Chris Clarke March 24, 2025
The Future of the Ruby Mountains
The lack of oil and gas in Nevada's Ruby Mountains hasn't stopped developer interest, and a 90-day public comment period considering its withdrawal is about to close.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/03/16/the-future-of-the-ruby-mountains
Texas House Representative files bill to abolish Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
HB 4938, if passed, would abolish the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission and transfer its functions to the General Land Office, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Public Safety.
www.click2houston.com/news/local/2025/03/16/texas-house-representative-files-bill-to-abolish-texas-parks-and-wildlife-department
Even after court rulings call their firings illegal, federal workers in NV face uncertain future
For several Nevadans caught in the workforce purge the legal ruling is just the latest development in a chaotic administration that has burned them again and again.
nevadacurrent.com/2025/03/17/even-after-court-rulings-call-their-firings-illegal-federal-workers-in-nv-face-uncertain-future
An unlikely act of protest: Searching the desert for dead migrants
Finding hundreds of sites of migrant remains has taken its toll on James Holeman. He doesn't plan on stopping anytime soon.
www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/an-unlikely-act-of-protest-searching-the-desert-for-dead-migrants/article_7534587c-c3ae-11ef-ab9d-17e3fd3e7ec3.html
Utah sees measles vaccination bump as outbreak spreads in nearby states
There aren't any confirmed measles cases in Utah. But, amid outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico, Utah saw a bump in MMR vaccinations.
utahnewsdispatch.com/briefs/utah-sees-measles-vaccination-bump-during-outbreak
Plan Sonora: The New Face of Green Colonialism
Chris Clarke hosts an engaging discussion with Caroline Tracey, a journalist with The Border Chronicle, on the environmental and political challenges surrounding Pl…
www.90milesfromneedles.com/s4e8-plan-sonora-the-new-face-of-green-colonialism
Science and health program for Native American youth to shut down in northern Arizona
Lab coats hanging on hooks and cabinets gave way to tall ceilings above typical blacktopped science tables. The windows framed Flagstaff’s canopy of trees and mountains in the distance.
www.nhonews.com/news/science-and-health-program-for-native-american-youth-to-shut-down-in-northern-arizona/article_aaa1973e-f90c-11ef-8880-c37be0ef03f8.html
Navajo Nation Council celebrates introduction of the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement before Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Members of the Navajo Nation Council joined Hopi Chairman Tim Nuvangyaoma, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ-02) for a reception at the Navajo
www.nhonews.com/news/navajo-nation-council-celebrates-introduction-of-the-northeastern-arizona-indian-water-rights-settlement-before-congress/article_e6b8adb0-0038-11f0-a317-cf8a0f6dbf71.html
Pair of PFAS bills clears final committee, heads to NM Senate floor
A pair of bills to address current and future contamination from PFAS advanced Tuesday, and await a full Senate vote.
sourcenm.com/2025/03/18/pair-of-pfas-bills-clears-final-committee-heads-to-senate-floor
Money from defense company will help study Great Salt Lake ecosystem
Westminster University's Great Salt Lake Institute received a grant from Northrop Grumman to study brine flies on the Great Salt Lake.
utahnewsdispatch.com/briefs/great-salt-lake-brine-fly-research-westminster-university
EPA air monitors are disproportionately located in white neighborhoods, research finds
A University of Utah study found a crucial element affecting public health research — the disproportionate placement of EPA air monitors.
utahnewsdispatch.com/briefs/epa-air-monitors-are-disproportionately-located-in-white-neighborhoods-research-finds
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office in Palm Springs faces closure
The Trump Administration's Department of Government Efficiency plans to terminate lease contracts and close multiple federal agency offices in California, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office in Palm Springs.
kesq.com/news/2025/03/18/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service-office-in-palm-springs-faces-closure
BLM sells Las Vegas Valley land for $16.5M
The Bureau of Land Management sold eight parcels located across the valley.
www.reviewjournal.com/business/blm-sells-las-vegas-valley-land-for-16-5m-3323587
Proposal to designate a Southern NM hidden hiking gem into a state park heads to the Senate floor
A proposal to designate Slot Canyon Riverlands as a state park cleared its last committee Tuesday morning and now heads to the Senate floor for a vote.
sourcenm.com/2025/03/19/proposal-to-designate-a-southern-nm-hidden-hiking-gem-into-a-state-park-heads-to-the-senate-floor
NM health department warns of risk from dust storms
The New Mexico Department of Health on Wednesday issued an advisory about the potential harm dust storms can cause to human health
sourcenm.com/briefs/nm-health-department-warns-of-risk-from-dust-storms
Stewart's remaining climate bills await NM House hearing
Two bills that would funnel hundreds of millions for climate change adaptation into communities and state government advanced Tuesday night.
