Michelle Nijhuis, Author at High Country News https://www.hcn.org A nonprofit independent magazine of unblinking journalism that shines a light on all of the complexities of the West. Fri, 09 Aug 2024 17:13:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.hcn.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/cropped-HCN_Logo-Monogram_White_Sq-2-32x32.png Michelle Nijhuis, Author at High Country News https://www.hcn.org 32 32 229054741 Project 2025’s extreme vision for the West https://www.hcn.org/articles/project-2025s-extreme-vision-for-the-west/ Fri, 19 Jul 2024 08:00:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/?p=326696

The demolition of public lands, water and wildlife protections are part of conservatives’ plan for a second Trump term.

The post Project 2025’s extreme vision for the West appeared first on High Country News.

]]> 326696 Deer 255 reaches the end of her journey https://www.hcn.org/articles/deer-255-reaches-the-end-of-her-journey/ Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:36:04 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/?p=325953

The ungulate migrated farther than any deer known to science.

The post Deer 255 reaches the end of her journey appeared first on High Country News.

]]> 325953 Killing one owl to save another https://www.hcn.org/articles/killing-one-owl-to-save-another/ Fri, 10 May 2024 08:00:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/?p=325298

Is it ever the right thing to do? Two ethicists weigh in.

The post Killing one owl to save another appeared first on High Country News.

]]> 325298 A Westerner’s guide to the Endangered Species Act https://www.hcn.org/articles/endangered-species-a-westerners-guide-to-the-endangered-species-act/ Mon, 18 Dec 2023 09:00:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/articles/endangered-species-a-westerners-guide-to-the-endangered-species-act/ Deseret milkvetch, a flowering plant found only in central Utah, grows only between 5,400 and 5,600 feet elevation.

What you need to know about the law that’s shaped our region.

The post A Westerner’s guide to the Endangered Species Act appeared first on High Country News.

]]> 321321 The epic history of the Endangered Species Act https://www.hcn.org/issues/55-12/endangered-species-the-epic-history-of-the-endangered-species-act/ Fri, 01 Dec 2023 09:00:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/articles/endangered-species-the-epic-history-of-the-endangered-species-act/

The two-volume ‘Codex of the Endangered Species Act’ takes a long look back — and forward.

The post The epic history of the Endangered Species Act appeared first on High Country News.

]]> 321613 The West is an accumulation of stories https://www.hcn.org/issues/55-6/editors-note-the-west-is-an-accumulation-of-stories/ Thu, 01 Jun 2023 08:00:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/editors-note-the-west-is-an-accumulation-of-stories/

Complex and different to all, the region changes with time and tellings.

The post The West is an accumulation of stories appeared first on High Country News.

]]> 226064 When fire goes feral https://www.hcn.org/issues/55-6/interview-wildfire-when-fire-goes-feral/ Tue, 30 May 2023 08:00:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/interview-wildfire-when-fire-goes-feral/

A conversation with John Vaillant, author of ‘Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World.’

The post When fire goes feral appeared first on High Country News.

]]> 226087 The illusion of discovery https://www.hcn.org/issues/55-5/editors-note-the-illusion-of-discovery/ Mon, 01 May 2023 08:00:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/editors-note-the-illusion-of-discovery/ A mask created by McCarty, photographed in the forests near Neah Bay.

How understanding our past can strengthen our future.

The post The illusion of discovery appeared first on High Country News.

]]> 225999 Finding tools for the future https://www.hcn.org/issues/55-4/editors-note-finding-tools-for-the-future/ Sat, 01 Apr 2023 08:00:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/editors-note-finding-tools-for-the-future/ Richie Diehl, a musher and racer, on a training run near his home in Aniak, Alaska. “In my opinion, I think it’s a pretty supportive region,” Diehl said. “We compete with each other and when we compete with each other, we make each other better.”

Westerners continue to innovate despite adversity.

The post Finding tools for the future appeared first on High Country News.

]]> 225913 Finding stillness in the whirl https://www.hcn.org/issues/55-3/editors-note-finding-stillness-in-the-whirl/ Wed, 01 Mar 2023 09:00:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/2023/03/01/finding-stillness-in-the-whirl/

The West is filled with motion and reflection.

The post Finding stillness in the whirl appeared first on High Country News.

]]> 121804