Flood or feast: Drought-busting storms create winners and losers among farmers

LOS ANGELES – A series of storms have lashed California and Arizona after years of drought. Some farmers, like those growing grapes for wine, welcome the deluge while others, like those growing strawberries, say they have hurt the harvest.

Heavy rains led to bright green grasses around farms on March 10, 2023, near Strathmore, California. As a result of one of California's wettest winters on record, most of the state has gotten relief from years of drought. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

Arizona will fail clean-air standards if other states aren’t ‘good neighbors’

WASHINGTON - Arizona is doing all it can to improve air quality but will not meet federal standards as long as pollution from other jurisdictions can drift across its borders, the director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality testified Wednesday.


Storytellers say LA River can become tool against climate change

LOS ANGELES – In Los Angeles' Frogtown, eco-minded activists gathered around at the local brewery to hear storytellers share their personal connection to the Los Angeles River, a once thriving and unifying water source for the people and wildlife was lined with concrete and fenced in 1938.

The LA River story slam was held at the Frogtown Brewery. Guests were encouraged to shop, eat and drink. In the back were a frog-themed taco food truck and an “artist's alley.” It included art from Margaret Gallagher, Kris Mukai, Nova Community Arts and Emily Wallerstein. (Photo by Ayana Hamilton/Cronkite News)

Phoenix council member and former U.N. climate adviser Yassamin Ansari pushes for climate action and sustainable energy

PHOENIX — She began her career as a policy adviser at the United Nations advocating for climate change. Now, as a Phoenix City Council member and vice mayor, Yassamin Ansari says that true progress toward a sustainable future starts at the local level.

Phoenix Vice Mayor Yassamin Ansari speaks at the unveiling of a mural to honor Iranian women titled “Woman Life Freedom” in downtown Phoenix on Feb. 3, 2023. (Photo by Jack Wu/Cronkite News)

Phoenix area flooding, road closures prompted by SRP water releases

PHOENIX – Winter storms have led SRP to increase water releases from two reservoirs on the Verde River that were already 83% full. That necessitated Wednesday’s releases as the reservoir system needs to be able to accommodate runoff expected in the coming weeks.


Arizona Game & Fish shows families how to enjoy nature at its annual Outdoor Expo in north Phoenix

PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department hosts its annual Outdoor Expo at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility offering hands-on activities and presentations March 25-26.

Heather Buck, Arizona Game and Fish wildlife center coordinator, holds a gila monster at one of the agency’s Outdoor Expo events. (File photo courtesy of Arizona Game and Fish)

Arizona Game and Fish asks volunteers to help eradicate invasive apple snails

MESA – People can help the Arizona Game and Fish Department control and stop the invasive apple snail by knocking down their pink egg masses from reeds or taking snails to the dumpster. The apple snails have been documented in several bodies of water in Arizona and are moving up the lower Salt River.

Apple snail owners who no longer wanted the animal dumped the snails into the Salt River, causing the population to grow immensely within the last 12 years, according to Jeff Sorensen, invertebrate wildlife program manager for Arizona Game and Fish. Photo taken on Feb. 24, 2023. (Photo by Izabella Hernandez/Cronkite News)

Attorneys say Resolution Copper Mine would ‘destroy’ worship at Oak Flat

WASHINGTON - Attorneys for Apache Stronghold told a federal appeals court Tuesday that the proposed Resolution Copper Mine would lead to the "complete physical destruction" of sacred lands at Oak Flat, a clear violation of religious liberty laws.


Justices grapple over Navajo water rights, government’s duty to tribe

WASHINGTON - Supreme Court justices pressed government attorneys Monday on their argument that the treaties that put the Navajo on reservation lands implied an intent - but not a duty - for the government to provide water to the tribe.


Supreme Court hears Navajo water rights case with potentially big impact

WASHINGTON - When the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments Monday in Arizona v. Navajo Nation, it will be considering fairly technical legal questions, but the answers could have a large impact on water allocation in the Colorado River basin.


California to store more rainwater as it vies with Arizona for flow from Colorado River

LOS ANGELES – California is taking advantage of extreme weather with a new approach: Let it settle back into the earth for use another day. As the latest batch of storms lashed the Golden State, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order this week to hasten projects that use rainwater to recharge aquifers, reversing decades of an emphasis on channeling it into drains and out to sea.


Annual count shows Mexican wolf population reaches record numbers

PHOENIX — The 2022 annual Mexican wolf count shows the population reaching record numbers, with 241 wolves for the first time since the beginning of the program.

The latest Mexican wolf population count showed surprising numbers. Biologists found 109 collared wolves in the wild. (File photo by Jenna Miller/Cronkite News)