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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.

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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.

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Public Lands

Posted inArticles

The Forest Service is cutting its seasonal workforce and public lands will suffer

by Nick Bowlin October 8, 2024October 10, 2024

Temporary employees warn that important work will go undone all over the country.

Eric Parker from central Idaho aims his weapon from a bridge as protesters gather by the Bureau of Land Management’s base camp near Bunkerville, Nevada, in April 2014.
Posted inOctober 2024: Latino Vote

What the Bundy Bunkerville standoff foreshadowed

by Leah Sottile October 1, 2024September 30, 2024

Ten years after the impasse between the Bundy family and the BLM, the doctrine of white oppression is widely embraced.

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.
Posted inOctober 2024: Latino Vote

The downballot issues driving the West’s 2024 elections

by Jonathan Thompson October 1, 2024September 30, 2024

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

Posted inArticles

Kamala Harris tries to navigate the convoluted politics of oil and gas

by Jonathan Thompson September 26, 2024September 30, 2024

Drill, Democrats, drill?

Posted inArticles

Utah wants your public land — for more roads

by Jonathan Thompson August 29, 2024August 28, 2024

The state wants to build a highway through tortoise habitat.

Posted inArticles

Why Utah is suing the U.S. for control of public land 

by Brooke Larsen August 23, 2024August 22, 2024

The state asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday to weigh in on the future of federal lands.

Posted inArticles

Washington solar project paused amid concern about Indigenous sites

by B. ‘Toastie’ Oaster August 12, 2024October 23, 2024

Avangrid Renewables said they plan to review comments from tribal nations and private landowners.

Posted inArticles

Is your community ready for a wildfire?

by Erin X. Wong August 5, 2024August 12, 2024

Local governments throughout the West are investing in wildfire defense. Here’s how to know if yours is one of them.

Posted inArticles

Grabbing public land in the name of housing

by Jonathan Thompson July 25, 2024August 8, 2024

Have politicians finally found a way to take public land out of the public’s hands?

Posted inArticles

Project 2025’s extreme vision for the West

by Michelle Nijhuis and Erin X. Wong July 19, 2024August 9, 2024

The demolition of public lands, water and wildlife protections are part of conservatives’ plan for a second Trump term.

Posted inArticles

Repeal of the Chevron doctrine will have profound consequences for federal rulemaking

by Nick Bowlin, Joaqlin Estus, Natalia Mesa, Kylie Mohr and Erin X. Wong July 15, 2024August 8, 2024

Climate, public lands and tribal law regulations are now likely to face legal challenges.

Posted inArticles

Fireworks trigger wildfires. Climate change may increase the risk.

by Kiley Price July 4, 2024August 8, 2024

Research found that twice as many wildfires were recorded on July 4 as almost any other day in the West. 

Posted inArticles

Voters from both parties want enduring public lands protection

by Maria Handley June 28, 2024August 8, 2024

Opinion: The Biden administration has made progress protecting lands that belong to all Americans. But there’s more to be done.

Posted inArticles

What does the BLM Public Land Rule mean for tribal stewardship of public lands?

by Anna V. Smith June 26, 2024August 8, 2024

The rule offers further pathways for tribes to proactively protect certain public lands.

Posted inArticles

The theft of the commons

by Antonia Malchik June 25, 2024August 8, 2024

It’s time to turn away from land ownership and back to land relationship.

Posted inArticles

Endangered wildflower threatened by Nevada lithium mine

by Wyatt Myskow June 13, 2024August 8, 2024

Tiehm’s buckwheat is found nowhere else in the world, and the planned mine would sit square in its habitat.

Posted inArticles

$350M in federal land sales likely to benefit Nevada public lands and wildlife

by Amy Alonzo June 5, 2024August 8, 2024

See what projects are expected to get the funding.

Posted inArticles

Parques y vida silvestre en Nevada se podrían beneficiar gracias a ventas de tierras federales

by Amy Alonzo June 5, 2024August 8, 2024

El estado espera recibir un ingreso proveniente de la Ley de Administración de Tierras Públicas del Sur de Nevada.

Posted inJune 2024: The Idea of Wilderness

As the Gila Wilderness turns 100, the Wilderness Act is still a living law

by Marissa Ortega-Welch June 1, 2024June 2, 2024

Wilderness areas are changing in profound ways — and so are our ideas about them.

Posted inArticles

Trump vs. Biden on the climate

by Jonathan Thompson May 31, 2024August 8, 2024

The next presidential election will have huge ramifications for the planet.

Posts pagination

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