‘The pandemic elevated the fact that farmworkers are killing themselves to keep our food system intact.’
Washington
Posted inArticles
A path to getting Native lands back
Mary Big Bull-Lewis is taking a creative approach to returning ownership of the land and its stories to Native people.
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The toxic, soupy biomass choking water systems in California
Algae blooms in Clear Lake are a public health risk and increase water treatment costs.
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The essential — and dangerous — work prisoners do
Incarcerated people respond to pandemics, wildfires, avian flu outbreaks, mudslides and more.
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Tribal nations adapt to being at ‘ground zero’ of the climate crisis
‘Tribes are on the front line of fixing things, using our resources, setting good public policy [and using] good science.’
Posted inApril 1, 2021: Holding Fast
The ‘slow-motion genocide’ of the Chinook Indian Nation
Federal recognition provides tribes with critical healthcare and education. What happens to the tribal nations that the U.S. refuses to recognize?
Posted inApril 1, 2021: Holding Fast
Who should pay for conservation?
Traditional sources of funding are dwindling, and some believe park visitors should step up.
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Invasive mussels in aquarium supplies alarm wildlife managers
Potentially devastating zebra mussels found in Northwest pet stores.
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The benefits of outdoor education aren’t accessible to all
Interest in nature-based education has increased during the pandemic, but affordability is an issue.
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Western lawmakers lead a movement to protect natural hair
A recent wave of legislation fights for Black women’s right to wear natural styles and have safe hair products.
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Indigenous fishers on the Columbia River confront new challenges
Beyond depleted salmon runs, the pandemic has created occupational hazards and a depressed salmon market.
Posted inFebruary 1, 2021: End of the Line
The Washington, D.C., siege has Western roots and consequences
History and the growing power of right-wing extremism point to a volatile future for the West during the Biden presidency.
Posted inJanuary 1, 2021: No Place Like Home
Drowning the derelicts: Yesterday’s boats are today’s problems
States and municipalities from Alaska to California struggle to dispose of old vessels without federal support.
Posted inJanuary 1, 2021: No Place Like Home
Tracking the seasons of pandemic response in Seattle
Disaster researchers take a Prius-eye view of how COVID-19 is changing the city.
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Pandemic restrictions follow state lines. The spreading virus doesn’t.
Cross-border COVID-19 contamination underscores the pitfalls of not having national standards.
Posted inDecember 1, 2020: A Community Divided
20 signs that the climate crisis has come home to roost
From Alaska to Wyoming, evidence shows the climate is off-kilter in the West.
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I lost my mom to COVID-19. Don’t let the holidays steal yours.
If you understood how much this hurts, you might stop planning Thanksgiving.
Posted inDecember 1, 2020: A Community Divided
Elections in the West highlight divisions and diversity
Justice, power and environment: The 2020 elections were defined by grassroots organizing and deep partisanship.
Posted inDecember 1, 2020: A Community Divided
How an intimate burial can make death human-sized
In burying a stranger, a writer learns that dying can be as small and personal as life.
Posted inArticles
Wilderness rescuers brace for a busy winter
Snow is on the way — and amid COVID-19, recovery missions are on the rise.