When it comes to monuments, Utah lawmakers have conflicts of interest.
Economy
Posted inMarch 19, 2018: Desert, Divided
In Alaska, wildlands lose out to roads and drill rigs
An industry-friendly White House helps Sen. Lisa Murkowski score long-sought gains.
Posted inMarch 19, 2018: Desert, Divided
A corporate takeover of legal weed looms in California
Thousands of small-scale marijuana growers could be replaced by Big Ag.
Posted inMarch 19, 2018: Desert, Divided
‘Zombie trailers’ stalk a budding tourist town
A uranium town gone bust wants to rebuild, but derelict properties stand in its way.
Posted inMarch 5, 2018: Drilling Chaco
Latest: Outdoor recreation recognized as economic contributor
The Commerce Department affirms the growing clout of outdoor retailers.
Posted inArticles
West Obsessed: An Indigenous family’s struggle for housing
Writer Julian Brave NoiseCat discusses the experience of the Waukazoo family.
Posted inArticles
Protected lands generate big-time revenue
In Alaska, sustainable recreation dollars help advocates for protected areas.
Posted inArticles
A town clings to its small-town identity under pressure
Manhattan, Montana, has become a bedroom community with full schools but few businesses.
Posted inArticles
When a town wants to grow — but not too quickly
Three Forks has weathered much. Facing new pressures, can it stay in control?
Posted inMarch 19, 2018: Desert, Divided
Western states lead the fight to maintain net neutrality
Siding with tech giants, some lawmakers are pushing back against the FCC.
Posted inFebruary 5, 2018: Caught Between Crises
A tale of two housing crises, rural and urban
How one Indigenous family is navigating two very different housing problems.
Posted inArticles
The demise of Chief Wahoo
Cleveland’s logo phase-out is a small win in the fight against racist mascots.
Posted inArticles
West Obsessed: Rural discontent feeds the desire for a 51st state
A discussion on the State of Jefferson, a California movement renewed under Trump.
Posted inArticles
The power of fossil fuels is fading
Will Western states react in time to save local economies?
Posted inMarch 5, 2018: Drilling Chaco
The class disparity in Montecito’s disaster recovery
Southern California sits at the intersection of wealth, poverty and climate change.
Posted inArticles
A Southwest water dispute reaches the Supreme Court
Why a fight over groundwater has left farmers in New Mexico feeling stranded.
Posted inJanuary 22, 2018: A Separatist State of Mind
A separatist state of mind
In the era of Trump, rural discontent settles in the state of Jefferson.
Posted inJanuary 22, 2018: A Separatist State of Mind
The ski resorts of the West
From Alaska to New Mexico, a new map offers a comprehensive look at where to shred.
Posted inArticles
In Montana, rural fairs cling to a tenuous future
Long seen as a way to fuel local economies, summer festivals are getting harder for some to justify.
Posted inArticles
Libby, Montana, tries to shake its ‘Superfund stigma’
Rebranding could help the town distance itself from past asbestos pollution.