NEWS

SANTA FE — State contributions to two Navajo Nation projects in San Juan County were cut by the governor to help close New Mexico's $650 million budget shortfall, according to data from the New Mexico Association of Counties.   Full Story

FARMINGTON — A city councilman e-mailed developers, the mayor and another councilman about La Plata Ranch, angering two other councilors who said they should have discussed the development publicly.   Full Story

Xavier Mascareñas/The Daily Times

AZTEC — Employees of San Juan County government agencies collected 13,205 pounds of food for the ECHO food bank, one of the single largest donations ever given to the community's emergency food supply.   Full Story

— By Alysa Landry — The Daily Times An estimated 57 percent of motor vehicle deaths among American Indians involve a drunken driver, according to federal Department of Transportation statistics.   Full Story

AZTEC — The Aztec City Commission selected two additional candidates after a two-hour closed session Thursday called to move forward in the selection process for a new city manager.   Full Story

FARMINGTON — The young survivor of Tuesday's trailer fire on Southside River Road died Wednesday.   Full Story

Xavier Mascareñas/The Daily Times

FARMINGTON — It takes many people to care for all the children in San Juan County, but some children need more help than others.   Full Story

Xavier Mascareñas/The Daily Times

FARMINGTON — Audrey Brown, 34, lives on her own, holds a steady job and is rebuilding relationships with her children.   Full Story

On this week's edition of Newsmakers, Jasper Welch, director of the San Juan College San Juan College business Enterprise Center, offers a better understanding of what those poor job market numbers mean and whether the usual holiday bump in retail sales will be able to shore up continued local losses.   Full Story