctors and health experts worry about the future of Arizona under COVID-19.


Tribes say delayed COVID-19 funds hurt coronavirus relief, other efforts

PHOENIX - At a time when some Native American communities continue to struggle with the most basic needs, tribal leaders Wednesday called it "an outrage" that tribes had to wait months for coronavirus relief funds.


COVID-19 in Arizona: 79 deaths sets record for single-day reporting

Hospital beds approach capacity as federal officials warn Arizona’s surge must be contained in the coming weeks.


For now, no border wall will split Cocopah reservation along the Colorado River

TUSCON – The Cocopah Indian Tribe has lived along the river delta for centuries.


Tribal leaders say border wall, other projects continue to threaten sacred, historic sites

PHOENIX - As President Donald Trump was hailing the pace of border wall construction Tuesday, Tohono O'odham Nation Chairman Ned Norris Jr. was bemoaning a project he says continues "to destroy … sacred sites.” Norris was one of five tribal leaders talking about the threats to sacred sites.


Two Arizona tribes, advocacy group join suits over EPA’s clean-water rule rollback

PHOENIX - Two Arizona tribes and a Phoenix-based advocacy group joined a pair of lawsuits this week to reverse a Trump administration clean-water rule that critics said would open the "vast majority of Arizona’s waterways" to pollution and degradation.


Native American groups address mental and behavioral health as COVID-19 wears on

PHOENIX – As coronavirus ravages the Navajo Nation and other Native American communities, experts are worried about the effects on mental health, and they’re going online to address those concerns.