The curious death of 1631 and what it says about the future of addressing climate change.
Politics
Posted inArticles
Idaho’s new governor: ‘Climate change is real’
Environmentalists hope action will follow new state stance on climate.
Posted inArticles
Why bulldoze one of the wildest places on Earth?
The Trump administration wants a road built through an Alaska wildlife refuge for medical needs – but commerce may be the real reason.
Posted inFebruary 4, 2019: Nizhoni Girls
Elizabeth Warren’s claim to Cherokee ancestry is a form of violence
Be it by the barrel of a carbine or a mail-order DNA test, the American spirit demands the disappearance of Indigenous people.
Posted inArticles
Farmers and ranchers lose vital support during shutdown
The funding stalemate has halted Department of Agriculture programs that the rural West relies on.
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A critical solution to climate change is right here in the West
In pursuit of a ‘Green New Deal,’ don’t forget public lands.
Posted inFebruary 18, 2019: Barriers to Entry
Border security will always be elusive
The Borderlands have long been governed by impermanent and shifting policies.
Posted inFebruary 4, 2019: Nizhoni Girls
Democrats are divided over the Green New Deal
Can newly elected progressives convince party leaders to embrace a bold climate agenda?
Posted inJanuary 21, 2019: What Killed Washington's Carbon Tax?
Hunters and anglers flex their political muscles
In the midterms, public land access issues helped several candidates nab governorships.
Posted inFebruary 4, 2019: Nizhoni Girls
The shutdown has halted important scientific research
Disrupted funding for federal science hurts Western lands and economies.
Posted inArticles
States and advocates help tackle ‘crisis’ at national parks
Amid the government shutdown, the Park Service faces trash mounds and lost revenue.
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It’s a mistake to keep parks open during the shutdown
Former National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis says the Trump administration is violating the park’s stewardship mandate.
Posted inJanuary 21, 2019: What Killed Washington's Carbon Tax?
Cutting carbon requires both innovation and regulation
Where coal-state Sen. John Barrasso got it wrong in a recent New York Times op-ed.
Posted inArticles
The stories that defined the West in 2018
The year in essays, analysis and investigations from across the Western U.S.
Posted inArticles
Update: New law makes it easier to kill salmon-eating sea lions
In the Columbia River, up to 920 sea lions can be removed each year to protect fish.
Posted inDecember 24, 2018: Good news, bad news
Under Trumpism, truth is under relentless attack
Two books warn against the rise of alternative realities.
Posted inDecember 24, 2018: Good news, bad news
What you lose when you lose local news
People are less likely to vote, and politics become more polarized.
Posted inDecember 24, 2018: Good news, bad news
Podcasts that fill the gap
A roundup of our favorite podcasts on stories and analysis of the West.
Posted inArticles
Fact check: the Goldwater Institute’s statements about the Indian Child Welfare Act
The Institute’s claim that ICWA harms Indian children relies on dubious assertions and dog whistles.
Posted inArticles
How best to share the disappearing Colorado River
Seven Western states must rewrite the rules of the river and cut water use — before they bleed the critical artery dry.