Despite the recent tragedy in Tucson, a sense of community blooms in the West, often in unlikely soil.
Items by Ray Ring
High Country News reporter Matt Jenkins gets his boots muddy writing about California's crazy water politics in the Bay Delta.
Oklahoma Republican Sens. Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe have a way of riding roughshod over the West's environmental politics.
Oklahoma isn't part of the West, but its two Republican senators have an enormous influence on the region.
Wyoming's popular Democratic Gov. Dave Freudenthal is carefully staying out of the race between his wannabe successors, Leslie Petersen and Matt Mead.
Right-wingers ousted wilderness-dealmaker Sen. Bob Bennett in the Republican primary, and now anti-wilderness Mike Lee will probably take his place in the Senate.
A Montana populist, Ken Toole, tries to keep his seat on the Public Service Commission, while other key races involve wealthy hunters and the state Supreme Court.
The West has known extremist politics before, but we usually seem to end up tacking pretty close to the center.
Pro-business, semi-green Democratic Rep. Walt Minnick has a good chance of keeping his seat, while Idaho's Republican Party fractures over a loyalty oath.
A number of recent books warn of the deadly consequences of climate change.
High Country News' founder, Tom Bell, marks our 40th anniversary with a grim prediction: The West -- and the world -- are doomed.
They're in a national movement to guarantee profits on milk.
A pro-wolf ruling by Montana Judge Don Molloy provokes accusations that he's a "nutzoid" greenie, but he doesn't always side with environmentalists.
Young people dressed in graduation caps and gowns protest for immigration reform.
Brief descriptions of some notable arson wildfire cases in the West in the last 50 years.
Most Western wildfires today are caused by humans, either accidentally or deliberately.
High Country News will continue to cover important Western issues, and yet make room for lighter pieces about the region's culture and communities.
During the Western Governors' Association meeting in Whitefish, Mont., journalists and dignitaries flew over the threatened landscape around Glacier National Park.
The toll of the asbestos disaster in Libby, Mont., keeps growing.
Western eccentrics are found underwater as well as in the high country.
The tragic BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico could help the environmental movement, if greens act wisely.
'Top two' ballot measure may reduce power of hardliners in each party.
A decade-old Yellowstone management plan isn't doing much for wandering bison, or for the ranchers it's meant to protect.
Determined ideologues are hijacking Western politics, but some reformers are trying to change that.
A couple of hitherto-unknown bees are discovered in Nevada -- just two of the many new species found every year.
High Country News remembers Stewart Udall, the legendary Interior secretary.
The West leads the way on medical marijuana.
Many environmental groups are seeing a changing of the guard, epitomized by 38-year-old activist Mike Brune's new job as head of the Sierra Club.
The Independent Petroleum Association of Mountain States isn't as reasonable as it appears.
The Supreme Court's precedent-overturning ruling allowing more corporate money in politics raises the possibility that it plans to tackle the Commerce Clause next.
Featured stories
-
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...
-
GILA GRASSROOTS ORGANIZER New Mexico Wild is seeking a Gila Grassroots Organizer who is passionate about public lands and community engagement. The Gila Grassroots Organizer will take a...
-
20/40 ACRES IN ARIZONA WINE COUNTRY Chiricahua riparian ecosystem: 5100 ft elevation:18+ inches of rain/year: 1/4 mile creek through property: The Chiricahuas' have been called: "The most biologically diverse place in...
-
SMALL CABIN WITH 260 ACRES Adorable quaint cabin on the Arizona Strip, on the foothills of the Kaibab Plateau with 260 acres bordering BLM lands on two sides of the...
-
STAFF ATTORNEY Food & Water Watch works to create a healthy future for all people and generations to come—a world where everyone has food they can trust,...
-
ASSOCIATE DIR OF DEVELOPMENT FOR CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION RELATIONS What We Can Achieve Together: Based in Phoenix, AZ, the Associate Director of Development for Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR) works closely with the State...
-
ASSOCIATE DIR OF DEVELOPMENT What We Can Achieve Together: The Associate Director of Development (ADoD) works closely with the State Director, Director of Development, development team and program leaders...
-
LUNATEC HYDRATION SPRAY BOTTLE A must for campers and outdoor enthusiasts. Cools, cleans and hydrates with mist, stream and shower patterns. Hundreds of uses.
-
LUNATEC ODOR-FREE DISHCLOTHS are a must try. They stay odor-free, dry fast, are durable and don't require machine washing. Try today.
-
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The Civil Conversations Project, a 501c3 organization working to end racism in America is seeking an experienced and passionate part-time Executive Director. For full job...