sourcenm.com/2025/03/19/stewarts-remaining-climate-bills-await-house-hearing
‘They heard us’: Indigenous advocates rally at Capitol for MMIP awareness
MMIP Arizona Capitol rally features red handprint ceremony as Indigenous advocates honor Emily Pike and demand justice for missing and murdered people
azmirror.com/briefs/they-heard-us-indigenous-advocates-rally-at-capitol-for-mmip-awareness
Major trash haulers accused of illegal dumping in California Desert
It’s raising environmental concerns in the West Mojave.
spectrumnews1.com/ca/southern-california/public-safety/2025/03/19/illegal-dumping-concerns
Lombardo questions Nevada's preparedness for lithium highway fires
Nevada’s Republican governor wants to add firefighters to a multi-state emergency response team created after a lithium truck fire last summer shut down I-15 near the Nevada-California state …
www.8newsnow.com/investigators/lombardo-questions-nevadas-preparedness-for-lithium-highway-fires
Parks help boost Clark County in health rankings, report says
According to the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps report, 96 percent of county residents live near a park or recreational facility, compared to 84 percent nationally.
www.reviewjournal.com/life/health/countys-health-strengths-challenges-outlined-in-rankings-report-3323708
Effort for Santa Cruz River Urban Wildlife Refuge moves forward
For thousands of years, the Santa Cruz River has been the beating heart of the Sonoran Desert.
www.nogalesinternational.com/news/effort-for-santa-cruz-river-urban-wildlife-refuge-moves-forward/article_45929559-ccdb-4746-b637-a98f73c2db05.html
Trump administration creating plan to militarize New Mexico border
The Trump administration is reportedly planning to militarize the New Mexico border. The plan further expands what has been seen in Texas.
www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/military/2025/03/21/trump-administration-plans-new-mexico-border-militarization/82564432007
Endurance activist runs around the shrinking Salton Sea to expose an unfolding environmental crisis
The Salton Sea is drying up, taking with it vital ecosystems and presenting a public health crisis to surrounding communities. To document this loss, ultra-endurance athlete and activist Iröndäd runs its shoreline annually, tracking the water’s retreat mile by mile.
www.ivpressonline.com/featured/salton-sea-adventure-endurance-activist-runs-around-the-shrinking-salton-sea-to-expose-an-unfolding/article_af7703ed-ebd8-42ff-ab71-47e2f5934cc2.html
Trump orders faster approval to mine on public lands. Critics say it's asking for trouble
An executive order signed on Thursday sets quicker deadlines for agencies to find mines for fast-tracking.
www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2025/03/21/trump-executive-order-quicker-review-mining-federal-lands/82579903007/?tbref=hp
Henderson is ripping out grass in parks. Will it make the city hotter?
Cities are rushing to comply with Assembly Bill 356, the 2021 Nevada law that outlaws watering “non-functional turf” past 2026.
www.reviewjournal.com/local/henderson/henderson-is-ripping-out-grass-in-parks-will-it-make-the-city-hotter-3324903
Lithium industry expansion in Nevada still underway
The nation’s lone producer of the mineral needed to power electric vehicles is expanding its operations, as plans for two other mines move forward.
thenevadaindependent.com/article/even-as-lithium-prices-drop-industry-expansion-in-nevada-still-underway
Copper Creek mine foes say project would disrupt San Pedro River conservation
As the BLM opens the public comment period on Redhawk's Copper Creek project, community groups are organizing to protect to the Lower San Pedro River.
www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2025/03/24/copper-creek-mine-would-disrupt-san-pedro-river-conservation-foes-say/82546434007/?tbref=hp
AZ bill caps wildfire liability for utilities
A sweeping measure passed by the Arizona House gives utilities like Tucson Electric Power lawsuit protections for wildfires sparked by their equipment
tucson.com/news/local/government-politics/article_1ae55353-a5d2-4881-b93d-7cc4169433d4.html#tracking-source=home-the-latest
CA Allocates $10M to Lithium Valley Planning, Infrastructure
A $10 million allocation from the state budget will go toward infrastructure and planning efforts in Imperial County’s Lithium Valley.
calexicochronicle.com/2025/03/24/state-allocates-10m-to-support-lithium-valley-planning-infrastructure
I-15 capacity could be reached with potential major development between Sloan/California border
Officials are planning for potential growth around Interstate 15 between Sloan and the California state line and what travel effects that might have on the important stretch of highway.
www.reviewjournal.com/news/news-columns/road-warrior/i-15-capacity-could-be-reached-with-potential-major-development-between-sloan-california-border-3341048
Valley fever in El Paso: Fungal disease goes undetected
Cases of Valley fever in El Paso, caused by a fungus in desert dust, are likely underreported.
elpasomatters.org/2025/03/24/valley-fever-el-paso-dust-storms-disease
Little relief in sight for drought-stricken southwestern Utah despite recent storms
Despite recent storms, southwest Utah is still mired in extreme drought and there no relief in sight.
www.sltrib.com/news/2025/03/24/southwest-utah-drought-conditions
