High Country News talks to Dennis McDonald, the Montana rancher who also leads the state’s Democratic Party.
Items by Ray Ring
Writers John N. Maclean and Mark Matthews look closely at
two famous – and deadly – Western wildfires in their
new books, The Thirtymile Fire and A Great Day to Fight
Fire.
How do we Westerners love our drugs? Let Ray Ring count
the ways.
Westerners have always been deeply in love with their
firearms, and gun-shop owners like Ryan Horsley are determined to
make sure that nothing comes between them
Ryan Horsley talks about Red's Trading Post: its history,
his troubles with the ATF, and why he doesn't sell machine
guns
The West’s gun laws are an unbelievable hodgepodge, but in general the region is very friendly toward firearms
At least 89 people died in the energy fields of Colorado,
Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Utah and Wyoming during the last
six years
Without a college degree, work on the oil and gas fields
is the best job you can get in the rural West – unless, of
course, it kills you
Ray Ring offers a state-by-state summary of some of the
more intriguing election results across the West
The West gains traction as a center of power in 2006, and
nine more indicators from the midterm elections.
In Smoke Jumping on the Western Fire
Line, Mark Matthews tells the story of the conscientious
objectors who pioneered smokejumping to fight Western forest fires
during World War II
Roughneck is a two-year-old monthly
devoted to covering the oil and gas industry in Sublette County,
Wyoming
Even Montanans critical of Sen. Conrad Burns admit
he’s a genius at bringing home the pork – a fact that
may make it harder for his Democratic challenger, Jon Tester, in
the November election.
National pundits say the nation’s political parties
are moving toward the extremes, but in the West, Republicans
– unhappy with some far-right politicians – seem to be
heading back to the middle.
Dorothy English weighs in on the pros – and cons
– of Oregon’s Measure 37
The Western states are home to a stealth campaign by
libertarians who – under the guise of reforming eminent
domain – are out to destroy all land-use planning through
"takings" ballot initiatives
The writer says stealth libertarian campaigns seek to
hamstring government
Renee Ross weighs in on the pros – and cons –
of Oregon’s Measure 37
Jim Miller weighs in on the pros – and cons –
of Oregon’s Measure 37
A detailed graph sums up the status of the current
"takings’ initiative campaigns in six Western
states
Ted Schroeder weighs in on the pros – and cons
– of Oregon’s Measure 37
Bill Roses weigh in on the pros – and cons –
of Oregon’s Measure 37
An unusual grassroots coalition of citizen activists stops
a coal-fired merchant power plant from being built in Idaho’s
Magic Valley
Led by California, Western states are encouraging the
energy industry to move toward cleaner coal technology
In their own words, some of the Magic Valley citizens who
fought the Sempra coal plant describe the uprising and how they got
involved in it
Astronomer Perry Walker uses his stargazing tools and
skills to work with the oil and gas industry to prevent air
pollution in Wyoming
The writer figures that the oil and gas industry wants
marijuana to be legal
Wilderness advocates and snowmobile enthusiasts are
working together in Montana to find enough room in the landscape to
accommodate both their passions
The writer decries the state-sponsored slaughter of
Yellowstone’s bison and calls on hunters to get
political
Practical Ecology for Planners, Developers and
Citizens and Nature-Friendly
Communties are two new handbooks on innovative land-use
planning and habitat protection
Today's Featured Stories
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STAFF DIRECTOR Take over the reins of a dynamic grassroots social justice group that protects Montana's water quality, family farms and ranches, & unique quality of life....
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WINTER WILDLANDS ALLIANCE 
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - Winter Wildlands Alliance seeks an experienced and highly motivated individual to lead and manage the organization as Executive Director. Visit https://winterwildlands.org/executive-director-search/ for...
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BIRDS OF PREY NCA PARTNERSHIP - DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING DIRECTOR Background: The Birds of Prey NCA Partnership is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization based in Boise, Idaho, which was established in 2015 after in-depth stakeholder input...
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SOUTHWEST BORDERLANDS INITIATIVE PROFESSOR OF NATIVE AMERICANS AND THE NEWS MEDIA Southwest Borderlands Initiative Professor of Native Americans and the News Media The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University is...
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MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
AWF seeks an energetic Marketing and Communications Director. Please see the full job description at https://azwildlife.org/jobs
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DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS SW REGION The Southwest Communications Director will be responsible for working with field staff in Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico to develop and execute detailed communication plans...
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THE SILVER LEAF CO-HOUSING DEVELOPMENT An intentional community designed for aging in place. Green built with Pumice-crete construction (R32), bamboo flooring, pine doors, T&G ceiling with fans, and maintenance free...
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBLE OIL & GAS (CFROG) is a Ventura County, CA based watch-dog and advocacy non-profit organization. cfrog.org
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TED SCRIPPS FELLOWSHIPS IN ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM Take your journalism skills to the next level and deepen your understanding of environmental issues by applying for the 2019-2020 Ted Scripps Fellowships in Environmental...
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CONSERVATION DIRECTOR The San Juan Mountains Association is seeking a visionary leader to spearhead its public lands stewardship program in southwest Colorado. For a detailed job description...
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT CASCADE FOREST CONSERVANCY The Cascade Forest Conservancy seeks a passionate ED to lead our forest protection, conservation, education, and advocacy programs.
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HUNTING ADVOCACY NONPROFIT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Mountain Pursuit is a new, bold, innovative, western states, hunting advocacy nonprofit headquartered in Jackson, Wyoming. We need a courageous, hard working, passionate Executive Director...
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CURATOR, DRAPER NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM The Draper Natural History Museum (DNHM) at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center of the West in Cody, WY, invites applications for the Willis McDonald, IV...
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WANTED TO BUY
Couple seeks quiet, private, off-grid acreage in area with no/low cell phone service and no/low snowfall. Conservation/bordering public lands a plus. CA, OR, WA, ID,...
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QUALIFY FOR CA INDUSTRIAL HEMP LICENSE? Former northern Sierra winery, with 2208 sq.ft. commercial building, big lot, room to expand.
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COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE The dZi Foundation is seeking a FT Communications Associate with a passion for Nepal to join our team in Ridgway, Colorado. Visit dzi.org/careers.
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EXPERT LAND STEWART Available now for site conservator, property manager. View resume at http://skills.ojaidigital.net.
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CONSERVATIONIST? IRRIGABLE LAND? Stellar seed-saving NGO is available to serious partner. Package must include financial support. Details: http://seeds.ojaidigital.net.
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OWN YOUR OWN CANYON - 1400 SF STRAW-BALE ECO-HOME ON 80 ACRES - 3 HOURS FROM L.A. 1400 sf of habitable space in a custom-designed eco-home created and completed by a published L.A. architect in 1997-99. Nestled within its own 80-acre mountain...
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40 ACRE ORGANIC FARM Suitable for planting hay, hemp, fruit. Excellent water rights. 1800 square foot farmhouse, outbuildings, worker housing.
