High Country News

Homeland Security gets to bypass environmental laws

Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff is using the recently passed Real ID Act to bypass environmental, safety and labor laws in order to build a giant border fence south of San Diego

by Michelle Burkhart, Oct 31, 2005
Lawyer Laird Lucas on how and why he fights for the West

The environmental lawyer battles big industries and government agencies in the courtroom on behalf of the nonprofit Advocates for the West.

by Steve Bunk, Nov 02, 2011
Death of an era

High Country News remembers Stewart Udall, the legendary Interior secretary.

by Ray Ring, Apr 06, 2010
Democrats and Republicans can work together

Bipartisan politics briefly returned to Washington, D.C., with the passage of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act.

by Ray Ring , May 18, 2009
Will the real Mr. Pombo please stand up?

California Republican Rep. Richard Pombo made his mark blasting the Endangered Species Act, but now, he says, he’s learning to compromise on environmental issues

by Matt Weiser, Jul 25, 2005
A most unusual sanctuary, where the Yeti roams free

The kingdom of Bhutan has created a wildlife sanctuary for its possibly mythological "strong men" – the migoi, or yeti

by Nicole Gordon, Jul 25, 2005
Only 40 years ago, the Earth got its day

Earth Day, which was first celebrated 40 years ago, was largely created by Gaylord Nelson, a Democratic senator from Wisconsin who fought hard for environmental laws.

by Tim Lydon, Apr 13, 2010
What's wrong with the EPA?

David Schoenbrod explains why the nation’s environmental laws are not being properly implemented in Saving Our Environment From Washington: How Congress Grabs Power, Shirks Responsibility and Shortchanges the People

by Laura Paskus, Oct 02, 2006
Shooting Spree

The West’s environmentalist lawyers are manning the legal barricades, as the Bush administration stealthily attacks the nation’s bedrock environmental laws

by Ray Ring, May 10, 2004
Rednecks and hippies unite!

The small-town politics of a place like Paonia, Colo., are a microcosm of the nation today, revealing deep political divisions and a kind of winner-takes-all arrogance on the part of those in power

by Greg Hanscom, May 10, 2004