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In 2022, 10.3 million park visitors spent an estimated $1.2 billion in local gateway regions while visiting National Park lands in Arizona, according to the National Park Service. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

New BLM rules could help national parks in AZ

As opponents to the Bureau of Land Management's new rules push back, public lands advocates are praising the agency's decision to put conservation on …

Arizona state and city leaders and lawmakers tour several cooling centers in Maricopa County. (Kevin Bushaw)

AZ Faith Leaders Call for Better Heat Response

Intense heat is nothing new for Arizona summers, but the state has been enduring a record heat wave for a number of weeks. The Arizona Faith …

Irresponsible target shooting, littering and off-highway vehicles are among the human factors causing damage to heritage assets. (Adobe Stock)

New Map Outlines Reasons for Protecting Great Bend of Gila

Conservation groups have added an interactive story map to their toolkit as they continue to push for permanent protections for the Great Bend of the …

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation will host its seventh annual National Day of Racial Healing on Tuesday. (Adobe Stock)

AZ Events Highlight National Day of Racial Healing

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a day in which many across the country celebrate the revolutionary words and thoughts of the civil rights …

Native American students, most of them barefoot, sit for lessons in a crowded classroom inside the Walapai Indian School in Kingman, Ariz., circa 1900. (Wikimedia Commons)

Grant Aims to Boost Early-Childhood Education for Native Americans

TUCSON, Ariz. - Tribal colleges and universities in Arizona and across the nation are teaching the next generation of pre-K and elementary-school …

The addition of live operators to handle COVID-19 calls on the 211 Arizona help line might mean the service could be fully restored when the crisis is over. (AtstockProductions/Adobe Stock)

Could COVID-19 Funding Restore AZ's 2-1-1 Service?

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- There's some cautious optimism that a new COVID-19 referral service could restore the '211 Arizona' help line to full operation …

The Bears Ears National Monument's size was reduced by 85 percent in 2017 by President Donald Trump, leaving hundreds of archaeological sites unprotected. (PunkToad/Flickr)

Congress Investigates Trump’s Nat'l. Monument Reductions

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Today, a congressional oversight committee takes up the federal government's dismantling of national monuments in Utah and …

U.S. military veterans, many with PTSD and other emotional difficulties, find the camaraderie of exploring wilderness areas cathartic. (Pixabay)

Arizona Veterans, Others in DC Seeking Wilderness Protections

PRESCOTT, Ariz. — A group of military veterans - including a representative from Arizona - are in Washington, D.C., this week to meet with …

The Grand Canyon brought in $667 million in visitor spending in 2017, but facilities at the park are in need of repairs and maintenance. (Grand Canyon National Park/Flickr)

With Billions in Repairs Needed, Congress Looks to Invest in National Parks

PHOENIX — National park sites in Arizona and across the U.S. are more than $11 billion behind in maintenance needs - but Congress may take …

An appeals court ruled Tuesday that the Canyon Uranium Mine near Grand Canyon National Park can proceed without updating its 1986 permit, but also upheld the 2012 ban on new mines. (Bret Fanshaw/Environment America)

Court Upholds Grand Canyon Uranium Mining Ban As Congress Debates Issue

PHOENIX – Environmental groups and Native American tribes fighting uranium mining on the rim of the Grand Canyon are praising a federal court's …

Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument's pristine cliffs are notable for their fossils and human relics. (Bureau of Land Management)

Groups Praise Decision to Leave Grand Canyon Parashant Alone

PHOENIX -- People who prize Arizona's public lands are breathing a sigh of relief that Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument is off the chopping bl…

Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument could be downsized under a review by the U.S. Department of the Interior. (BLM)

With AZ Natl. Monuments in Crosshairs, Groups Make Economic Case

VERMILLION CLIFFS, Ariz. – The National Park System in Arizona each year draws 12 million visitors, who spend almost $1 billion and support …

Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument in Arizona, a national dark-sky park, is one of those under federal review. (BLM)

Advocates for Arizona's National Monuments Take Fight to D.C.

PHOENIX -- Several dozen advocates for the country's national monuments are traveling to Washington D.C. today to try to convince policymakers not to …

Arizona's Vermilion Cliffs National Monument is on the list to be reviewed by the Department of the Interior.(kconnors/morguefile)

AZ Conservation Advocates Blast Trump Review of National Monuments

PHOENIX -- The status of four of Arizona's national monuments will now be reviewed by the Department of the Interior - part of an executive order sign…

Las cuencas de agua del Gran Ca��n ser�an protegidas bajo la creaci�n de un Grandioso Monumento Nacional del Gran Ca��n. (Thomas O�Keefe)

Encuesta: 82 por ciento apoyan el Grandioso Monumento Nacional del Gran Cañón

PHOENIX - Una nueva encuesta muestra que el 82 por ciento de los estadounidenses apoya que se declare un nuevo monumento nacional en las tierras que r…

Parts of the Kaibab National Forest are coveted by private interests for mining development. (Michele Vacchiano/iStockphoto)

