Needed or misguided? Permanent ban on uranium mining near Grand Canyon draws mixed reaction
GRAND CANYON – A bill that could permanently prevent uranium mining on more than a million acres of land around the Grand Canyon is something conservation groups and tribes in northern Arizona call long overdue but mining companies condemn.
A timeline: Key moments in the establishment of Grand Canyon National Park
GRAND CANYON VILLAGE — Grand Canyon National Park celebrates its centennial birthday this year and we’ve charted some of the pivotal moments in the canyon over time.
House OKs open-spaces bill that includes thousands of acres in Arizona
WASHINGTON - A planned La Paz County solar farm is just one of nine projects in Arizona, - and scores nationwide - that will advance after the House gave final approval to a bill reauthorizing the popular multibillion-dollar Land and Water Conservation Fund, among other provisions.
Sunlight for nighttime: Arizona’s largest utility plans to expand battery storage
PHOENIX – Arizona Public Services Co. plans to add battery storage to its existing solar plants and build new plants by 2025.
100 years: Grand Canyon National Park celebrates the past, prepares for the future
GRAND CANYON VILLAGE – As Grand Canyon National Park celebrates its centennial, staff members are promoting sustainability efforts that will preserve the park for generations to come, despite the challenges that increased traffic has brought.
Scientists downplay radiation threat from uranium ore stored at the Grand Canyon
GRAND CANYON – Three buckets of uranium ore stored for years in a building at the Grand Canyon probably didn’t endanger visitors or park workers, scientists say, but a few other questions remain.
Lane change: Old road recycled to build a new stretch of I-10
PICACHO – What happens to roads after they’re torn out? About 80 million tons of asphalt are recycled every year throughout the U.S., but the Arizona Department of Transportation is using old pavement from Interstate 10 to build new eastbound lanes near this unincorporated community.
A CO₂ sponge: Arizona scientist working to combat rising carbon dioxide levels
TEMPE – A recent study shows an uptick in carbon dioxide levels last year, meanwhile scientists at Arizona State University’s Center for Negative Carbon Emissions are working on innovative technology that captures the greenhouse gas from the atmosphere.
Hatchery near Flagstaff undergoes $3.3 million in renovations to raise trout in the desert
FLAGSTAFF – Sterling Springs Hatchery near Flagstaff is undergoing a $3.3 million renovation to repair old infrastructure, as well as add technology that will allow the facility to operate with less water, all in an effort to grow fish in the desert.
Senate OKs open-space bill, reviving Land and Water Conservation Fund
WASHINGTON - After months of gridlock, the Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill that permanently authorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a popular program that sent almost $240 million to Arizona for parks and open space projects over the years before expiring last fall.
$300,000 down the drain: Rubber ducky, grease and currency clog treatment plant, cost taxpayers
SURPRISE – Surprise residents toss toys, money and food byproducts like grease into their drains that end up clogging equipment at the Surprise South Water Reclamation Facility. A new campaign teaches Surprise residents to save taxpayer money with proper disposal.
Officials testify on climate change’s outsized effect on Indian Country
WASHINGTON - An Inupiaq witness said melting glaciers led to erosion around rural villages. A Quinault Indian Nation member said treaty-protected fishing has dried up. And a Tohono O'odham official said floods are stronger and droughts longer. All were testifying on the effects of climate change on Indian Country.
