http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/category/environment environment news from TucsonSentinel.com - Tucson's independent nonprofit online news en Copyright 2012 2012-02-04T07:23:02+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/020312_az_parks_funds/bill-protect-state-parks-revenue-moves-ahead/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/020312_az_parks_funds/bill-protect-state-parks-revenue-moves-ahead/ 01:17:00Z Jessica Testa A bill that would protect Arizona State Parks revenues from budget sweeps and allow the agency to use the money for operations took its first step Thursday in the state House. 2012-02-04T01:17:59+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/nws_radar/live-weather-radar/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/nws_radar/live-weather-radar/ 21:14:00Z TucsonSentinel.com Live weather radar for Tucson and the rest of Southern Arizona from the National Weather Service. 2012-02-03T21:14:01+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/020212_electric_cars/farley-drivers-electric-vehicles-should-help-pay-roads/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/020212_electric_cars/farley-drivers-electric-vehicles-should-help-pay-roads/ 16:26:00Z Ivy Morris A Democratic state lawmaker is proposing that owners of electric vehicles pay a penny-per-mile tax for each mile they drive. “One of the only ways we pay for our roadways is through gas tax. We need to find a way of closing that loophole.” (with videos) 2012-02-02T16:26:08+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/020212_trees/planting-trees-now-will-help-beat-heat-later/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/020212_trees/planting-trees-now-will-help-beat-heat-later/ 21:31:00Z Rachel Cabakoff As winter temperatures linger, it is a good time to plant trees before the weather warms, said Tucson Clean & Beautiful about their Trees for Tucson Program, which is taking applications for low-cost shade trees. 2012-02-01T21:31:03+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/020112_tep_solar/tep-add-solar-booster-irvington-electric-plant/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/020112_tep_solar/tep-add-solar-booster-irvington-electric-plant/ 20:05:00Z Dylan Smith Tucson Electric Power is adding a 5-megawatt solar energy system to boost capacity at the utility’s Tucson generating plant, the company announced Tuesday. 2012-02-01T20:05:19+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/020112_yuma_ag_tourism/farm-rich-yuma-out-cultivate-growth-agritourism/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/020112_yuma_ag_tourism/farm-rich-yuma-out-cultivate-growth-agritourism/ 16:24:00Z Connor Radnovich Yuma’s Field to Feast, engages tourists, snowbirds and locals in the process of moving produce from soil to salad. Participants pick kale, lettuce, broccoli and more while learning about the area’s agriculture. (with video) 2012-02-01T16:24:56+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/020112_oracle_park/locals-work-reopen-oracle-state-park-once-week/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/020112_oracle_park/locals-work-reopen-oracle-state-park-once-week/ 16:09:00Z Jessica Testa Arizona State Parks hasn’t received state funding since 2009, and only nine of the state’s 29 public parks have stayed consistently open throughout the budget crisis. Thanks to $21,000 raised by a local group, Oracle State Park is reopening to the public, if only on Saturdays. 2012-02-01T16:09:45+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/013012_azwaterpolicy/garcia-water-water-everywhere-not-question/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/013012_azwaterpolicy/garcia-water-water-everywhere-not-question/ 23:34:00Z Joseph Garcia How can Arizona water policy sustain an arid state for the next 100 years? 2012-01-30T23:34:09+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/013012_ov_cap_water/oro-valley-begins-delivery-cap-water/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/013012_ov_cap_water/oro-valley-begins-delivery-cap-water/ 18:57:00Z Dylan Smith Oro Valley began delivering CAP water to customers last week. The water is recharged and then pumped from recovery wells north to the town. 2012-01-30T18:57:08+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012712_buckmaster/buckmaster-nuclear-recycling-good-arizona/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012712_buckmaster/buckmaster-nuclear-recycling-good-arizona/ 22:13:00Z Buckmaster Show Today on Buckmaster - It’s the Friday Focus interview with state Sen. Al Melvin. Also, the Friday Reporters’ Roundtable with Dylan Smith of TucsonSentinel.com and Mark Evans of TucsonCitizen.com. Plus, “The Culinary Cruiser” Matt Russell has the Weekend Watch. 