Presidential Candidates Asked to Affirm Support for AZ Public Lands

PHOENIX -- The Arizona Wildlife Federation and sister groups from across the country signed a public letter today asking the presidential candidates t…

The public comment period ends Sept. 3 on a plan to build a gondola to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. (Thomas O'Keefe)

Public Comment Period Ends Tomorrow on Proposed Grand Canyon Tram

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. - Tomorrow is the last day to comment on whether a private developer should be able to install a high-wire tram in the Grand …

A new CDC report may help determine where anti-tobacco ads should be placed, as well as suggesting they be targeted to different groups. (Pixabay)

Native American Smokers May Need Different Incentives to Quit

TUCSON, Ariz. - A new report shows big differences across the country in terms of who smokes cigarettes. The Centers for Disease Control and …

The ancient Petrified Forest near Holbrook is one of Arizona's iconic national parks. (iStockphoto)

Groups Seek More Diversity for National Parks, Public Lands

PHOENIX - A coalition of civil rights, environmental justice, conservation and community leaders is asking for more representation for all Americans …

Saguaro National Park near Tucson is part of Arizona's 12.2 million acres of public lands available for recreation. (aimintang/iStockphoto)

Study: Public Lands Generate Money, Jobs for Arizona, U.S.

PHOENIX - Public lands managed by the federal Bureau of Land Management host millions of visitors each year who participate in non-motorized or "quiet…

A new poll says a broad cross-section of Arizona voters backs the proposal for a Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument. (Wikimedia Commons)

Supporters Push Heritage Monument Status in Grand Canyon Area

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - A new poll shows strong support for creating a new national monument to protect the Grand Canyon watershed and honor the region's …

Native Americans were among the hundreds of indigenous peoples represented at the United Nations Climate Change Conference. (robb/morguefile)

Native Americans Cite Progress in Paris Climate Treaty

TUCSON, Ariz. - Representatives of Native American tribes from Arizona, New Mexico and other U.S. regions were in Paris this month as part of an …

PHOTO: Congressman Ra�l Grijalva is sponsoring three bills in Congress to protect public lands and cultural resources in southern Arizona, lending some certainty to the state's outdoor recreation economy. Photo credit: Representative Ra�l Grijalva.

Grijalva: Bills Seek to Protect Public Lands, Culture, Economy

PHOENIX – Arizona Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D–Tucson) is sponsoring three bills in Congress which he says seek to better protect and…

PHOTO: FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, seen here (top left) at a meeting in January in Oakland, Calif., has signaled his support for rules that may threaten �net neutrality� by allowing broadband service to some companies at higher speed for higher prices. A pushback by opponents is forming quickly. Photo credit: Mark Scheerer.

'Internet Freedom' Champions Pressure FCC

PHOENIX - FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has signaled his intention to allow broadband Internet service providers such as Comcast or Time Warner Cable to ch…

PHOTO: Last-chance pets are finding forever homes with our nation's heroes, with the help of some match-making from Pets for Patriots. Photo courtesy of Pets for Patrios.

Last-Chance Pets Find Patriot Companions

PHOENIX - Last-chance pets are finding forever homes with U.S. military veterans, with the help of some match-making. Beth Zimmerman's nonprofit …

PHOTO: A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that just under 10 million visitors to national park units in Arizona spent three-quarters of a billion dollars and supported more than 11,000 jobs in the state in 2012. CREDIT: National Park Service.

National Parks Bring in Big Bucks to AZ

PHOENIX - Arizona's National Parks and Monuments are pumping three-quarters of a billion dollars annually into the state's economy. A new report from …

PHOTO: To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, Arizona Highways magazine will be hosting wilderness hikes this summer to places such as Humphrey�s Peak near Flagstaff. CREDIT: Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

AZ Highways Hikes Celebrate Wilderness Act's 50th Anniversary

PHOENIX - To celebrate this year's 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, Arizona Highways magazine is organizing a series of wilderness hikes this …

PHOTO: Textbooks are among the highest out-of-pocket expenses for college students, according to a new report which proposes cost-saving alternatives that could help students save and learn more. Photo credit: stockphotosforfree.com

Report: Cost of Textbooks a Roadblock To Learning

PHOENIX - The rising costs of college tuition, room and board aren't the only financial obstacles to higher learning, according to a new report…

PHOTO: A long-held belief about old trees has been uprooted. A new study from the U.S. Geological Survey finds that trees' growth rates do not slow as they get older and larger � instead, they keep putting on mass along with their years. Photo credit: Deborah C. Smith

USGS Scientists Uproot Long-held Beliefs about Trees

PHOENIX - A long-held belief about old trees has been uprooted. A new study from the U.S. Geological Survey finds that trees' growth rates do not …

GRAPHIC: A study says PG-13- and R-rated movies share much of the same risky behavior content.

Study Raises Questions about Movie Ratings

PHOENIX - You may give the OK for your child to see a PG-13 movie, thinking the content is age-appropriate, but a new study says that when it comes …

PHOTO: Honor Flight Arizona works to make sure that Arizona's veterans are able to visit the World War II Memorial and other important patriotic sites in the nation's capital. Photo courtesy National Park Service.

