Jonathan Thompson, Author at High Country News https://www.hcn.org A nonprofit independent magazine of unblinking journalism that shines a light on all of the complexities of the West. Mon, 03 Feb 2025 17:21:57 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.hcn.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/cropped-HCN_Logo-Monogram_White_Sq-2-32x32.png Jonathan Thompson, Author at High Country News https://www.hcn.org 32 32 229054741 The climate fight endures https://www.hcn.org/issues/57-2/the-climate-fight-endures/ Sat, 01 Feb 2025 08:51:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/?p=331249 California Proposition 4 will continue to help fund projects related to climate change, including beach restoration projects like this one in San Clemente.

Despite a hostile administration, local governments in the West recognize the need to
continue the energy transition, and they have plans.

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]]> 331249 AI on public lands and Biden’s environmental legacy https://www.hcn.org/articles/ai-on-public-lands-and-bidens-environmental-legacy/ Thu, 30 Jan 2025 09:00:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/?p=331401

The 46th president finished his term in customary contradictory style.

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]]> 331401 Jimmy Carter’s mixed environmental record https://www.hcn.org/articles/jimmy-carters-mixed-environmental-record/ Fri, 03 Jan 2025 09:00:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/?p=330698

The former president emphasized conservation, protection — and coal mining.

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]]> 330698 Our imperiled public lands https://www.hcn.org/articles/our-imperiled-public-lands/ Thu, 26 Dec 2024 09:00:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/?p=330351

President-elect Trump, a Republican-dominated Congress and Utah launch an all-out assault on environmental protection.

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]]> 330351 2024 was a year of wacky Western weather https://www.hcn.org/issues/56-12/2024-was-a-year-of-wacky-western-weather/ Sun, 01 Dec 2024 08:35:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/?p=329917 People wading in Lake Manly at Badwater Basin after a wet winter, Death Valley National Park, California.

When assessing the region, not much was normal but climate change.

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]]> 329917 Beautiful Bears Ears is at risk, again https://www.hcn.org/articles/beautiful-bears-ears-is-at-risk-again/ Fri, 22 Nov 2024 09:00:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/?p=329781

What are the consequences for the land if the incoming president shrinks the national monument?

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]]> 329781 Montana’s Jon Tester might lose. Here’s why that matters https://www.hcn.org/articles/montanas-jon-tester-might-lose-heres-why-that-matters/ Thu, 31 Oct 2024 08:00:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/?p=329291

What the Senate contest says about the unexpected shift in Western politics.

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]]> 329291 The downballot issues driving the West’s 2024 elections https://www.hcn.org/issues/56-10/the-downballot-issues-driving-the-wests-2024-elections/ Tue, 01 Oct 2024 07:40:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/?p=328310 An unhoused woman pushes her belongings down the street in Scottsdale, Arizona. An Arizona initiative could force local governments to crack down on unhoused people or risk losing property tax revenue.

From climate and public lands to shifting political allegiances, the region faces critical choices at the ballot box.

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]]> 328310 Kamala Harris tries to navigate the convoluted politics of oil and gas https://www.hcn.org/articles/kamala-harris-tries-to-navigate-the-convoluted-politics-of-oil-and-gas/ Thu, 26 Sep 2024 08:00:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/?p=328504

Drill, Democrats, drill?

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]]> 328504 What happens when a concrete jungle becomes a ‘sponge city’ https://www.hcn.org/issues/56-9/what-happens-when-a-concrete-jungle-becomes-a-sponge-city/ Sun, 01 Sep 2024 07:35:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/?p=327447 The living roof of the H2 Hotel in Healdsburg, California, both cools the building and mitigates rainwater runoff.

Engineering for flood resilience can address storms heightened by climate change.

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