2012-01-27T22:13:33+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012712_az_forests/feds-unveil-national-forest-planning-rules/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012712_az_forests/feds-unveil-national-forest-planning-rules/ 17:49:00Z Salvador Rodriguez The U.S. Forest Service unveiled new planning rules Thursday that it said will emphasize the protection of forest and watersheds while maintaining and creating forest-industry jobs. 2012-01-27T17:49:38+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012712_az_keel_soin/american-indian-leaders-ask-support-flexibility-govern/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012712_az_keel_soin/american-indian-leaders-ask-support-flexibility-govern/ 15:58:00Z Victoria Pelham Native American leaders called on the federal government Thursday to honor its responsibility to American Indians with continued financial support, but to grant them greater flexibility in handling their own affairs. 2012-01-27T15:58:44+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012612_az_fires_forests/lawmaker-face-fires-control-forests-should-local/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012612_az_fires_forests/lawmaker-face-fires-control-forests-should-local/ 02:45:00Z Nicole Gilbert Facing devastating wildfires and inaction by the federal government, Arizona should declare its sovereignty and take control of its national forests, a state lawmaker contends. 2012-01-27T02:45:44+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012612_buffelgrass_day/volunteers-try-beat-back-pesky-buffelgrass/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012612_buffelgrass_day/volunteers-try-beat-back-pesky-buffelgrass/ 22:55:00Z Rachel Cabakoff Hundreds of volunteers are expected to gather at Saguaro National Park and sites around Tucson for the Fifth Annual Buffelgrass Beatback on Saturday. 2012-01-26T22:55:49+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012612_buckmaster/buckmaster-push-begins-change-campaign-finance-regulations/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012612_buckmaster/buckmaster-push-begins-change-campaign-finance-regulations/ 21:19:00Z Buckmaster Show Today on Buckmaster — We’ve got a newsmaker interview with Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne. Also, a preview of this Saturday’s Beat Back Buffelgrass Day with Dana Backer, ecologist with Saguaro National Park. Plus, the new study results on the benefits of early childhood education with Buckmaster Show education contributor Robert Hendricks. 2012-01-26T21:19:07+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/012612_obama_ener1/obama-cites-another-green-company-it-immediately-goes-bankrupt/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/012612_obama_ener1/obama-cites-another-green-company-it-immediately-goes-bankrupt/ 19:57:00Z Thomas Mucha Just two days after President Obama referenced Ener1, an electric battery maker that received a $118 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, the company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. 2012-01-26T19:57:03+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/012612_feds_bpa/feds-have-failed-act-toxic-chemical-report-says/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/012612_feds_bpa/feds-have-failed-act-toxic-chemical-report-says/ 18:47:00Z Chris Hamby Despite growing fears over the health effects of a chemical found in many baby bottles and a host of other products, federal regulators have done little to protect the public, according to a new report from a nonprofit research group. 2012-01-26T18:47:25+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012512_az_shooting_bills/federal-bills-would-restrict-shooting-public-land/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012512_az_shooting_bills/federal-bills-would-restrict-shooting-public-land/ 05:36:00Z Salvador Rodriguez Federal officials are eyeing shooting restrictions on more than a million acres of public land, half of which are in Arizona, said Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Mesa, who wants to block the restrictions. 2012-01-26T05:36:57+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012512_az_algae_bills/bills-would-help-establish-az-as-center-algae-farming/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012512_az_algae_bills/bills-would-help-establish-az-as-center-algae-farming/ 05:19:00Z Jessica Testa Anticipating a day when Arizona becomes a leader in producing algae for biofuel, a Tucson lawmaker is pushing to have algae farms and related facilities defined — and taxed — like any corn field or packing plant. 