High Country News

Hispanic leaders spearheaded the Río Grande del Norte National Monument

In New Mexico, the open and inclusive campaign for a 240,000-acre monument sidestepped the usual controversy drummed up by such designations.

by Ernie Atencio, Apr 29, 2013
Beatification of a sinner: a review of The Soledad Crucifixion

Nancy Wood's novel describes a rogue priest's spiritual encounters with the Calabaza people

by Annie Dawid, Apr 15, 2013
The great New Mexican juniper massacre

On public land in New Mexico, firewood-hunters have illegally cut down hundreds of old-growth juniper trees, much to the dismay of the Bureau of Land Management and environmental activists.

by Jonathan Thompson, Sep 16, 2012
Fire on the mountain

A New Mexican watches Whitewater-Baldy fire burn the Gila National Forest, and even as it changes a place she loves, her ecologist self cheers it on.

by Martha Schumann Cooper, Jun 14, 2012
Leavin' on a Jet Plane

The Air Force wants to close Cannon Air Force Base, but the nearby town of Clovis, N.M., is not ready to let go of its main economic engine

by Stephen J. Lyons, Aug 22, 2005
Western military bases still reporting for duty

Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico and Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota narrowly escape being shut down by the federal Base Realignment and Closure Commission

by Stephen J. Lyons, Sep 19, 2005
Town Shopping

With all the formerly cool, "undiscovered" small towns now caught up in the New West’s booming real estate frenzy, it’s getting hard to find an affordable place to call home

by M. John Fayhee, Mar 20, 2006
The Fourth Wave

With uranium prices rising, speculators are looking anew at busted mining towns like Jeffrey City, Wyo., but locals have learned to be skeptical

by Samuel Western, Sep 04, 2006
Land deal, New Mexico style

In booming Albuquerque, N.M., the former Atrisco Land Grant – now the Westland Development Corporation – wants to sell land to developers, but not all the land grant heirs are pleased with the prospect

by Laura Paskus, Jun 26, 2006
Solar companies roll the dice

Two new companies have proposed building the largest solar power plant in the world near Deming, N.M.

by Stephanie Paige Ogburn, Jun 12, 2006