A new study shows a 246% increase in the number of homes and structures destroyed by wildfires in the contiguous Western U.S. between the past two decades, revealing increasing vulnerability to wildfire disasters. Read more»
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Every Feb. 2, it's time for the obligatory Groundhog Day story. Let's just not think about doing 2020 all over again. Or 2021. Or even 2022. Read more»
Federal officials said they will consider a plan by Arizona and five other Colorado River basin states on how to further cut water consumption, even though the biggest user in the basin – California – has not signed off on it. Read more»
Scientists are finding in an ongoing study that despite the haze from far-off blazes, enough indirect sunlight was available to fuel the nation’s burgeoning solar panel industry in 2020 - good news as the U.S. government is seeking to quickly ramp up solar energy production. Read more»
The West has been slammed by wet weather this winter: Good news for the Colorado River, where all that moisture hints at a possible springtime boost for the reservoirs that have been crippled by drought - but many more years of heavy snow are needed to make a serious dent. Read more»
The San Carlos Apache Tribe is set to receive more than $166,000 in funding to help it address contaminated brownfield sites that threaten environmental and public health of the tribe. Read more»
The EPA denied the requests of six coal plants - including the Salt River Project’s Coronado Generating Station - to keep dumping toxic ash into unlined or inadequately lined pits, signaling the agency’s commitment to enforce the 2015 federal coal ash rules. Read more»
Paul Durham, a former member of the City Council and known for his integrity and environmental advocacy, died Wednesday in Tucson at 67. Read more»
Tucsonans will be able to vote on a new 25-year franchise agreement with Tucson Electric Power that could raise monthly utility rates by .75%. The Tucson City Council voted 7-0 on Tuesday to hold a special election in May for residents to decide on the agreement. Read more»
Amid an unusually wet winter and after last summer's strong monsoon, Arizona may be better off than other Southwest states as it continues to battle a 23-year drought - but while the snowpack is high, the Southwest’s reservoirs remain lower than average. Read more»
Temperatures will drop below 32 degrees across much of the Tucson region again Tuesday overnight, with a hard freeze warning in effect from 1-8 a.m. Tuesday for the metro area and parts of the Tohono O'odham Nation and Pinal County. Read more»
Snow was falling across parts of the Tucson area Monday morning, with more flurries possible as temperatures drop below freezing overnight across much of the region. Read more»
Arizona is ranked No. 3 among the states for water efficiency and sustainability, but still has a lot of room for improvement, according to an analysis by The Alliance for Water Efficiency that ranks each state on conservation, sustainability and affordability. Read more»
Tucson looks like it's coming out OK in a draft RTA Next plan, with 24 of 37 projects slated for the region's urban core. Plus, Pima County dives into initial appearances and Buffalo Soldiers, and more in local government meetings this week. Read more»
Pima Animal Care Center will stay closed to the public through Monday as officials work to stem the contagious respiratory disease strep zoo. Two dogs were euthanized because of the infection, and several more have contracted it. Read more»
Salt River Project has partnered with Clēnera, a private renewable energy company, to bring Arizona its largest solar plant on 2,400 acres of private land northwest of Flagstaff by 2024. Read more»