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THIS IS YOUR CRONKITE NEWS 2GO BRIEFING.

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I’M  EMMA VANDENEINDE. (  go to story ) 

Current Navajo Nation President seeks re-election

Summary: Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez announced his candidacy. He plans to help rebuild the tribal economy and expand their power and water lines further.

NAVAJO NATION PRESIDENT JONATHAN NEZ IS SEEKING RE-ELECTION. 

HE ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDACY OVER THE WEEKEND, STATING THAT HE INTENDS TO FOCUS ON REBUILDING THE ECONOMY AND EXPANDING POWER AND WATER LINES.

OTHER CANDIDATES THAT WILL JOIN THE RACE INCLUDE BUU VAN NYGREN, ETHEL BRANCH, FRANK DAYISH JR. AND EARL SOMBRERO.

THE DEADLINE FOR OTHER POTENTIAL CANDIDATES TO FILE IS MAY FOURTH. THE TOP TWO CANDIDATES WHO WIN THE PRIMARY ELECTION IN AUGUST WILL MOVE ONTO THE GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

Rep. Debbie Lesko alleged to be among present members in meeting to overturn election

Summary: A testimony from a top White House aide reveals that Debbie Lesko was alleged to have attended a meeting to help keep Former President Trump in office before the insurrection.

ARIZONA REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE LESKO–A REPUBLICAN–WAS ALLEGEDLY AMONG OTHER HOUSE REPUBLICANS WHO ATTENDED A MEETING IN DECEMBER 20-20 TO DEVISE HOW TO KEEP FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IN OFFICE.

NEW RECORDS WERE RELEASED FRIDAY BY A SELECT COMMITTEE MADE TO INVESTIGATE THE JANUARY SIXTH CAPITOL INSURRECTION. CASSIDY HUTCHINSON, ONE OF THE TOP AIDES TO WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF MARK MEADOWS, TESTIFIED ABOUT OTHER MEMBERS AT THE MEETING. SHE SHARED THE NAMES OF ALL THE PEOPLE SHE BELIEVES WERE PRESENT AT THAT DECEMBER MEETING–INCLUDING LESKO.

TWO OTHER ARIZONA REPRESENTATIVES–PAUL GOSAR AND ANDY BIGGS– WERE ALLEGEDLY AT THE MEETING. THAT WOULD MEAN THREE OF THE ELEVEN REPRESENTATIVES AT THE MEETING CAME FROM ARIZONA.

IN A TWEET, LESKO DENIED THE ALLEGATION, STATING SHE HAD NO RECOLLECTION OF HER ATTENDANCE AND THAT THE MEETING WAS NOT ON HER CALENDAR.

Roundtail Chub does not get endangered species protection

Summary: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided earlier this month that the Roundtail Chub does not need endangered species protection. The service is also considering delisting the species entirely from the Endangered Species Act. Environmental groups disagree.

HOST INTRO: 

THE U-S FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE WANTS TO REMOVE ENDANGERED SPECIES PROTECTIONS FOR A FISH FOUND IN ARIZONA. IT’S ALSO DENYING ENDANGERED STATUS FOR ANOTHER SPECIES OF FISH FOUND IN THE STATE. CRONKITE NEWS’S ALEXANDRA MORA MEDINA EXPLAINS. 

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IN APRIL THE U-S FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE DETERMINED THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER ROUNDTAIL CHUB IS NOT AT RISK OF GOING EXTINCT AND DOESN’T WARRANT ENDANGERED SPECIES PROTECTION. THAT’S AFTER A YEAR SPENT ASSESSING THE POPULATION, HABITAT AND MANAGEMENT OF THIS SLENDER, SILVERER BODIED FISH.

[ CUT HERE FROM GORDON ] 

“we found that about 80% of the populations and range in Arizona and Mexico are stable or increasing with recruitment”

THATS RYAN GORDON, A BIOLOGIST AT THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. GORDON SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN ONGOING CONSERVATION MEASURES INCLUDING RE-INTRODUCING THE FISH IN THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER BASIN SINCE 2004. BUT IN  LOOKING AT THE ROUNDTAIL CHUB, THE AGENCY DISCOVERED THAT ANOTHER FISH – THE ENDANGERED GILA CHUB – SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST. 

