The Institute’s claim that ICWA harms Indian children relies on dubious assertions and dog whistles.
Politics
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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.
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New rules limiting clean water protections ignore stream science
What happens to part of a river network affects all of it.
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Former Bureau of Indian Affairs director engaged in abusive behavior, no action taken
Bryan Rice’s behavior at the BIA highlights a culture of harassment and inaction.
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Ryan Zinke to step down as Interior secretary
Zinke shrunk national monuments, rolled back sage grouse protections and ramped up drilling.
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Senate hears stories of Indian Country’s missing and murdered
Data gaps, understaffing and lax investigations have deepened the crisis.
Posted inMarch 18, 2019: Arizona's Wild Horse Paradox
Arizona’s wild horse paradox
Activists and agencies try to balance the West’s horse mythology against herd impacts.
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What the 2018 farm bill means for the West
Lawmakers see hemp legalization and conservation funding as the big wins.
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New Trump administration proposal weakens water protections
Dramatic changes to the Clean Water Rule will likely affect drinking water for more than one-third of Americans.
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What the Violence Against Women Act could do in Indian Country — and one major flaw
Women from 228 tribes in Alaska and four in Maine still aren’t protected by the act.
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Trump’s policies aren’t actually fueling a fracking boom
Current drilling remains a shadow of the frenzy that occurred under Obama.
Posted inDecember 10, 2018: Critical Mass
Rep. Raúl Grijalva intends to force a reckoning with climate change
A Democratic spitfire takes the helm of the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Posted inNovember 26, 2018: Follow the fish
Reproachful roommate; a deceased politician is victorious; helpful hiker
Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.
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Arizona’s long road to make elections accessible
In Coconino County, relocating five polling places caused confusion this election cycle. By 2020, it must fix 46 to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Posted inDecember 10, 2018: Critical Mass
Is sporting a Patagonia fleece a political statement?
A reporter ponders the message the logo of an increasingly political company sends.
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Inside Colorado’s ‘hotbed’ of wildlife conflict
Documents show flawed management leads to unnecessary killings of bighorn sheep.
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What is lost when cultural sites are bulldozed?
Southwestern tribes learn of possible heritage destruction at the hands of Arizona State Parks and Trails.
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Reckoning with History: How the once-radical Endangered Species Act was weakened
The ESA started out strong, but opponents have chipped away at the landmark law.
Posted inDecember 10, 2018: Critical Mass
Study of missing and murdered Indigenous women highlights police data failures
Poor data collection by law enforcement creates a significant hurdle to understanding the crisis.
Posted inNovember 12, 2018: Old Wests, and new
Edward Abbey’s warnings were right
Author Amy Irvine’s answer to the classic ‘Desert Solitaire’ on its 50th anniversary.