Letter to the editor

Comments from readers.

Comments from readers.

Comments from readers.

It’s clear that large telecoms are using huge federal dollars every year for a fiber solution that is barely moving the needle on rural needs (“How to solve the rural-urban digital divide,” hcn.org, 12/6/21). Starlink, on the other hand, offers a low-cost solution that appears to be a game changer for those in very rural […]

I enjoyed the detailed map and article highlighting inequity by county across the West (“The wealth abyss,” December 2021). However, the use of the moniker “tech bro” is unnecessarily inflammatory. Does employing this negative connotation serve any useful purpose? Do women not also work at tech companies? Good empirical research on inequality in the West […]

Thanks for reporting on the massive transfer of wealth from working people to the 1%. As shown, this has been happening in earnest for the last 40 years. Unfortunately, the author attributes this using very passive language. Incredibly, no discussion of any agency in making these changes. I recommend reading the Powell memorandum as a […]

Your story on the proposed wind farm in Idaho provides an excellent case study on the environmental challenges of replacing much of our nation’s energy infrastructure with renewables (“The fight over a windswept landscape,” December 2021). While renewables are great at reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants, they are not immune from numerous […]

In “What you can’t see can hurt you” (November 2021), your story claims that “natural gas is far more climate-friendly than coal.” This is poorly worded as there is nothing climate-friendly about burning fossil fuels. Natural gas is simply less climate-destructive, an important distinction. Ryan Vanzo Homer, Alaska This article appeared in the print edition […]

I just had to reach out with my compliments for the exceptionally interesting and presented article, “The nuance and beauty of the West in 2021,” (hcn.org, 1/5/22). I really did enjoy the prompt to pause this Sunday morning and journey with you through the highlights of HCN’s 2021 reportage.  Each month was presented beautifully and […]

Congratulations on this informative piece, particularly the excellent infographics by Luna Anna Archey — remarkably concise and convincing. Dale E. BusseGoldendale, Washington This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Dale E. Busse.

I am so pleased with the story you published about the latest attempt to update the mining law of 1872 (“Two Democrats kill chances of reforming outdated hardrock mining law,” hcn.org, 11/18/21). I wasn’t liking Joe Manchin much before I read it; now I’m ready to donate money to get rid of him! Sally NewellUnderwood, […]

Your graphic about the Klamath was very informative (“What would a healthy Klamath River look like?” December 2021). I would like to point out a misconception regarding the N-15 isotope. The different isotopes of nitrogen do not have any impact on healthy forest growth; all isotopes of nitrogen can be used for growth. The N-15 […]

Citizens of the West would be well advised to remember the Hanford, Washington, nuclear waste products disaster (“No Easy Fix for our Nuclear Past,” December 2018).  Wind power and the rapid improvement in battery technology seem a far better match for the future electrical needs of Wyoming and the West (“New nuclear,” December 2021). One could employ […]

The December issue was the best I’ve seen in years of reading HCN. The topper was Lee van der Voo’s fabulous piece, “Betting the Ranch.” It was a complex and tremendously insightful story about the way big-shouldered meat distribution companies like Tyson Foods can outmuscle even giant ranchers and dominate the economics of the cattle-raising […]

I’ve read HCN frequently since moving to Montana in 2014 and have been a subscriber for the past few years. The December 2021 issue stands out to me as one of the best in recent years. The depth and breadth of topics, the engaging infographics, and the photographs and illustration brought life to the excellent […]

I just finished your article on changing racist place names (“Decolonizing Idaho’s road signs,” November 2021) and wanted to thank you for writing on this topic. I am a California-born Chinese-American, and I always feel a bit better about the suffering my people have undergone when I see things improving for others who have suffered even […]

Nick Bowlin’s article (“Teton troubles,” December 2021) singles out one particular instance of mountain town development but fails to mention the even larger issue we face in Teton Valley. Short-term rentals are eliminating the long-term rental market. Second homeowners and part-time residents see dollar signs and largely don’t care about the stresses it creates for […]

I was deeply moved by Brook Thompson’s article about the ongoing tragedy of the Klamath and her people (“The familial bond between the Klamath River and the Yurok people,” September 2021). I only wish that there could be a solution imminent, but I fear that the alienation of Western (European) “culture” from the natural world […]

Thank you for the amazing analysis of income disparity by Jonathan Thompson (“The wealth abyss,” December 2021). More unequal countries tend to have more teenage pregnancy, mental illness, drug use, obesity, prisoners, school dropouts, lower life expectancy and lower status for women. The more unequal a country is, the more likely the biodiversity of its […]

Jonathan Thompson’s graphic report on methane is excellent and should be widely shared (“What you can’t see can hurt,” November 2021). One subtext of his reporting is that cattle production produces more methane than the oil and gas industry — 36% (digestion plus manure) versus 30%. When you consider livestock industry methane pollution, along with […]