Items by Ray Ring

No conspiracy in Libby, despite hundreds of deaths
That's what the jury says.
Obama's Forest Service nominee is a surprise
Mississipian to run Western empire?
Some Mormons baptized Obama’s dead mother
The church doesn't condone it.
The West dissected
The West dissected
The Environmental Working Group and other organizations have released detailed studies of the West along the lines of Colorado College’s State of the Rockies Report Card. Also: The economic stimulus package has money for Western national parks and monuments.
Watch falcons nesting high in downtown Boise
Peregrines star in live webvideo.
A conflict of values
A conflict of values
Michael J. Yochim writes the primer on the Yellowstone snowmobile conflict in his admirably balanced Yellowstone and the Snowmobile: Locking Horns over National Park Use.
Idaho-style reality TV
It would include a bumpersticker that says "Potatoes Suck."
Champions go both ways
Champions go both ways
The Obama administration appoints environmentalists to some important positions in the Interior Department and other agencies. Also: The West faces a growing shortage of food-supply animal veterinarians.
Ex-congressman dies in Utah ATV crash
It's more evidence that off-road driving is dangerous fun.
Battle for justice in Libby might collapse quietly
And green groups barely notice.
A ghost of the 1970s
A ghost of the 1970s
Bipartisan politics briefly returned to Washington, D.C., with the passage of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act. Also: A map highlights some of the newly protected lands in the West.
Montana wrestles nation's boldest gun-rights bill
And a few Republicans provide the key opposition to it.
Sage grouse robot video!
It gives the bird's-eye view of eccentric scientists as well.
Was our last wild jaguar euthanized by mistake?
Macho B might not have had kidney disease, says a pathologist.
Newsitos for 3/28/09
Bleeding wolf package, inferior salmon, Obama vs Indian health, and Sen. Reid vs polygamy.
Some 'stimulus' may be bad for environment
For instance, billions for new roads = more drivers spewing out emissions.
Newsitos for 3/26/09
Green champagne, eagle bust, backroom Mormon politics, and latest killer bees.
Western Repubs remain split as Omni wilderness deals pass
And even as the Big Greens cheer, a few Greens criticize it.
Newsitos for 3/23/09
Links to a leading Western Repub, a YouTube energy czar, a nuke map and a lone wolverine.
Newsitos for 3/20/09
Links to stories about birds, the Omni, a top ecologist and guns.
Western states flex various Congressional muscles
Some look wimpy but might not be.
Changeable weather
Changeable weather
Western environmentalists get good news about Yucca Mountain, but face challenges from state legislatures. Also: Americans finally reduce their driving miles.
Calling Hollywood to run the West
Calling Hollywood to run the West
Now that Val Kilmer is considering a campaign for New Mexico's governorship, why not have actors run all the Western states?
History viewed through gunsights
History viewed through gunsights
Hal Herring traces the history of the American West through its guns and the people who used them in Famous Firearms of the Old West.
Enviros suffer first major setback in Obama era
And this battle -- over a huge public-lands law -- reveals shifts in Western politics.
INNOVATE, Part III
INNOVATE, Part III
Westerners have a knack for new and innovative thinking, such as: Redefining rancher politics, A rediscovered renewable, Creating public nooks and crannies and more.
INNOVATE, Part II
INNOVATE, Part II
Westerners have a knack for new and innovative thinking: Green detective, Healthcare for the hard up, Developing to stop development, Low carbon brews and more.
INNOVATE, Part I
INNOVATE, Part I
Westerners have a knack for new and innovative thinking, as this special issue of HCN shows.
A desert poet takes his work inside
A desert poet takes his work inside
Poet Richard Shelton has run writing workshops in Arizona prisons for more than 30 years.
True tests of 'Stay and Defend'
True tests of 'Stay and Defend'
Australia’s recent fires may have scorched “Stay and Defend,” a firefighting strategy American Westerners had thought of emulating. Also: Birds are shifting their winter range.