Honor Flights Help AZ Vets See DC War Memorials

PHOENIX - America's veterans are honored today for their service and sacrifice for the nation, but there is a program in Arizona that works year-…

PHOTO: Interior Secretary Sally Jewell tells the National Press Club that her department needs budgets it can count on and less Congressional gridlock. Photo courtesy DOI.

Jewell: It's Possible to Balance Energy, Conservation on Public Land

PHOENIX - There's room for energy development on public lands, but more care has to be taken to do it responsibly, and other uses should have equal …

PHOTO: Environmental groups warn that HR 1526 would return Western forests to the days of clear-cutting to bring in money for counties � an approach they say is short-sighted. Photo credit: Chandra LeGue.

"Healthy Forests" Bill Raises Concerns

PHOENIX – It might save the government some money, but it won't do anything to quell the controversy over logging in the national forests…

PHOTO: Las Vegas student Rosalia Salazar says she�s already seen the impact of low water levels in the Colorado River through water restrictions in her home town. CREDIT: Doug Ramsey

Latino Youths Take Colorado River Message to Congress

PHOENIX - Latino students are bringing the plight of the Colorado River to Capitol Hill. Eighteen Latino high school students from Arizona, Colorado…

Road Trip! One Family's Concerns, Support for National Parks

PHOENIX - It's not just a vacation; it's an adventure for one family traveling through the Four Corners states this week. The family of Maite Arce …

IMAGE: Wilderness Stewardship Program volunteers provide vital assistance to the U.S. Forest Service in monitoring more than one-million acres of Arizona wilderness. CREDIT: USFS

Stewardship Program Helps Forest Service Monitor AZ Wilderness

PHOENIX - The U.S. Forest Service is understaffed, but is getting more help in monitoring more than 1 million acres of Arizona wilderness. Over the …

IMAGE: As part of Great Outdoors America Week, Arizona Rep. Ra�l Grijalva (Rah-OOL Gree-HOL-vah) is being honored for his lifelong conservation efforts. CREDIT: AZ Wild.

AZ Congressman Honored for Conservation Work

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva has been honored for his strong dedication to conservation issues as part of Great Outdoors America Week…

PHOTO: Soccer for Success is a free after-school program of the U.S. Soccer Foundation to combat childhood obesity and promote healthy lifestyles for kids in low-income urban areas. Photo credit: Jeff Saunders

Plea to First Lady: Fund Parks to Fight Obesity

PHOENIX - This is Great America Outdoors week, and as part of an effort to get kids moving in Arizona and elsewhere, First Lady Michelle Obama is …

GRAPHIC: Children � and adults � are urged to resist the tantalizing images on entertainment screens for one week, starting April 29. Courtesy CCFC.

Fewer Screens, More “Free-Range Children”

PHOENIX - Today is the first day of Screen-Free Week, an annual effort by children's advocates to get kids free from the grip of electronic devices - …

PHOTO: A professor at the University of Utah says his research shows that spending time outdoors in nature and unplugged from technology can improve a person's creative thinking ability. CREDIT: Fred Hsu

Recent Study: Time Outdoors Can Make You a Better Thinker

PHOENIX - Some time spent in the great outdoors can improve a person's creativity and problem-solving ability, according to the findings of a recent …

PHOTO: A family-style New Year's resolution: Spend some outdoor time every day. Walking the dog is a great option. Photo from Wikipedia, courtesy Alessandro Zangrilli.

Healthy, Family-Style Resolutions for the New Year

PHOENIX - The New Year is upon us, and at least one expert suggests making resolutions for the occasion a "family affair." Clinical psychologist Dr…

PHOTO: Colorado River near Lake Havasu, Arizona. CREDIT: R.Weller/Cochise College.

New, Landmark Protections in Place for Colorado River

PHOENIX - A landmark agreement between the United States and Mexico sets up clear guidelines for how the Colorado River will be managed and protected …

Colorado River near Yuma. Photo Credit: California Blog

Latino Leaders Celebrate Colorado River Heritage

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Preserving the Colorado River was the focus of Wednesday's gathering of Southwestern Latino leaders in Yuma. The event was a …

Internet Freedom Worries Pivot to Privacy Concerns

PHOENIX - A bill before Congress aimed at enhancing cyber security could leave an individual's personal information exposed to government and corporat…

Report: Proposed Mine May Threaten Water Supply SE of Tucson

PHOENIX - A new open-pit copper mine proposed for 30 miles southeast of Tucson could dramatically lower the area's water table, by hundreds of feet…

GOP Enviro Activist: “Republicans Are Green, Too”

PHOENIX - Support for many environmental causes seems to run strictly along party lines, but a group of Republicans is trying to change that in …

Report: Wilderness "Under Siege"

PHOENIX - A vast area of the United States, totaling a half-billion acres of federal lands, is at risk of losing federal safekeeping from development…

"Muchas Gracias", President Obama

PHOENIX – La semana pasada se anunció la restricción a la explotación de una nueva mina de uranio cerca del Gran Cañón…

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AZ: Cultural Resources