Climbers concerned about safety are pitted against wilderness advocates worried about overcrowding and unfettered bolting.

The post The conflict over permanent climbing anchors in wilderness appeared first on High Country News.

Officials call push to remove an oil and gas buffer around the culturally critical monument ‘an absolute gut punch.’

The post Pueblo leaders, New Mexico lawmakers speak out to protect Chaco Canyon appeared first on High Country News.

My story on prediction market wildfire wagers exposed the gamification of natural disasters.

The post I used to ignore prediction markets. Then I learned people were betting on wildfires appeared first on High Country News.

How one village established a Native-led sexual assault response team to help address the oncoming chaotic boomtown atmosphere.

The post Alaska Native communities prepare for man camps driven by new mining boom appeared first on High Country News.

At least four panels of the wall in the San Rafael Valley were mysteriously damaged months before a controversy-plagued contractor even finished construction.

The post A new section of the billion-dollar border wall in Arizona is bent out of shape appeared first on High Country News.

For now, the state is counting on voluntary cuts among vegetable and pecan farmers. But that might not be enough.

The post The clock is ticking for New Mexico to cut Rio Grande water use appeared first on High Country News.

A presidential proclamation slashed the monument by 90% despite a promise to involve tribes.

The post Bears Ears cuts also end first-of-its-kind tribal land commission  appeared first on High Country News.

Migrant workers were trapped in the Southwest’s illicit cannabis boom and treated as criminals — until investigators began chasing their bosses.

The post The Chinese immigrants trafficked on New Mexico’s weed farms appeared first on High Country News.

After 20-year controversy and numerous court battles, the Trump administration declared grizzlies recovered despite public lands rollbacks.

The post Feds transfer grizzly bear management to states appeared first on High Country News.

Rep. Casey Snider worked behind the scenes for years to transfer large blocks of roadless state trust land to wildlife officials — cutting the Ute Tribe out in the process.

The post How a Utah Republican’s quiet battle for hunting access undercut LandBack hopes appeared first on High Country News.