Pencil drawing of a black hawk in flight with its wings fully extended.

I wrote the words — and illustrated my piece too!

I hope people realize that #blackhawks are real birds, much cooler than their whirring, mechanical counterpart that bear their name but none of their grace.

How a grass-roots movement won the fight to save an Arizona landmark At a time of fewer protections for public lands, residents of Prescott devise a new playbook to preserve the Granite Dells as open space.

At a time when the federal government is sharpening its attacks on #PublicLands, one city demonstrates what it takes to save their neighborhood park from development.

Here's the new playbook that other grassroots movements can take a page from. By yours truly, for @azcentral.com

#GraniteDells

Just watched #Zootopia2 last weekend, and I have a question for #Disney filmakers: What do predators in #Zootopia shop for in grocery stores? Is there a meat section, and what's in it?

How a grass-roots movement won the fight to save an Arizona landmark At a time of fewer protections for public lands, residents of Prescott devise a new playbook to preserve the Granite Dells as open space.

At a time when the federal government is sharpening its attacks on #PublicLands, one city demonstrates what it takes to save their neighborhood park from development.

Here's the new playbook that other grassroots movements can take a page from. By yours truly, for @azcentral.com

#GraniteDells

Black hawks return to Arizona's Santa Cruz River for the habitat As black hawks flock to Tubac, so too do birdwatchers. The monitoring effort provides a snapshot of health of the riparian habitat.

In March, I got to see a natural wonder unique to southern AZ: black hawk migration, with up to 100 of the birds flying over #Tubac daily. Their journey rests on the persistence of cottonwood trees along riparian corridors. For a drying, warming state, that future isn't guaranteed.

@azcentral.com

Plans To Withdraw Protections From Oil And Gas Development Around Chaco Prompt 70,000 Public Comments To Federal Agency In One Week

nativenewsonline.net/sovereignty/...

Pencil drawing of a black hawk in flight with its wings fully extended.

I wrote the words — and illustrated my piece too!

I hope people realize that #blackhawks are real birds, much cooler than their whirring, mechanical counterpart that bear their name but none of their grace.

Black hawks return to Arizona's Santa Cruz River for the habitat As black hawks flock to Tubac, so too do birdwatchers. The monitoring effort provides a snapshot of health of the riparian habitat.

In March, I got to see a natural wonder unique to southern AZ: black hawk migration, with up to 100 of the birds flying over #Tubac daily. Their journey rests on the persistence of cottonwood trees along riparian corridors. For a drying, warming state, that future isn't guaranteed.

@azcentral.com

Takeover of federal lands could cost Arizona $800 million, study says Managing federal lands could cost Arizona $800 million in lost funding, a new study concludes. Most of the cost comes from wildfire mitigation and suppression on wild lands across Arizona. Outdoor recreation is the most lucrative land use of public lands and far exceeds the tax revenues generated from industries like mining. A newly released report aims to remind people of the importance that public lands remain in federal hands, even as state lawmakers in several Western states continue to push plans to take over the resource. The report, released in conjunction with Arizona Public Lands Day, the first Saturday of April, pegs the economic cost of managing those swaths at $800 million a year, enough to bankrupt the state outright if Arizona took over managing federal lands within its boundaries. “A number of legislators seem to think that they could make a lot of money,” said study author Dave Wells of the Grand Canyon Institute. “They don't certainly fully recognize all of the federal dollars that come in to maintain the land.” A state takeover of federal lands would hit rural communities the hardest, block public access to recreation opportunities and likely anger many Arizona voters. Yet rollbacks in...

Takeover of federal lands could cost Arizona $800 million, study says
->azcentral | More on "Federal lands Arizona takeover costs" at BigEarthData.ai | #Land

Excited to finally share this story
Last year with support from @pulitzercenter.org, I went to the Arctic to follow scientists yanking soil on a journey down Alaska's tundra. Looking for what? Undiscovered species of fungi that form unique partnerships with plants. @quantamagazine.bsky.social

Takeover of federal lands could cost Arizona $800 million, study says On Arizona Public Lands Day, a new report examines the costs and the losses to the state for taking over federal lands.

Some Arizonan politicians have long pushed for the state to take over federal lands. That... is not a good idea.

My latest for @azcentral.com:

@nature.org @azwildlifefed.bsky.social #PublicLands

The Moral Case Against Artificial Constellations Three potential satellite projects may change our night sky forever. Beyond the environmental and scientific problems, the proposals are an ethical nightmare.

