1. Kids
  2. Environment

More Environment Stories

Screenshot of EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin signing a proposal to approve Arizona's request to oversee Safe Drinking Water Act permiting for underground injection wells on Thursday, May 15, 2025. U.S. Congressmen Andy Biggs, Juan Ciscomani and Paul Gosar were in attendance.

EPA backs Arizona’s bid to regulate underground injection wells.

Shift praised by lawmakers as a step towards control and streamlined permitting during a signing ceremony today.
Researchers have found two important building blocks of human speech in wild chimpanzees, one of our closest relatives.

Chimps' rhythmic drumming and complex calls hint at origins of human language

A team of researchers recorded thousands of vocalizations made by wild chimpanzees in the Taï National Park in Ivory Coast.
The New World screwworm is endemic in parts of Latin America and the Caribbean — and its northward spread into Mexico has alarmed U.S. officials.

U.S. halts cattle imports from Mexico, citing fears of flesh-eating maggot

The new ban will continue on a "month-by-month basis, until a significant window of containment is achieved," said the USDA
A scene from the Oak Flat campground, a site sacred to Apache peoples and the epicenter of lawsuits trying to block the development of a large copper mine.

Federal judge pauses Oak Flat land swap until a SCOTUS decision

The ruling comes two days after arguments were heard.
Water sits low behind Glen Canyon Dam near Page, Arizona on November 2, 2022. Low water levels in Lake Powell could jeopardize the dam's ability to produce hydropower or pass water downstream.

A dry winter on the Colorado River has big reservoirs on track for trouble

The mountains that feed the Colorado River with snowmelt are strikingly dry
Protests against the Resolution Copper mine near Oak Flat have been going for years, as shown in this 2015 file photo from a rally at the Capitol.

Apache Stronghold asks court to temporarily halt Oak Flat land swap

Apache Stronghold seeks to halt a land swap at Oak Flat, a sacred Apache site, as the court weighs religious rights and mining plans ahead of a possible SCOTUS review.
Andrea Gallegos, one of the first female mariachi director in the Southwest.

The Master - Apprentice program preserves not only mariachi, but women in mariachi.

Also on Arizona Spotlight: Sound Fiction returns with James Mustard's "Homestead on Bellatrix Prime"; celebrating the return of the Elegant Trogon to Madera Canyon; and "A Book I Love" from Cyclovia Tucson 2025.
A billboard calls out reduced visitor hours at Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Ariz., on Monday, May 5, 2025. The billboard is off of I-10 and 6th Ave., and part of a nationwide campaign sponsored by More Perfect Union, drawing attention to how federal cuts made by DOGE, have impacted the National Park Service. There are four billboards in Tucson and six in Phoenix.

Billboards in Tucson and Phoenix call out cuts made to Saguaro National Park

A national campaign blames Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency for reduced services at 40 national parks.

One Tree at a Time

Planting roots today for a cooler, healthier, and more beautiful Tucson tomorrow.
Stronghold Fire with crew buggies in the foreground.

Over 2,000 acre wildfire in Cochise County at 22% containment

The fire started on Monday. The cause is still unknown.

Desert Plants – Beebrush

Sonoran Desert native beebrush has flowers with a sweet aroma, no thorns, and is easy to grow.

Free Bird

The Raptor Free Flight Program at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum allows guests to see birds of prey in a spectacular fashion.

Lessons From Lockdown: How COVID Changed Our Relationship To Nature

Soon after the COVID lockdowns, news stories emerged about wild animals roaming city streets. This period has provided useful data about animal behavior.
The stretch of the Verde River that goes through Clarkdale ends near the Tuzigoot Road Bridge.

The Buzz revisits our trip down the Verde River

As the show prepares to take a break, we listen back to our favorite episode.
This is the first confirmed live observation of the colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, in its natural habitat. The team on Schmidt Ocean Institute's Research Vessel Falkor captured footage of the nearly one foot squid at a depth of 1,968 feet, using their remotely operated vehicle "SuBastian" on March 9, during an Ocean Census flagship expedition searching for new marine life.

A colossal squid is filmed in its natural habitat for the first time

Colossal squid are known to be elusive and likely avoid the bright and loud research equipment used underwater.
Border barriers in the Sierra Vista District of the Coronado National Forest on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. Emily Burns, program director for the Sky Island Alliance says the state government opted not to place shipping containers in this specific area.

Environmental group says government shared plan for border barrier in critical wildlife passage

They say the area is the last unwalled major biodiversity hotspot in the border region.

Selected Archive Filters

Environment
Back to Top
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona