Lucky sucker: Endangered fish’s status improving; critics not so sure
WASHINGTON - Federal officials said the endangered razorback sucker has made enough of a comeback that it is time for the status of the Colorado River fish to be upgraded from endangered to threatened.
Drier springs produce hotter summers in the withering Southwest, study says
Warmer air holds more moisture, but over the past decades in the U.S. Southwest, humidity has decreased as temperatures have risen, which robs soil of its moisture. A new study by UCLA researchers paints a grim picture for the future.
‘You feel like you can’t get a break’: The Colorado River struggles to water the West after two decades of drought
After another dry year, the waterway that supplies 40 million people is parched as climate change upends the water cycle in the Southwest. Scientists say the only way forward is to rein in demands on the 1,450-mile long Colorado River’s water to match its decline.
Black-footed ferret on the way back, but hurdles remain, experts say
WASHINGTON - Federal officials want to greatly expand habitats for black-footed ferrets in Arizona and possibly into neighboring states, but the endangered animal, once thought extinct, still faces several hurdles, experts say.
Traffic stop: Commuting times, costs fell sharply during pandemic year
WASHINGTON - The COVID-19 pandemic led to sharp drops in commuting last year, with cities in Arizona and across the U.S. seeing drops of 50% or more in the number of hours and dollars they wasted, and the gallons of gas burned, while stuck in traffic, a new report shows.
After the flames: Santa Catalina Mountains rebounding from Bighorn Fire a year ago
TUCSON – A year later, plants and wildlife are returning to the Santa Catalina Mountains after one of the state’s largest wildfires destroyed nearly 120,000 acres.
AZ goes EV: Rate of electric car ownership relatively high in Arizona
WASHINGTON - Arizona had 28,770 registered electric vehicles in June, government data shows, the seventh-highest number among states. When ownership is measured per 1,000 residents, Arizona inches up a notch to sixth place, with just over four EVs per 1,000 people.
Fireworks still on tap despite ‘crazy hot, potentially dry’ July 4th
WASHINGTON - With the pandemic winding down, cities and towns across the state are looking toward a more typical Fourth of July this year - and typical in Arizona means balancing the desire for fireworks against the potential for wildfire.
Growing small towns along Colorado’s Front Range plan for less water
SEVERANCE, Colorado – As persistent drought strains Colorado and tens of thousands of newcomers move to the bustling Front Range each year, small towns like Severance are thinking about growth and water usage in ways they never have before.
As Telegraph Fire nears containment, a first look at the damage
GLOBE – The Telegraph Fire is one of the largest Arizona wildfires in the state’s history. Experts said the area, east of metro Phoenix in the Tonto National Forest, is accustomed to seasonal wildfires and expected to recover.
Another dry year on the Colorado could force states and feds back to negotiating table
The Drought Contingency Plan signed in 2019 was meant to provide a roadmap to negotiating the persistent drought, but water managers may need to rethink things – perhaps as early as next year.
Transitioning from coal is the goal – how to get there is the question
WASHINGTON – Navajo and Hopi witnesses agreed the region needs to move away from its economic dependence on coal, but specific proposals on how to get there remained elusive after a House hearing Tuesday.