As tech companies propose to launch up to a million new satellites into Earth orbit, my colleague Emilie Lafleche and I explore the multifarious value of preserving Earth's dark skies in an essay for @sequencermag.bsky.social.

Ranchers in southern Arizona live on the 'knife edge' of long drought As summer rains vanish and dry conditions persist, borderland ranchers worry about their livelihood, culture and identity.

In the biodiverse grasslands of Southeastern AZ, generational ranchers here have learnt the hard way the importance of treading lightly on the land.

Now, drought is threatening the delicate balance between cattle operations and the health of the landscape.

Me for @azcentral.com:

One of my life goals is to see a porcupine in the wild!

Oh my god, they're like the arboreal version of a chill capybara!

Have you seen a porcupine in the wild? Lucky you! I want to hear about it, feel free to drop a comment.

"Teddy Bear," the porcupine, doesn't like to share... YouTube video by Zooniversity1

2. They're incredibly cute. These goofy gremlins look like they've slept on a balloon. To my POINT, enjoy this video of talkative Teddy, sound on:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGz8...

The West’s vanishing porcupines - High Country News Scientists are racing to figure out why porcupines are disappearing from their former stomping grounds.

Two things I didn't really know about #porcupines until I did a story for @highcountrynews.org about them: 1. They're disappearing across the West. Scientists don't really know why.

Thanks to @thatsmohrlikeit.bsky.social for your SHARP edits, as usual!

www.hcn.org/articles/the...

So proud of my @highcountrynews.org colleague @btoastie.bsky.social for this amazing cover story!

An image of a smiling woman outside with text that says: The TON Fellowship was foundational to my career as a science journalist. Plus, never would you find a kinder, more caring, and more talented family of peers and veterans who are eager to help early-career journalists like me in navigating the craft and industry.

About The Open Notebook, @goesbykim.bsky.social says: “Never would you find a kinder, more caring, and more talented family of peers and veterans who are eager to help early-career journalists like me in navigating the craft and industry.” 🧪

Your concerns are understandable! And thank you for sharing this tip about anonymity.

I think, as much as people are able to, it could be useful to also explain in the comments why someone wants anonymity. Fear is also important context that judges should weigh.

How to comment on the planned roadless rule rollback - High Country News The deadline to weigh in on the change is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Sept. 19.

Today is the last day to share your thoughts on the federal government's plan to revoke the roadless rule on Forest Service lands. When the clock strikes midnight (ET), the comment portal will close.

Looking for your Cinderella moment? Go comment now!!!

Counting flowers to read the saguaro’s future - High Country News Saguaros are struggling to cope with extreme weather, monitoring studies reveal.

Original story here:

What the folds of a saguaro flower can reveal about future of the desert Shi En Kim wrote about the iconic saguaro flower for High Country News and joined The Show to discuss more.

I went on @kjzz.org to chat about my @highcountrynews.org story on saguaro flowers!

How to comment on the planned roadless rule rollback - High Country News The deadline to weigh in on the change is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Sept. 19.

The landmark roadless rule is on the chopping block, endangering 59 million acres of Forest Service lands that still retain some of their wild character. Experts say it's as bad of an idea as it sounds for wildlife.

Now that you know, go forth and comment! You have until Sept. 19. to do so.

Submit your comments here: www.regulations.gov/commenton/FS...

Again, deadline is Sept 19, 11.59 p.m. ET!

How to comment on the planned roadless rule rollback - High Country News The deadline to weigh in on the change is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Sept. 19.

The landmark roadless rule is on the chopping block, endangering 59 million acres of Forest Service lands that still retain some of their wild character. Experts say it's as bad of an idea as it sounds for wildlife.

Now that you know, go forth and comment! You have until Sept. 19. to do so.

How to comment on the planned roadless rule rollback - High Country News The deadline to weigh in on the change is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Sept. 19.

The public has until September 19 to weigh in on the proposed rescission of the 2001 roadless rule on Forest Service land, a move that experts have said will harm the health and biodiversity of ecosystems.

buff.ly/oMa9f05

A new 5-year mission begins!

I'm so grateful to everyone at NASA Astrobiology for this opportunity to advance our search for life in the universe with @calebscharf.bsky.social and our team of amazing colleagues at @carnegiescience.bsky.social, NASA Ames, and beyond!

Hope you both enjoy the article!