High Country News Classifieds
  • WYOMING CLIMATE ORGANIZER
    Job Title: Wyoming Climate Coordinator Reports to: Energy and Climate Policy Director Type of Work: Full-time, hourly, but willing to consider part-time Classification: Non-exempt Start...
  • DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
    Colorado West Land Trust seeks a Director of Development to lead the organization's fundraising efforts. Western Colorado is home to Colorado's fruit and wine industry,...
  • DIRECTOR - COLORADO WILD PUBLIC LANDS
    NON-PROFIT DIRECTOR If you are looking for meaningful work, this is the opportunity to join a small and exciting nonprofit organization led by an engaged...
  • EDITORIAL INTERN - INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS DESK
    High Country News is seeking an intern to serve on its award-winning Indigenous Affairs Desk. The Indigenous Affairs Intern will dive deep into important stories...
  • COMING TO TUCSON?
    Popular vacation house, everything furnished. Two bedroom, one bath, large enclosed yards. Dog-friendly. Contact Lee at [email protected] or 520-791-9246.
  • ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSTRUCTION GEOPHYSICS
    We characterize contaminated sites, identify buried drums, tanks, debris and also locate groundwater.
  • NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION MANAGER
    Central Colorado Conservancy is an accredited land trust and community-based conservation organization based in Salida, CO. Our mission is to protect the land, waters and...
  • ESCAPE THE CROWDS AND EMBRACE NATURE: AFFORDABLE RETREAT, JUST AN HOUR FROM GLACIER NATIONAL PARK AND BOB MARSHALL WILDERNESS!
    Welcome to your new tranquil oasis in Montana. This beautiful 2-bedroom home FSBO is just an hour's drive to the east entrance of Glacier National...
  • DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
    Areas of Responsibility: The Development Director collaborates with the Executive Director, other HEAL Utah staff, board, and supporters to continue building one of Utah's most...
  • DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST
    Position Summary Western Resource Advocates (WRA) is hiring an organized and creative Digital Engagement Specialist to join our Marketing and Communications Team. The Digital Engagement...
  • 92 ACRE EASTERN WASHINGTON GEM
    Welcome to Lost Creek Sanctuary... a true hidden gem in the heart of the Palouse. 1900 square feet, the main house is warm and charming,...
  • WEEKLY NEWSPAPER FOR SALE
    Vibrant, financially successful 1,100 print run, community-focused subscription newspaper in beautiful Pacific Northwest Washington seeks owner/s. It is time to retire. Now, your Norman Rockwell-like...
  • STAFF ATTORNEY - WILDLANDS AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM
    Job Opening Announcement: Wildlands and Wildlife Program Staff Attorney Reports to: Wildlands and Wildlife Program Director Location: Pacific Northwest, ideally in Eugene, Oregon, Portland, Oregon,...
  • HEAD OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT
    The Head of Project Management will oversee our project execution to ensure that we are providing our partners around the world with the field data...
  • LEGAL DIRECTOR
    Trustees for Alaska is the only nonprofit environmental law firm founded and based in Alaska. We are seeking a Legal Director, full-time based in Anchorage....
  • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
    The Fund for People in Parks seeks leader to identify, develop, fund, and facilitate high-impact projects in western National Parks. Remote position with some travel....
  • GRASSROOTS REGIONAL COORDINATOR
    Great Old Broads for Wilderness is a women-led national grassroots organization that engages and inspires activism to preserve and protect wilderness and wild lands. The...
  • GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY MANAGER
    Great Old Broads for Wilderness is a women-led national grassroots organization that engages and inspires activism to preserve and protect wilderness and wild lands. Position...
  • GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP DIRECTOR
    The Grassroots Leadership (Director) oversees the training, guidance, and support of volunteer Broadband Leaders. (Broadbands are women-led grassroots chapters, with 40+ across the country.) They...
  • FOCUS GROUP PARTICIPANT NEEDED
    We would like to invite you to participate in a 60-minute focus group to help us enhance the New Mexico Courts website (https://www.inside.nmcourts.gov/). Our aim...