Salvaging meat in Alaska is commonplace. Can it catch on in the Lower 48?
Communities
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
The metalheads of the Navajo Nation
See photos of the thriving music scene in backyards, abandoned houses and parking lot shows.
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
As the ecosystem of news changes, will journalists adapt fast enough?
Blooms can still be found in the West’s news desert.
Posted inDecember 24, 2018: Good news, bad news
As the influence of newsprint erodes, Westword prevails
Despite the state of the media, Westword Editor Patty Calhoun maintains hope.
Posted inDecember 24, 2018: Good news, bad news
How the Los Angeles Times went from union-busting to media role model
Resistance to deep cutbacks have brought about change to the 137-year-old paper.
Posted inDecember 24, 2018: Good news, bad news
Where the news is drying up — and where it’s not
Rural areas can be hit hardest, but many small-town papers persevere.
Posted inDecember 24, 2018: Good news, bad news
No news is bad news for public health
Losing local news sources and public health reporters hampers disease detection and outbreak response.
Posted inArticles
See winter solstice around the West
After the longest night of the year, earth tilts once again toward the sun.
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
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.
Posted inArticles
Elk run the show on Oregon’s north coast
When humans and wildlife clash, sometimes an animal bites your minivan.
Posted inFebruary 4, 2019: Nizhoni Girls
Extreme heat hits Tucson’s poor neighborhoods hardest
Where city efforts fall short, activists try to add shade to the heat-stressed south side.
Posted inArticles
Life in sanctuary: Will a mother’s sacrifice be worth it?
A Salvadorian immigrant faces the mental and physical repercussions of living in a Denver church.
Posted inArticles
Indigenous people are an indivisible part of America
The story of Thanksgiving is about coming to terms with a difficult truth: the American experiment came at a great cost to Native Americans.
Posted inArticles
Wildfire recovery is possible — for some Westerners
Resilience depends on economics and history as much as fuel.
Posted inArticles
After the Camp Fire, forensic teams seek the lost
For response teams in Paradise, physical and emotional risks remain.
Posted inArticles
How to prepare for a wildfire
Some basic steps to stay safe if you live near Western wildlands.