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
-
IDAHO STATE DIRECTOR NON-PROFIT MANAGEMENT Become a powerful force in nature. Join The Nature Conservancy and make a tangible and lasting impact in creating a world where both...
-
HIGH COUNTRY NEWS HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE Join the publisher, editors, writers and staff of High Country for the annual Holiday Open House. Refreshments, food, door prizes and merriment. Thursday, December 6,...
-
PRICE REDUCED ON GREAT LOT SOUTH OF MONTROSE 
5 acres, views, utilities to lot line includes paid water tap, great for passive solar design, covenants and NO HOA. Listed by Beckie at Keller...
-
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The Native American Fish and Wildlife Society (NAFWS) is seeking qualified applicants to fill a vacant Executive Director position in Denver, CO. The position serves...
-
ADMINISTRATIVE & TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR The Western Environmental Law Center (WELC) is a nonprofit public interest environmental law firm with a 25-year legacy of success using the power of the...
-
PRIVATE WITH INCREDIBLE VIEWS 383 Acres with trails, private road, trees, stream and fabulous views. Earth Sheltered, passive solar home provides 2785 sf of comfort and a "top of...
-
ORGANIC FARM FOR RENT certified, 51 acres, small cottage, outbuildings, equipment and tools. Contact: [email protected]
-
OJO CALIENTE RIVERSIDE SECLUSION 2bd/2bath green home on 2 acres on the Ojo Caliente River, NM. MLS #101605. Contact [email protected]
-
SPECTACULAR VIEWS of mountains, 22+ acres. Close to Arroyo Seco and the Taos Ski Valley, NM. MLS #102585, [email protected]
-
HOME ON RIO GRANDE NEAR BOSQUE DEL APACHE NWR 2br-2ba, acreage. Birders, writers. 1000.
-
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...
-
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION The Wilderness Society is currently recruiting for a Communications Manager for our Northwest Region. This position can be located in Seattle or Oakland. For more...
-
SALT LAKE CITY EAST BENCH SUGARHOUSE 1912 Orchard House completely rebuilt 2002. 4000 sq ft home and private guest cottage on .53 acres. Reclaimed maple and Doug Fir. Two garages. CathyMooney.com,...
-
FORGE & FAB SHOP FOR SALE - with home on one acre in Pocatello, ID. For information and photos visit www.blackrockforgeproperty.com.
-
SIERRA CLUB PART-TIME ORGANIZING REPRESENTATIVE Sierra Club is looking for a community organizer who can help us protect grizzly bears and other wildlife species in the Northern Rockies region. This...
-
ON THE WILD ROAD WITH HIGH COUNTRY NEWS Join HCN and Black Sheep Adventures on an expedition through the national parks and monuments of Utah and Southwest Colorado, September 7 - 15, 2019....
-
RESTORATION PROGRAM COORDINATOR Grand Staircase Escalante Partners is hiring a full-time Restoration Program Coordinator based in Escalante, Utah. gsenm.org
-
CANYONLANDS FIELD INSTITUTE SEASONAL POSITIONS in Moab, UT start in Spring. Naturalist, River Guides, Camp Cooks, Internships available. Details at cfimoab.org/employment.
-
40 ACRE HOMESITE SPLENDID VIEW
25 acre in native grasses. Cedar draw. Year-round spring. At foot of Moscow Mnt, ID, 7 miles from town.
-
HIGH DESERT HAVEN Custom-built pumice home, endless views, 20 minutes to Taos Ski Valley, NM. Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Taos Real Estate, 575-758-1924, https://hcne.ws/highdeserthaven