Local group, with help of 3 veterans, removes graffiti from Florence boulders
FLORENCE – Natural Restorations, a local nonprofit that removes trash and graffiti from outdoor areas, removed 20,242 square feet of graffiti from the boulders in Florence during a two-week project.
Weather conditions set Maricopa County up for better air than last year
PHOENIX – Maricopa County is seeing improvements in air quality from last year.
Experts say Arizona tribes’ role in drought negotiations marks turning point for inclusion
SACATON – The Drought Contingency Plan aimed at preserving water levels in the Colorado River Basin has been signed into law. Arizona’s tribes had a critical role in the plan’s negotiations, something experts say sets a new precedent for tribal water rights.
Nogales seeks a fair deal from binational commission on costs of treating wastewater
NOGALES – A federal bill would establish fair treatment between Nogales and the International Boundary and Water Commission, which handles transborder treaties and their application.
Change to Clean Water Act would have repercussions, even in the arid West
TONTO NATIONAL FOREST – The Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers have proposed a reversal of Obama-era definitions in the 1972 Clean Water Act.
In the land of coal, Navajo Nation looks to renewable energy
FLAGSTAFF – The Navajo Tribe has long been dependent on coal for good jobs, but its leaders now are embracing renewable energy sources, including solar.
House, Senate OK Colorado River drought plan, capping years of debate
WASHINGTON - Two weeks after water officials told Congress of the "urgent" need to approve the Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan, the House and Senate both passed the plan, moving one step closet to ending years negotiations by seven states in the river basin.
Mexican gray wolf numbers rise, but long-term viability still a concern
WASHINGTON - There were 14 more Mexican gray wolves in the wild last year, a "huge relief" to conservationists but not nearly enough for them to stop worrying about the long-term viability of the endangered animal, which now numbers 131 in Arizona and New Mexico.
Sewage flowing into Nogales Wash raises concerns about water supply for both Mexico and U.S.
NOGALES, Mexico – Wastewater that contains raw sewage has been flowing into the Nogales Wash in Sonora, Mexico since mid-January, spurring concerns about the water supply for several communities.
Virulent Newcastle disease found in Arizona chicken flock for first time
PHOENIX – Virulent Newcastle disease has been found in an Arizona chicken flock for the first time since the outbreak began last year in California. It’s been found in Arizona near Flagstaff in a backyard flock of eight chickens.
Climate experts want science embedded in local decisions
PHOENIX – A group of scientists, climate experts, and government officials from around the country want to make what we know about climate change more integrated with run-of-the-mill choices about infrastructure and zoning. It would be a sort of climate service, akin to the National Weather Service.
Logging by copter: Millions spent to thin forest on steep slopes of Mount Elden
FLAGSTAFF - Flagstaff and federal officials are using a helicopter to thin the forest on Mount Elden to reduce the risk of wildfires and protect the city’s watershed.
