• Your Dashboard
  • Features
  • Public Lands
  • Indigenous Affairs
  • Water
  • Climate Change
  • Arts & Culture
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • Donate Now
  • The Magazine
  • Jobs & Classifieds
    • Jobs & Classifieds
    • Place a Classified Ad
    • Display Ad Info
  • Your Dashboard
  • Features
  • Public Lands
  • Indigenous Affairs
  • Water
  • Climate Change
  • Arts & Culture
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • Donate Now
  • The Magazine
  • Jobs & Classifieds
    • Jobs & Classifieds
    • Place a Classified Ad
    • Display Ad Info
Skip to content
High Country News

High Country News

A nonprofit independent magazine of unblinking journalism that shines a light on all of the complexities of the West.

Support

Read more Western reporting

Sign up to receive High Country News’ email newsletters and get on-the-ground reporting and investigations delivered to your inbox each week.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Welcome to High Country News

HCN has covered the lands, wildlife and communities of the Western U.S. for more than 50 years. Get to know the West better by signing up to receive HCN’s on-the-ground reporting and investigations in your inbox.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Barack Obama

Posted inArticles

Beautiful Bears Ears is at risk, again

by Jonathan Thompson November 22, 2024November 22, 2024

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

Tony Valdovinos photographed in Phoenix, Arizona in October.
Posted inNovember 1, 2023: November 1, 2023

As DACA falls again, what does it mean to be American?

by Fernanda Santos October 4, 2023January 24, 2024

Tony Valdovinos was brought to the U.S. at the age of 2. The challenges of not having citizenship haven’t stopped his success.

Posted inArticles

The Supreme Court just made it easier to destroy wetlands and streams

by Emily Benson June 2, 2023January 24, 2024

The decision strips federal protections from the ephemeral streams that are crucial for life in the arid West.

Posted inSeptember 1, 2022: Going Under

The EPA has more options to rein in climate change than you think

by Elizabeth Shogren July 14, 2022January 24, 2024

There are still many ways to shut down major polluters — including some options the agency isn’t using.

Posted inArticles

What’s getting more expensive? Everything but grazing fees.

by Kylie Mohr February 9, 2022January 24, 2024

Fees to ranch on public lands will remain the same despite dizzying inflation felt by consumers.

Posted inArticles

The Supreme Court is set to weigh in on the Clean Water Act’s reach

by Jonathan Thompson February 8, 2022January 24, 2024

The high court is taking up an Idaho case that could obliterate federal protection for much of the West’s waters.

Posted inFebruary 1, 2021: End of the Line

Bears Ears is just the beginning

by Jessica Douglas and Graham Lee Brewer January 22, 2021January 24, 2024

As the Biden administration begins, tribal nations with ties to Utah assert their relationships to the land.

Posted inArticles

Biden needs to go beyond a Trump reset

by Jonathan Thompson November 24, 2020January 24, 2024

The president-elect has an opportunity to rebuild better than before.

Posted inArticles

Interior Department’s coal reboot ignores tribes and curtails public input

by Carl Segerstrom June 3, 2019January 24, 2024

The Obama administration wanted to rethink coal leasing; now, Trump is rushing forward.

Posted inArticles

New Trump administration proposal weakens water protections

by Rebecca Leber December 12, 2018January 24, 2024

Dramatic changes to the Clean Water Rule will likely affect drinking water for more than one-third of Americans.

Posted inDecember 25, 2017: Bear Essentials

Latest: The EPA drops mine cleanup proposal

by Jodi Peterson December 12, 2017January 24, 2024

Obama-era plan required mining companies to prove they can pay for remediation.

Posted inArticles

The West grapples with history through its place names

by Tim Lydon November 28, 2017January 24, 2024

A growing number of places have been renamed to honor their first inhabitants.

Posted inArticles

The takedown of the Clean Power Plan begins

by Tay Wiles October 10, 2017January 24, 2024

Scott Pruitt helps Trump deliver on campaign promise: Reduce EPA to ‘little tidbits.’

Posted inAugust 21, 2017: Rooftop Revolution

In solar scuffle, big utilities meet their match

by Elizabeth Shogren August 21, 2017January 24, 2024

Solar advocates win a surprising victory in Nevada.

Posted inArticles

Could Trump dismantle the American West?

by Jim Lyons May 9, 2017January 24, 2024

How the president’s ‘deconstruction’ doctrine threatens public lands.

Posted inArticles

Oregon’s monuments need protection from logging

by Michael C. Blumm May 4, 2017January 24, 2024

Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument shouldn’t be managed for timber interests.

Posted inArticles

Why we need methane rules

by Wayne Warmack April 18, 2017January 24, 2024

I worked in the oil and gas industry. Volunteer emission controls don’t work.

Posted inArticles

What Obama gave the West

by Jamie Williams January 25, 2017January 24, 2024

Our 44th president proved to be a true champion who pushed many conservation measures over the finish line.

Posted inJanuary 23, 2017: For Which it Stands

Was the Bears Ears designation a victory?

by Jonathan Thompson January 23, 2017January 24, 2024

Despite compromise, the controversial monument’s opposition is riled up.

Posted inArticles

How many Westerners does the Affordable Care Act cover?

by Paige Blankenbuehler January 20, 2017January 24, 2024

As Republicans push Obamacare repeal, Montana stands to lose the most.

Posts pagination

1 2 3 4 Older posts

Support nonprofit news

High Country News relies on donations as well as subscription fees to produce independent reporting on the West. Help continue the legacy of reader-supported journalism by making a tax-deductible contribution today.

Make a contribution

Find out more about how we use your contributions in our annual reports and filings.

Subscribe to High Country News

Get access to on-the-ground reporting from across the West and support continued coverage of our region.

Read more Western reporting

Subscribe to weekly email newsletters from High Country News for the best on-the-ground reporting from across the region.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Most popular stories

  • Bringing black abalone back from the brink
  • A veteran transforms a legacy of violence into a campaign for restoration
  • Horse girls: The wild and fearless
  • The Indian education of Charles Sams
  • The possibilities of climate grief

Featured Stories

The Indian education of Charles Sams

The Indian education of Charles Sams

The possibilities of climate grief

The possibilities of climate grief

These states use stolen Indigenous land to fund prisons

These states use stolen Indigenous land to fund prisons

The West in Perspective

AI on public lands and Biden’s environmental legacy

by Jonathan Thompson

We must protect our sacred lands

by Clark Tenakhongva

Pay wildland firefighters a living wage

by Riley Yuan

About High Country News

  • Our history
  • How to support HCN
  • Submissions

Know the West.

Get 2 free issues ↓

119 Grand Avenue
PO Box 1090
Paonia, CO 81428
(970) 527-4898

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS Feed
  • Contact Us
  • About us
  • Careers
  • Pitch us a story
  • Fellowships
  • Education
  • Get email newsletters
  • Support our work
  • Advertise
  • Syndication
  • Subscriber services
Get 2 free issues ↓
Magazine cover: January 11, 2024: The Creatures in Our Midst

Sign up for a free trial of High Country News. Learn what’s happening across the West today and see if becoming a subscriber is for you.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

© 2025 High Country News. All rights reserved Powered by Newspack