Despite bright spots, Arizona slips to 17th in energy-efficiency rank

WASHINGTON - Arizona slipped two spots to 17th place in the 2015 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard released Wednesday, even though experts say the state still does very well in some areas.

energy-efficient fluorescent light bulb

Timeline: University of Arizona, Arizona State University heavily involved in Mars exploration

By Jesse A. Millard Cronkite News University of Arizona and Arizona State University have been heavily involved with the exploration of Mars ever since the Viking missions, which resulted in the first successful U.S. mission to land a spacecraft on Mars’ surface. A UA undergraduate played a vital role in the discovery of liquid water on mars and ASU is working with NASA on the next rover to be sent to the red planet. Both schools have accomplished much, and to highlight the achievements here is a compilation of some of the two universities’ work in the exploration of Mars:


Storms continue to pound Valley: How you can prepare

How do homeowners prepare for the strong storms expected to hit the Valley in the next few days?


High-efficiency nozzles save water while keeping lawn green

As a groundskeeper for a housing community in Phoenix, Terry Peterson has changed about 800 sprinkler heads to high efficiency water nozzles. Now he’s taking action at home.


NOAA predicts El Niño weather will continue through winter

Fresh off another punishing storm, Arizonans likely can expect to see a wet winter as El Niño conditions heat up the Pacific Ocean.


FYI: Understanding haboobs and their impact on Arizona

Editor's note: This is the first in an ongoing series called FYI, an explanatory multimedia package produced by our digital production bureau.


Fossil Creek: Reservations required

CAMP VERDE – Dennis Ly heard about the pristine swimming holes at Fossil Creek from a neighbor. The clear blue, 72-degree water was a siren song in the middle of a fiery Arizona July. Determined to check out this desert oasis, he and three friends made the two-hour drive to swim and relax, but minutes from their destination, they hit a roadblock.

fossil creek photo

Arizona sees decrease in new solar installations

Arizona dropped from first in the country to eighth in solar capacity additions, according to Environment America’s latest solar report, which also notes the drop comes “following the imposition of new fees on solar customers and near-constant attacks on distributed solar generation from the state’s biggest utilities.”

Solar panels photo

Tribes join forces to push Obama for new national monument in Utah

WASHINGTON - Tribal leaders from the Four Corners states met in Washington Thursday and called on President Barack Obama to declare 1.9 million acres in southeastern Utah a national monument.


Bad trash jams recycling effort, drives up costs

Every day about 350 tons of waste materials venture through a series of conveyors and are organized into piles at the Waste Management recycling facility in Surprise. The end product results in towering stacks of bottles, paper, cans and other recyclable items.


Green homes being built for needy families in the Valley

Students and volunteers with Youth Build are constructing three homes.


Arizona approved for cross-state bicycle route

Colorado resident Stephanie Heitz and her friends often travel to Arizona to take advantage of the winter weather and do some long-distance bicycling.