Bad air days: Phoenix-area smog is getting worse, but Arizona GOP lawmakers want Trump to block EPA ozone rules
WASHINGTON – Rep. Andy Biggs and other Arizona Republicans in Congress are urging President Donald Trump to block the EPA from downgrading the status of Maricopa County’s air quality. Little can be done locally, they say, because most of the smog-producing ozone drifts in from Mexico and California.
‘The scale is so small, but the power is big’: Help-A-Farm program supports community connections to local agriculture
TEMPE – The Arizona Sustainability Alliance Help-A-Farm program connects volunteers with small farms in the Phoenix area, like Bene Vivendo, to promote education and support for the local food system.
Los Angeles small businesses are in ‘recovery’ phase after deadly wildfires, but experts predict many won’t rebuild
LOS ANGELES – Local officials say homeowners and small businesses are in the ‘recovery’ phase after deadly wildfires, but experts predict a large portion won’t rebuild despite government assistance.
Even the melted ice has a role: When sustainability meets the WM Phoenix Open hole 16
SCOTTSDALE – The WM Phoenix Open is known for its infamous hole 16, “the loudest hole in golf.” But what goes on behind the scenes in order to sustain a clean and protected environment around the Open?
Sustainable practices take root at Tempe Blooms, showcasing eco-friendly floral designs
TEMPE – Tempe Blooms highlighted local florists’ creative and sustainable designs, which featured eco-friendly materials and techniques. The event brought vibrant arrangements to downtown Tempe, showcasing the evolving floral industry.
Nonprofits press Arizona lawmakers to fund community programs over deportations
PHOENIX – Advocates for Arizona's underserved communities urged state legislators Tuesday to stop funding deportation efforts and instead use that money for affordable housing, access to higher education and paid family medical leave for all.
Bill would give Arizona rural communities a say in how groundwater is allocated
PHOENIX – Gov. Katie Hobbs announced the Rural Groundwater Management Act of 2025 to prevent out-of-state corporations from depleting Arizona's groundwater resources. The bill focuses on preserving water for rural communities, supporting conservation efforts and securing long-term water sustainability for the state.
Trump’s vow to repeal Biden regulations on carbon from coal-fired power plants will hamper fight against climate change, critics warn
WASHINGTON – In April, President Joe Biden announced caps on greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants. President-elect Donald Trump plans to repeal the regulations, which critics call a major setback in the fight to curb climate change.
Lawmakers push critical mineral status for copper, a major Arizona export, which would mean green energy tax breaks and less regulation
WASHINGTON – Lawmakers from Arizona, home to the largest copper mines in the U.S., are pushing to add the metal to a federal list of critical minerals. That would trigger tax breaks and a faster permit process. Copper is critical for green energy industries and electric vehicles. The U.S. House has already approved the bill.
Solar power growth could slow if Trump keeps promise to kill Biden-era incentives
WASHINGTON – President-elect Donald Trump’s vow to cut incentives for solar power under President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act could undermine a green industry that has exploded in the last decade.
‘We’re family here’: SRP employees band together to clean 10 miles of Salt River canal system
MESA - Employees from across Salt River Project departments come together with camaraderie and perseverance for an annual canal cleanup. This involves catching and relocating the white amur fish, also known as grass carp, before cleaning can begin.
Bakersfield lawsuit continues as Kern River water management that left fish dead comes under fire
LOS ANGELES – A portion of the Kern River in Bakersfield, California, has dried up leaving a mass grave of varying fish species behind. Multiple wildlife and nature advocates and nonprofits are continuing with a related lawsuit against the city over water control.
