Items by Jonathan Thompson

Drilling Chaco: What's actually at stake
Drilling Chaco: What's actually at stake
It's the archaeological landscape beyond New Mexico's Chaco Canyon that is most threatened.
Snapshot of a drought in progress
Snapshot of a drought in progress
Southwest Colorado's snowpack is dismal and melting fast.
Dispatch from a gas patch shopping trip
Dispatch from a gas patch shopping trip
Reporters Notebook from New Mexico's San Juan Basin.
How 'amenity migrants' push out locals
How 'amenity migrants' push out locals
Communities once sustained by local labor now rely on stock market dividends.
Lessons from boom and bust in New Mexico
Lessons from boom and bust in New Mexico
What we can learn from the oil and gas roller coaster ride in Farmington and beyond.
An oil well, by the numbers
An oil well, by the numbers
A deep dive into drilling, operating and producing.
Oil and Gas Facts
Don't expect oil prices to rebound anytime soon
Don't expect oil prices to rebound anytime soon
Global forces conspire to keep energy prices low, for better and worse.
January exodus
January exodus
HCN’ers get into the backcountry, editor Betsy Marston sees Berlin and art director Cindy Wehling takes a trip to Hawaii.
Long lost GoPro resurfaces; owl attacks in Oregon
Long lost GoPro resurfaces; owl attacks in Oregon
Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.
The increasingly unequal West
The increasingly unequal West
Rich get richer while everyone else wallows in a region once known to be economically egalitarian.
Goats at the table, and bobcats on (in) the grill…
Goats at the table, and bobcats on (in) the grill…
Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.
The Cow Liberation Moovement, bear tizzies and more
The Cow Liberation Moovement, bear tizzies and more
Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.
After a ski patroller’s death, a flurry of questions
After a ski patroller’s death, a flurry of questions
Forest Service permitting issues complicate a southwestern Colorado tragedy
Is altitude causing suicide in the West?
Is altitude causing suicide in the West?
Researchers find that high elevations may affect our emotions in both good and bad ways
The oil boom hasn't busted, but it's straining at the seams
The oil boom hasn't busted, but it's straining at the seams
Oil patch communities and states are starting to feel the impacts of sliding prices.
Killings by cops are much more common in Western states
Killings by cops are much more common in Western states
Arrest-related death rates are highest in New Mexico, with Nevada and Oregon close behind.
The linchpin to a national supergrid
The linchpin to a national supergrid
Clovis, New Mexico, may link three grids and become a renewable energy hub.
Gentrification comes to Denver
Gentrification comes to Denver
With the right policies, the city can be desirable and affordable.
Light rail enters the West’s most sprawling metropolis
Light rail enters the West’s most sprawling metropolis
New transportation sparked a renaissance in Denver. Can it do the same for Phoenix?
Water use is lower than it's been in 45 years
Water use is lower than it's been in 45 years
U.S. population has grown by 105 million people since 1970, yet we somehow shrank our water footprint.
Will falling oil prices kill the shale revolution?
Will falling oil prices kill the shale revolution?
The current drilling boom is more sensitive to price fluctuations than its predecessors.
Keep the spray out of the oatmeal
Extraction taxes are on the ballot
Extraction taxes are on the ballot
North Dakota and Nevada voters might learn something from Wyoming.
The Latest: When wind and solar need reliable backup power
The Latest: When wind and solar need reliable backup power
Western grid operators can now buy backup power on a real-time, open market to smooth intermittent renewables.
NASA finds methane hot spot over Four Corners
NASA finds methane hot spot over Four Corners
The culprit is the extensive fossil fuel industry infrastructure, not just fracking or coal mines.
About the price of oil
About the price of oil
Since rig counts follow oil prices, the current slump will hurt Western economies.
The 21st century's Hoover Dam?
The 21st century's Hoover Dam?
What a huge Wyoming wind and Utah storage project tell us about the West's energy landscape.
Is Denver the Houston of the Rockies — again?
Is Denver the Houston of the Rockies — again?
Even greenie hotspots get their economic mojo from fossil fuels.
A cyclist's plea to motorists
A cyclist's plea to motorists
Cars are a deadly weapon and drivers need to take care.
High Country News Classifieds
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    The NFPPRD District Administrator provides leadership and managerial services associated with the Recreation District. Facilities include a seasonal pool, ballfields, bike trails, tennis/pickleball and skateboarding....
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    The Executive Director of the Badlands Conservation Alliance (BCA) builds and leads a premiere North Dakota advocacy group that serves to protect the ecology of...
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    About the Organization Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) is a joint Canada-U.S. not-for-profit organization with a mission to connect and protect wildlife habitat from...
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    The Education and Outreach Director is a people-oriented facilitator, communications wizard, and team leader who has experience designing, managing, and fundraising for land based educational...
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    hat We Can Achieve Together: If you are a detailed individual that takes pride in your accuracy, this position may be the perfect opportunity for...
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    Are you ready to take the reins at Lemhi County Humane Society and make a difference in the lives of countless animals? We are seeking...
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    We characterize contaminated sites, identify buried drums, tanks, debris and also locate groundwater.
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    The Clark Fork Coalition (CFC) seeks an enthusiastic Development Director to lead all fundraising activities in support of our mission to protect and restore the...
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    Chief Executive Officer, Remote Exempt position for Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance is responsible for the planning and organization of BNGA's day-to-day operations
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    13 stories of extraordinary courage including HCN founder Tom Bell, PRBRC director Lynn Dickey, Liz Cheney, People of Heart Mountain, the Wind River Indian Reservation...
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    JOB DESCRIPTION: This Work involves the responsibility of conducting research in the procurement of Federal, State, County, and private grant funding. Additional responsibilities include identifying...