RYAN SHANNON IS A STAFF ATTORNEY AT THE CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, WHICH HAS WORKED TO GET PROTECTIONS IN PLACE FOR THE FISH FOR YEARS. 

SHANNON SAYS THAT THE GILA CHUB HAS LOST SIGNIFICANT HABITAT DUE TO RESIDENTIAL AND AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT, AND DROUGHT HAS MEANT LESS WATER FOR THE FISH. 

“You’re kind of left with these pools in between deep spots… But as those gets smaller and smaller, the species gets more isolated.”

BUT THE U-S FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE HAS FOUND THAT POPULATIONS ARE GROWING. GORDON SAYS CONSERVATION EFFORTS TO PROTECT THE ROUNDTAIL CHUB GO BACK 18 YEARS AND HAVE RELIED ON AGREEMENTS. 

“these agreements involve state and federal agencies and tribes that have been working together to implement these conservation measures “ 

THESE MEASURES INCLUDE EXPANDING AND IMPROVING  HABITAT FOR THE FISH, AND MONITORING THE POPULATION. GORDON SAYS MOVING THE FISH TO DIFFERENT AREAS WITHIN ITS HISTORIC RANGE HAS HELPED DECREASE COMPETITION WITH NON NATIVE SPECIES.  

HE SAYS DESPITE DROUGHT AND CLIMATE CHANGE THE ROUNDTAIL CHUB HAS PERSISTED OVER TIME.

“Future predictions show that they will continue to persist.”

THE PUBLIC HAS UNTIL JUNE 6 TO COMMENT ON THE U-S FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE’S PROPOSED CHANGES ON THE GILA CHUB AND THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER ROUNDTAIL CHUB.  

ALEXANDRA MORA MEDINA, CRONKITE NEWS.

Arizona Astronaut becomes first Black astronaut to pilot a spacecraft

Summary: An Arizona Community College teacher becomes the first Black to pilot a spacecraft.

SIAN (SIGH-anne) PROCTOR WAS HONORED AT SOUTH MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE MONDAY FOR BEING THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO EVER GO TO SPACE WHILE PILOTING A SPACECRAFT. 

PROCTOR WAS ABOARD SPACE X’S INSPIRATION4 SPACECRAFT ON HER COMMERCIAL TRIP OUT OF OUR ATMOSPHERE IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR. 

BEFORE GOING TO SPACE, PROCTOR SPENT MANY YEARS TEACHING GEOLOGY AT THE COLLEGE. SHE TOOK THE TIME DURING THE CEREMONY TO THANK THE MANY PEOPLE WHO MADE HER DREAM BECOME A REALITY. 

PHOENIX MAYOR KATE GALLEGO ANNOUNCED THAT APRIL 25TH, 2022 WILL NOW BE REMEMBERED AS DR. SIAN PROCTOR DAY.

Community participates in 23rd Anniversary of Denim Day 

Summary: As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, people are asked to wear jeans in recognition of the misconceptions around consent and sexual violence.

 TODAY MARKS THE 23RD ANNIVERSARY OF DENIM DAY AS PART OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH. 

IT RECOGNIZES A RAPE CONVICTION IN ITALY THAT GOT OVERTURNED. THE JUSTICES SAID THE DEFENDANT MUST HAVE ASKED FOR CONSENT SINCE SHE WAS WEARING TIGHT JEANS. PROTESTS BEGAN IN ITALY AND SLOWLY SPREAD TO THE U-S IN 19-99.

THE DENIM DAY ORGANIZATION ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO WEAR JEANS OR THE COLOR TEAL AS PART OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH. THERE ARE ACTIVITIES ON SOME ARIZONA COLLEGE CAMPUSES. ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY IS GIVING OUT FREE RESOURCES AND U-ARIZONA WILL HOST A PHYSICAL DEFENSE WORKSHOP.

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WE HAD HELP TODAY FROM ALEXANDRA MORA MEDINA AND ASHLEY CHORZELEWSKI (HUDGE-EL-ES-KEY). ALSO, THANKS TO JUSTIN TORRES, WHO HELPED PRODUCE TODAY’S SHOW.

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YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE STORIES YOU HEARD IN TODAY’S NEWS UPDATE, BY GOING TO CRONKITENEWS-DOT-AZPBS-DOT-ORG. 

THAT’S ALL FOR YOUR CRONKITE NEWS 2 GO. I’M EMMA VANDENEINDE. 

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