BIZARRE: American west - You Need To See This

How protection of public land shapes political strategies in the American West

Public lands are intricately woven into the fabric of America. Years of data confirms that a majority of Americans, regardless of their political beliefs, want public lands to remain in federal hands – though not everyone agrees on how exactly those lands should be managed. And while it’s not clear…

The Conversation · Nov 9

Widow inherits a failing ranch in 1883 and develops innovative water systems

In 1883, Harriet Williams Russell Strong found herself responsible for a struggling California ranch, four young daughters and debts left behind by her late husband. She had little experience managing agricultural land and was still dealing with persistent health problems. The ranch, however, depended on something she soon began to…

The Times of India · Nov 8

Kid Rock Reportedly Went 'Off the Grid' to Hunt an Elk Rather Than Watching the Midterm Elections

Kid Rock joked that he had missed US midterm election coverage while hunting elk in the American West, prompting reactions about politics, hunting and his support for Donald Trump.

International Business Times UK · Nov 7

Cowboy poetry slams, new-gen yodelling and Basque bites: Getting wild out west in Nevada’s Elko

Dust off your Stetson for the ultimate cowboycation in Elko, a gold rush town where the American west’s spirit still rides strong – Zoey Goto saddles up for their annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, where honky-tonk line dancers and new-wave yodellers breathe fresh life into age-old traditions

The Independent UK · Feb 28, 2025

Drought can hit almost anywhere: How 5 cities that nearly ran dry got water use under control

Water scarcity is often viewed as an issue for the arid American West, but the U.S. Northeast’s experience in 2024 shows how severe droughts can occur in just about any part of the country.

The Conversation · Feb 3, 2025

Q&A: Colorado River crisis brings ‘very dry’ reality to US West

Al Jazeera speaks to UN expert Lis Mullin Bernhardt about need to adapt to historic drought’s impact on key US waterway.

Al Jazeera · Feb 8, 2023

Wildfires reshape forests and change the behavior of animals that live there

In the arid American West, wildfires now define summer. Recent years have seen some of the worst wildfires in recorded history. Climate change, the loss of Indigenous burning practices and a century of fire suppression are increasing the risk of larger, hotter and more frequent wildfires.

The Conversation · Oct 19, 2022

Crisis looms without big cuts to over-tapped Colorado River

Dire consequences could result if states, cities and farms across the American West cannot agree on how to cut the amount of water they draw from the Colorado River

The Independent UK · Aug 19, 2022

Commentary: Why are horses jumping off a cliff?!

Perhaps no other animal exemplifies the American West more than the horse. These noble equines played an integral role in the development and expansion of our country as we know it today. Yet nearly 250 years after its founding, horses are still being used, abused and exploited by humans in…

Tribune News Service · Aug 2, 2022

Westerners struggle to manage booming wild horse populations

Wild horses hold a special place in the mythos of the American West, with images of free-roaming herds of mustangs grazing on vast public rangelands. But for some communities in New Mexico, the reality tragically differs.

Tribune News Service · Jul 22, 2022