Southern Ute tribe leader dies

By The Associated Press

Southern Ute Tribe-Jimmy-R-Newton-JrIGNACIO, Colo. (AP) – The Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council says Chairman Jimmy R. Newton, Jr., died Monday after a short illness. He was 36.

Newton served as a Tribal Council member and was appointed acting chairman twice before becoming chairman in 2012.

He is survived by his wife, Flora Murphy, and one daughter.

U.S. Sen. Mark Udall said Tuesday Newton was a strong voice for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, working on projects including the Pine River Indian Irrigation Project.

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