2012-01-26T05:19:49+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/012512_obama_sotu_facts/the-state-obamas-facts/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/012512_obama_sotu_facts/the-state-obamas-facts/ 17:15:00Z Factcheck.org The president’s State of the Union address got the facts right — mostly. Often the president’s facts and figures were accurate — but not the whole story. (with video) 2012-01-25T17:15:22+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/012412_solar_storm/solar-storm-hits-earth-after-huge-flare/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/012412_solar_storm/solar-storm-hits-earth-after-huge-flare/ 15:37:00Z Global Post A solar storm is hitting Earth on Tuesday following a huge solar flare eruption Sunday that sent radiation hurtling towards our planet. The resulting geomagnetic storm, the biggest since 2005, could disrupt GPS and satellite communications, although the threat is said to be low. 2012-01-24T15:37:38+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012312_buckmaster/buckmaster-scramble-begins-congressional-special-election/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012312_buckmaster/buckmaster-scramble-begins-congressional-special-election/ 04:34:00Z Buckmaster Show Today on Buckmaster — It’s the Monday Political Face-off featuring commentators Vince Rabago and John Munger. Also, Arizona’s water supply for the next 100 years. We hear from water expert Sharon Megdal. Plus, what’s going on with the boom in new planet discoveries? Mark Sykes, head of the Tucson-based Planetary Science Institute has the answers. 2012-01-24T04:34:23+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/012112_obama_ad/misleading-claims-obamas-first-2012-ad/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/012112_obama_ad/misleading-claims-obamas-first-2012-ad/ 21:50:00Z Robert Farley President Obama’s first 2012 campaign ad misleads on ethics, “clean-energy” jobs and U.S. dependence on oil imports. 2012-01-21T21:50:40+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012112_oracle_road_work/left-lane-southbound-oracle-closed-sunday/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012112_oracle_road_work/left-lane-southbound-oracle-closed-sunday/ 17:59:00Z Rachel Cabakoff The left lane of southbound Oracle Road near Orange Grove and Ina roads will be temporarily closed Sunday for road maintenance. 2012-01-21T17:59:32+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012012_buckmaster/buckmaster-tusd-board-president-denies-book-ban/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012012_buckmaster/buckmaster-tusd-board-president-denies-book-ban/ 22:09:00Z Buckmaster Show Today on Buckmaster - We start things off with a Friday Focus interview with TUSD Governing Board President Dr. Mark Stegeman. Then, it’s the Reporters’ Roundtable with Mark Evans of the TucsonCitizen.com and Sarah Garrecht Gassen of the Arizona Daily Star. Plus, the Weekend Watch with the Culinary Cruiser himself, Matt Russell. 2012-01-20T22:09:08+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012012_border_trash/border-trash-cleanup-becoming-tougher-riskier/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012012_border_trash/border-trash-cleanup-becoming-tougher-riskier/ 07:01:00Z Sara Smith With many of those crossing the border illegally shifting to remote areas in response to stepped-up enforcement, the trash they leave behind is becoming tougher – and riskier – to clean up, said a state agency director. A Rio Rico-area cleanup is set for next weekend. 2012-01-20T07:01:39+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011912_rosemont_comments/feds-extend-rosemont-mine-comment-period/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011912_rosemont_comments/feds-extend-rosemont-mine-comment-period/ 04:10:00Z Dylan Smith The Forest Service said it will continue to accept comments about the proposed Rosemont copper mine until the end of January, after the agency’s online systems briefly failed to accept public input. The comment period had been set to expire Wednesday, 2012-01-20T04:10:37+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011812_az_state_parks/lawmaker-wants-state-parks-funds-off-limits-budget-sweeps/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011812_az_state_parks/lawmaker-wants-state-parks-funds-off-limits-budget-sweeps/ 19:12:00Z Jessica Testa Arizona State Parks would be able to protect the revenue it raises from budget sweeps and use it for park operations under legislation proposed by a rural lawmaker. 2012-01-18T19:12:32+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011812_giffords_solar/giffords-office-hold-solar-power-workshop/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011812_giffords_solar/giffords-office-hold-solar-power-workshop/ 17:11:00Z Ryan Kelly Homeowners and businessowners interested in the benefits of solar energy will have the chance to learn about leasing rooftop systems at a workshop presented by U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ office Thursday. 2012-01-18T17:11:50+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/011712_mex_tarahumara_aid/aid-rushed-mexicos-hungry-tarahumara-people/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/011712_mex_tarahumara_aid/aid-rushed-mexicos-hungry-tarahumara-people/ 00:55:00Z Talia Ralph Aid is being rushed to the Tarahumara indigenous tribes in northern Mexico, after serious food shortages in the region prompted one official to falsely report that men and women had committed suicide out of desperation. 2012-01-18T00:55:09+00:00