Fight over Oak Flat mine draws support of diverse religious groups
WASHINGTON - The Oak Flat copper mine battle has gone from an environmental to a religious fight, with groups ranging from the Sikh Coalition to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints backing a White Mountain Apache claim that the mine will destroy sacred lands.
Get ready for a busy year fighting wildfires, experts in Arizona warn
Arizona had one of its driest monsoon seasons on record last year, which will directly impact wildfires this year. Experts predict this could be another big year for fires across the state.
Cities push residents to save their little piece of Earth on Earth Day
WASHINGTON - Think globally, act locally, as the saying goes, and 10 Arizona cities are taking the message to heart Thursday to mark the 51st annual Earth Day, planning everything from tree plantings to community cleanups.
With first Colorado River shortage almost certain, states stare down mandatory cutbacks
Twenty-one years of drier, warmer weather have left Lakes Mead and Powell at historically low levels, and the first official shortage declaration from the Department of the Interior is almost certain later this year.
Palo Verde generator helps Southwest meet climate goals, but future of nuclear is debated
PHOENIX – A new NREL study finds that LA could eliminate fossil fuels from its power grid by 2035. The Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station west of Phoenix is part of the solution, but critics say it's a temporary solution to meet climate goals in both California and Arizona.
Potential jaguar habitat at U.S.-Mexico border identified by UArizona researchers
TUCSON - University of Arizona Ph.D. student Ganesh Marin discovered a young male jaguar lurking along the Arizona-Mexico border.
Snowfall in the West indicates 20-year drought will persist and intensify
With temperatures rising and precipitation falling, it's likely drought conditions across the West will worsen.
Superior mayor, tribal officials spar over bill to stop Oak Flat mine
WASHINGTON - Superior's mayor testified that the Pinal County town would suffer a "devastating" blow to its economy if Congress canceled a massive copper mine at Oak Flat - a move opponents say must be done to protect the environment and sacred sites there.
UArizona will lead space telescope mission to learn how galaxies evolve, form stars
PHOENIX – University of Arizona was chosen to lead the 2024 NASA mission called Aspera. The mission will help researchers understand the flow of gas around galaxies.
Comcaac Nation in Sonora demands water with historic gathering
Members of the Indigenous Comcaac Nation have long struggled for access to clean water in their two towns on the Sea of Cortez.
Dry soils plague Colorado River Basin, absorbing runoff needed downstream
ASPEN, Colorado – The amount of moisture held in the ground can play a big role in how much water makes it down to rivers and reservoirs in the Colorado River Basin – and eventually into the pipes that feed homes and businesses.
Colorado River tribe aims to establish ‘one unified voice’ in policy talks
The Fort Yuma-Quechan Indian Tribe is situated at a nexus in the Colorado River Basin. The tribe is also at a policy nexus on the river. With irrigated agriculture part of the tribe’s past and present connection to the river, the Quechan tribe is intimately tied to future policies on the Colorado River. KUNC’s Luke Runyon interviewed the Fort Yuma-Quechan Tribe’s president Jordan Joaquin to hear his perspective on future policy talks that will be with President Joe Biden's administration.
