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Pay for Prey
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July 23, 2018

Our society has deep sympathy for and allegiance to the image of the Western cowboy. That sentiment plays out in the news story of two Oregon ranchers serving time for arson of public lands receiving a presidential pardon, as well as this issue's feature, which looks into a troubled Oregon program that reimburses ranchers for livestock killed by the state's burgeoning wolf population. Meanwhile in North Dakota, Indigenous women are missing and being murdered at high rates, with little attention being given to the crises.

Feature

When cattle go missing in wolf territory, who should pay the price?
When cattle go missing in wolf territory, who should pay the price?
A program to reimburse Oregon ranchers for livestock killed by wolves is in trouble.
‘No crime scene’: The search for Olivia Lone Bear
‘No crime scene’: The search for Olivia Lone Bear
Native families grapple with scant support to locate their missing loved ones.

Editor's Note

The political power of the cowboy
The political power of the cowboy
Oregon struggles with the reintroduction of wolves into lands where they have long been hated and hunted.

Essays

Saving baby Jo from the smoke
Saving baby Jo from the smoke
A mother grapples with her decision to flee the 416 Fire with her infant daughter.

Book Reviews

The Colorado, lifeblood and sculptor of an arid West
The Colorado, lifeblood and sculptor of an arid West
In a new book, a longtime river-runner invites readers to sit down by the Colorado’s riverside and listen to its stories.

Perspective

How California is bringing solar energy to low-income renters
How California is bringing solar energy to low-income renters
An array on an infamous down-and-out building makes solar more equitable.

Heard Around the West

Wandering kangaroos; gun junkyard; freewheeling bulldozers
Wandering kangaroos; gun junkyard; freewheeling bulldozers
Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.

Dear Friends

A cheery cherry celebration
A cheery cherry celebration
The annual Cherry Days Festival brought hot temperatures and more visitors.

Letters

Current

An owl fly-by prompts a second look at an Arizona mine
An owl fly-by prompts a second look at an Arizona mine
Wildlife managers revisit the impact of an expanding mining operation.
California’s rural-urban divide blurs in crucial House race
California’s rural-urban divide blurs in crucial House race
Water and immigration are key issues as Democrats seek to unseat an incumbent.
After Malheur, side effects of the Bundys’ extremism linger
After Malheur, side effects of the Bundys’ extremism linger
But in Harney County, Oregon, collaboration around public lands grows.
Latest: Lands returned to the Mountain Maidu tribe
Latest: Lands returned to the Mountain Maidu tribe
The tribe is the first federally nonrecognized tribe to get lands back in California.
Latest: Park Service to remove problematic mountain goats
Latest: Park Service to remove problematic mountain goats
The rapidly multiplying population in Olympic National Park threatens visitors.
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