The coronavirus pandemic, economic troubles and nationwide protests of police brutality and anti-Black racism: These are turbulent times in the Western United States, but staff at High Country News are grateful to be here, covering the stories that matter.
Our morale received an unexpected boost from a May tweet sent by Nicolas Gonzalez, communications manager for the Audubon Society. It seems that while quarantined in Los Angeles, Gonzalez had a few drinks during a virtual happy hour with friends and “drunkenly subscribed to three years of @highcountrynews.” Gonzalez called it “definitely one of my better decisions under the influence.” We can find no fault with his decision-making. Thanks for the support, Nicolas — would that more people shared your enthusiasm for good journalism. We’ll gladly raise a glass to you, even if it has to be virtual, too.
Some of HCN’s good journalism was on recent display on the airwaves. Assistant Editor Anna V. Smith appeared on Here & Now from WBUR, to discuss COVID-19 infection rates — and the slow federal response — in Indigenous communities. Around the same time, Contributing Editor Nick Bowlin (that’s me) chatted with the hosts of Colorado Edition from KUNC about newly relaxed taxes for oil and gas drillers on public lands.
Finally, we are sad to hear that Lynda Goldstein, a longtime supporter of HCN’s intern and fellow program, passed in April, in Denver, after a short illness. According to the obituary sent by her daughter, Julie, Lynda moved to Colorado with her husband, Richard, in 1967, and became well-known as a community activist. She was “deeply committed to the Jewish community and to supporting women and girls,” and loved spending time in the mountains. We are grateful to have known her.
Do good, be good.
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This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Grateful in turbulent times.
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