By Jule Banville, NewWest.net guest blogger 8-23-10 The deadly spread of pneumonia in Montana’s bighorn sheep population picked up momentum west of Anaconda, where a hunter alerted Fish, Wildlife & Parks of possible disease in the Lost Creek population. Biologists killed four sheep and confirmed through lab work they were infected. FWP announced the latest […]
Spread of Bighorn Sheep Pneumonia Continues
Posted inAugust 20, 2010: A Hell of an Anniversary
How green is Judge Molloy?
Latest wolf ruling triggers more complaints of judicial activism
Posted inRange
A fast year
Lessons from the Indian Health System A year goes by fast. Way too fast. Thirteen months ago I plunged into my “year-long” exploration of the Indian health system. It’s been fascinating because there has so much activity: Congress enacted the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and included with that bill the permanent authorization of […]
Posted inRange
From payment to prevention
Restoring wolves to their native habitat in the West hasn’t been easy. Some were opposed to the idea from the start, including ranchers who already viewed wild predators as a threat to their livelihoods. That’s why compensating ranchers for losses to wolves was an integral part of promoting tolerance, even before wolves were reintroduced. Wolves […]
Posted inAugust 20, 2010: A Hell of an Anniversary
Coming soon: HCN on glossy toilet paper
As I read Ray Ring’s words on what is the right format for HCN, I began to ponder that the correct mix is the mix that keeps you and your staff energized (HCN, 7/19/10). Without an engaged editor and staff, the publication will wilt. The rest is just packaging that can be adjusted. Sources of […]
Posted inAugust 20, 2010: A Hell of an Anniversary
Mute on Utes
Like writer Jonathan Thompson, I have deep roots on and near Ute lands in southwestern Colorado. While I realize he faced a daunting task — even without Ute secrecy — “The Ute Paradox” seemed way too couched in political correctness and an unwillingness to hold minority leaders to the same standards we demand of others […]
Posted inAugust 20, 2010: A Hell of an Anniversary
Wildfires and who’s to blame
I read John Maclean’s excellent article “The Fiery Touch” with mounting concern, for two reasons (HCN, 8/02/10). The first is the charge of murder. Several of my friends and colleagues are or have been wildland firefighters. My heart goes out to the families of all those killed in wildfires. Raymond Oyler is clearly a very […]
Posted inAugust 20, 2010: A Hell of an Anniversary
Capturing hearts and minds
Your story “Young, All-American, Illegal” is riveting and heartbreaking (HCN, 8/16/10). It should be required reading and viewing by anyone involved in immigration issues, regardless of political stripe. And that means all of us. I confess: The brouhaha surrounding the Arizona “show me your papers” debate didn’t matter to me, other than to rouse my […]
Posted inWotr
What have we learned a century after the Big Blowup?
A devastating wildfire leaves its marks on the West.
Posted inBlog
Loving an (artificial) lake
I’m a longtime resident of Arizona. Your reception of this bit of information is likely affected by recent news coverage of my state’s new immigration legislation, isn’t it? Every now and then, the Grand Canyon State wants to reassure the rest of the country that its flaming red-state status is secure, thank you very much. […]
Posted inGoat
“Lines Across the Sand”
Edward Abbey’s 1975 novel The Monkey Wrench Gang opened with a definition: sabotage … n. [Fr. < sabot, wooden shoe + -age: from damage done to machinery by sabots]…. From this subtle introduction, the book grew beyond its covers, even beyond the reach of its cantankerous author, and led a whole generation of upset desert […]
Posted inRange
Conservation groups reject deal for Child Nutrition Program
The Capital Press – a western agricultural weekly – is reporting that “conservation groups” are part of a coalition of agricultural and other organizations opposing cutting the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) in order to fund the Obama Administration’s drive to expand child nutrition programs – including the innovative farm-to-school program. […]
Posted inAugust 20, 2010: A Hell of an Anniversary
Surprises flow from Ruby Pipeline
A conservation compromise fails to stave off lawsuits
Posted inBlog
Transportation policy’s third rails
We live in a society of backseat drivers. Or backseat urban planners. Or train engineers. But often, no matter how loudly we clamor, we’re not as right as we think. And that costs all of us, even if our convictions rely heavily on rational critiques of public policy. Think of transportation policy in Los Angeles […]
Posted inGoat
Telemocracy #3
You thought he had receded into the bowels of history, relegated to the proverbial footnotes of our politics. Indeed, Dan, of “potatoe” fame, has passed into the relative obscurity of Phoenix sprawlurbia – and yet, the Quayle name lives on … Behold, the second iteration, Ben Quayle. Quayle 2.0 is honoring the spirit of his father’s […]
Posted inWotr
Slobs at Lake Powell foment a revolt
Each summer I do penance at Lake Powell for the environmental sins of its visitors. This summer was no exception as I volunteered to work on a houseboat called the Trash Tracker. Our job: picking up debris in 108-degree heat along 100 miles or so of the 1,900-mile shoreline. Our team found the usual amount […]
Posted inWotr
Medical marijuana trips up Montana
The state of Montana is frantically backpedaling six years after voters passed Medical Marijuana Initiative 148. (Don’t blame me, I didn’t vote for it.) One of 10 states now with medical marijuana programs, Montana has fallen into what might be called pot-plant purgatory as it struggles with blurry laws and even blurrier implementation plans, stalling […]
Posted inGoat
Uranium pullback
It looks like Colorado won’t have a functioning uranium mill anytime soon – to the relief of anti-nuclear advocates. We reported in July that Cotter Corp. was planning to reopen its Canon City site by 2014. Legislation passed this spring means that Cotter would have to clean up prior contamination before starting to process uranium […]
Posted inRange
“Government-run” no longer defines the Indian health system
A single phrase is often used to define the Indian health system: “Government-run.” Add those two words to any discussion about health care or reform and most people reach an immediate conclusion about the merits of the agency. Now it is time for the phrase to disappear because it no longer accurately describes the Indian […]