House OKs bill to ban mining on 1 million acres around Grand Canyon
WASHINGTON - The House voted Friday to permanently ban new mining claims on more than 1 million acres around Grand Canyon National Park, with supporters calling protection of the landmark canyon a "moral issue."
Pause on leasing public land for oil and gas extraction draws mixed reaction
PHOENIX – Land, and specifically what to do with land, has been among the most divisive topics in U.S. history since the arrival of European settlers in 1492. More than 500 years later, little has changed.
Critics grill Haaland; backers point to historic nature of nomination
WASHINGTON - Republican senators tried to pin down Rep. Deb Haaland at a hearing on her nomination for Interior secretary, pushing her on fossil fuels and job losses they said would come from President Joe Biden's proposed energy policies.
Investors now can bet on California’s water, helping agriculture withstand dry spells
Some California farmers are hopeful opened economic options will help balance high water prices during the summer, while extreme weather and droughts continue.
Arizona efforts to boost electric cars get so-so grades in new reports
WASHINGTON - Arizona got middling scores in two new national reports on states' efforts to boost the number of electric vehicles on the road, which advocates say is proof that the state has a long way to go.
Sedentary and stressed? Get outside to improve health during COVID, experts advise
PHOENIX – Despite the pandemic, state parks saw record visitation over parts of 2020, and experts continue to encourage more outdoor activity for both physical – and mental – health.
Federal judge rejects Apache Stronghold request to block Oak Flat mine
WASHINGTON - A federal judge Friday refused to order a halt to the proposed Resolution Copper Mine on Oak Flat, land that opponents say is sacred to the Apache people and will be destroyed by the mine.
EPA awards $220 million for uranium mine cleanup on Navajo Nation
WASHINGTON - The Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday it will award contracts worth up to $220 million to three companies for the cleanup of some of the hundreds of abandoned uranium mines on the Navajo Nation.
What a distant quasar and a ‘young’ black hole could reveal about the universe
PHOENIX – A team of UArizona astronomers searches to answer how galaxies formed millions of years ago after discovering the most distant quasar ever found, which is powered by a supermassive black hole.
NRC credits Palo Verde response to worker’s license application error
WASHINGTON - Operators of the Palo Verde nuclear power plant told the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Thursday they have addressed oversights regarding the error with an operator's application.
Enough habitat exists to support return of Mexican wolves in Southwest, study says
PHOENIX – A study shows abundant “high quality” habitat for Mexican wolves, calling on wildlife officials to combine recovery efforts. In the U.S., advocates fight a recent ruling to remove the wolves from the Endangered Species list.
Nevada farmers look to Australian water market as Southwest U.S. dries out
Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin is similar to the Colorado River Basin. Selling water is as easy as selling a couch on Craigslist.
