How Sage-Grouse Came to Symbolize a Divided West
Americans have a tendency to discuss threatened species in black-and-white economic terms, and the greater sage-grouse is no exception to the norm. The birds once occupied about 290 million acres of...
View ArticleColville, Washington Survived the Timber Wars. Now It’s Tackling Wildfire
Bitterroot is partnering with the The Modern West podcast to examine the resilience of Western people and towns. This is the fifth and final part of the series. Part 1: The Blackfoot Watershed:...
View ArticleInto Ashes: Is Phoenix Ready for a Future With More Heat and Less Water?
Louise Parks met the desert in 1973. She was 12 years old then, and her family had moved from Texas into a camper on the outskirts of Apache Junction, Arizona. They had no running water, so every few...
View Article2020 in Review: Politics and Economy
This week, we’re looking back at our top stories from a wild year. Today’s newsletter features articles about the politics and economy of 2020 — both of which were heavily shaped by the COVID-19...
View ArticleThe Problem With Tesla
While 2020 was a terrible year for most of us, it was a good one for Tesla, Inc. The Palo Alto, California-based maker of electric cars was on track for all-time highs in revenue and profits (annual...
View ArticleJoe Biden’s New Deal
In their inauguration speeches yesterday and during the preceding campaign, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have focused on four crises: racial injustice, the COVID-19 pandemic,...
View ArticleThe West Has a Housing Crisis. Portland Has an Answer
Last summer, while the national gaze was fixated on clashes between racial-justice protesters, law enforcement, and alt-right militias in Portland, the city council quietly passed one of the most...
View ArticleWe Need Carbon-Free Transportation. Bikes Will Get Us There Faster
With the support of VertueLab, I’m examining what a carbon-free economy would look like. This is Part 1 in the series. Part 1: TransportationPart 2: PowerPart 3: The Built EnvironmentPart 4:...
View ArticleWe Need a ‘Stewardship Economy.’ Habitat Restoration is the First Step
With the support of VertueLab, I’m examining what a carbon-free economy would look like. This is Part 4 in the series. Part 1: TransportationPart 2: PowerPart 3: The Built EnvironmentPart 4:...
View ArticleThe Best of Bitterroot
For two years, Bitterroot magazine brought you essential stories about the politics, economy, culture, and environment of the American West. Below are 20 features that exemplify the magazine created by...
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