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Governors prod Congress for more help on growing threat of wildfire in West
WASHINGTON – Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs and 19 other Western governors are prodding Congress to move more urgently to address a wildfire crisis that has grown worse in recent years. […]
Federal officials say plan for water cuts from 3 Western states is enough to protect Colorado River
Federal officials said Wednesday that conditions have improved on the Colorado River to the point that a plan by California, Arizona and Nevada to voluntarily reduce water use should help keep the river basin on stable footing for the next few years.
Water-short cities want to use every last drop – even if it used to be sewage
In the Western U.S., there’s more demand for water than there is supply, so cities with finite water supplies are finding creative new ways to stretch out the water they already have. For some, that means cleaning up sewage and putting it right back in the pipes that flow to homes and businesses.
Biden heads west for a policy victory lap, drawing an implicit contrast with Trump
President Joe Biden is setting out Monday on a Western swing aimed at showcasing his work on conservation, clean energy and veterans' benefits as he seeks to draw an implicit contrast between his administration's accomplishments and former President Donald Trump's legal troubles.
Blackfeet tribe of Montana declares emergency over Medicaid scam that lured members to Arizona
A widespread Medicaid scam that left an unknown number of Native Americans homeless in metro Phoenix is being declared a public health state of emergency by the Blackfeet Nation of Montana after the Navajo Nation took similar action in June.
Mountain climber, cliff diver die in separate incidents at national recreation spots
A mountain climber and a cliff diver have died in separate incidents at national recreation spots in the West, officials said.
Across Southwest, residents in desert cities like Phoenix are experiencing extreme heat wave
Even Southwestern desert residents accustomed to scorching summers are feeling the grip of an extreme heat wave smacking Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Southern California this week with 100-degree-plus temps and excessive heat warnings.
US push to lower wildfire risk across the West stumbles in places
Using chainsaws, heavy machinery and controlled burns, the Biden administration is trying to turn the tide on worsening wildfires in the U.S. West through a multi-billion dollar cleanup of forests choked with dead trees and undergrowth.
Lawmakers spar over BLM plan to weigh conservation in land-use decisions
A Bureau of Land Management rule that would, for the first time, count conservation as a legitimate use for public lands, along with mining, logging and other uses, is an “offensive” overreach of federal authority, Republicans said Thursday.
Where did the snow go? Researchers probe gap between snowfall, runoff
The Colorado River watershed stretches from Wyoming to Mexico, supplying cities like Phoenix and Los Angeles and sprawling fields that contribute to a multibillion-dollar farm economy. After two decades of drought and steady demand, accurate data on the amount of water entering the region’s dwindling supply is crucial for those who manage it.
Report: Phoenix again ranks among most polluted; people of color more likely to be exposed
The Phoenix metro area is one of the most ozone-polluted cities in the United States, according to the most recent State of the Air report from the American Lung Association. The report emphasized people of color are especially affected by air pollution and the health issues it can cause.
In Colorado River talks, still no agreement about water cuts
The Biden administration released an environmental analysis Tuesday of competing plans for how seven Western states and tribes reliant on the dwindling water supply from the Colorado River should cut their use but declined to publicly take a side on the best option.
