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A federal watchdog says some guidelines meant to improve the response to Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) are falling short of federal requirements.
That is according to an audit from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)’s Office of Inspector General.
The watchdog reviewed guidelines from 49 U.S. Attorneys’ districts developed under Savanna’s Act.
The law was passed in 2020 to improve coordination between tribal, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies responding to MMIP cases.
The Inspector General found guidelines from 10 of the 49 districts did not fully meet requirements under the law.
Seven were missing at least one of six required sections, while eight were not adequately tailored to circumstances within their individual districts.
The audit also found staffing shortages within the DOJ’s MMIP Regional Outreach Program.
As of February, four of the program’s 10 positions were vacant.
The Inspector General says vacancies and staff turnover have slowed the program’s progress.
The office made three recommendations, including addressing staffing shortages and bringing district guidelines into compliance.
The Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys agreed with all three.
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan addresses her supporters during her Primary Night party. (Courtesy Peggy Flanagan / Facebook)
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (White Earth Nation/D-MN) has won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.
The Associated Press called the race for Flanagan Tuesday night. She defeated U.S. Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) in the Democratic-Farmer-Labor primary.
The win puts Flanagan one step closer to making history. If elected in November, she would become the first Native American woman to serve in the U.S. Senate.
Flanagan has served as Minnesota’s lieutenant governor since 2019 and is the highest-ranking Native woman elected to executive office in the U.S.
During her campaign, Flanagan focused on issues including health care and affordability. She also campaigned against corporate influence in politics.
Peggy Flanagan’s note to her supporters. (Courtesy Peggy Flanagan / Facebook)
She is running for the seat held by U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN), who is not seeking reelection.
Flanagan will face Republican Michele Tafoya in the November general election.
The Associated Press called that primary for the former NFL sideline reporter in a crowded Republican race.
The Clean Air Act requires uranium waste storage pits at the White Mesa mill near Blanding, Utah, to be covered in water to control radon gas. (Photos: Dom Smith / EcoFlight)
Congressional Democrats have opened an investigation into a uranium mining company for alleged insider trading.
KNAU’s Chris Clements has more.
Energy Fuels Resources CEO Ross Bhappu bought 74,000 shares of stock in his own company on July 7.
Chairman of the board Burce Hansen bought 4,000 shares on July 8.
Five days after that, President Donald Trump announced a 90% cut to Bears Ears National Monument. That timing is suspicious, says two Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee.
U.S. Reps. Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Maxine Dexter (D-OR) allege the Trump administration may have tipped the company off about the reduction before it happened.
The company owns the only conventional uranium mill in the U.S., and there is a lot of uranium underneath Bears Ears – which is now free from a moratorium on new mining claims.
The congressmembers say the company stood to benefit from the Bears Ears reduction, but in an emailed statement to KNAU, Energy Fuels denied the allegations and said it was unaware of any evidence supporting the representatives’ claims.
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Check out today’s Native America Calling episode
Wednesday, August 12, 2026 — Native Playlist: Thomas Michael Swensen and Debora Iyall
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