Cash-strapped agencies use private contractors to the detriment of local communities.
Growth & Sustainability
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A water-bottling plant creates a rift in Montana
Opponents say a proposal is tilting Flathead Valley development toward corporate interests.
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A flood of drought news can reduce water use
Drought-stricken California conserved more when media coverage spiked.
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In New Mexico, demographic shifts have helped job growth
An influx of immigrants is preventing economic stagnation in the Borderlands.
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New Mexico breweries patch the gaps between oil booms
Rural towns explore ways to diversify their economies, from tourism to hospitality.
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San Francisco sues Big Oil for climate adaptation
Sea level rise could lead to catastrophic flooding, and the city blames Exxon and BP.
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In rural New Mexico, a new brewery creates momentum
Truth or Consequences looks for ways to attract a new generation of entrepreneurs.
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Why save the small town?
Cities may seem inevitable, but rural communities are finding ways to hang on.
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Farm-to-table beef relies on native grasses
A rancher focuses beyond his herds and gets to the root of sustainability.
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RV industry lobbies to privatize services on public lands
And they have found an ally in Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.
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West Obsessed: The battle over solar energy
High Country News delves into a win for Nevada’s solar customers and what it means for the grid.
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Tucson’s seed library fosters food sovereignty in a desert
With help from Pima County’s public libraries, Tucsonans grow urban gardens.
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How will Medicaid cuts affect health care in Indian Country?
The U.S. government is poised to limit funding for Indian Health Services.
Posted inOctober 2, 2017: Following Ancient Footsteps
Latest: Park Service to cull part of Grand Canyon’s bison herd
The burgeoning North Rim population threatens vegetation, water and cultural sites.
Posted inSeptember 4, 2017: The Elwha, Unleashed
Down with the Glen Canyon Dam?
Activists claim that decommissioning the dam will save water and restore a wild canyon. Are they right?
Posted inSeptember 4, 2017: The Elwha, Unleashed
After its dams came down, a river is reborn
A look at the Elwha unleashed.
Posted inSeptember 4, 2017: The Elwha, Unleashed
Will Utah dam the Bear River?
The Wasatch Front faces drier times and a growing population, threatening the Great Salt Lake.
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Will only the flexible survive?
Researchers are identifying the West’s wildlife that can best cope with climate change.
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What caused mass die-offs of sea lion pups?
The effects of warming ocean waters are rippling through marine ecosystems.
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No, God won’t take care of climate change
Conservationists and religious folk need to find harmony for a healthy planet.