Stories - AZPM

Packrat Time Machine

To many, packrats are a nuisance. But to the scientists that study them, they are a key to the past.

President of the Patagonia Area Resource Alliance (PARA), Carolyn Shafer, stands in one of her favorite places along Harshaw Creek in Patagonia, Arizona. Shafer has lived in the community for about 26 years.

Permitting timetable published for Southern Arizona critical minerals mine

The South32 Hermosa project is located in the Patagonia Mountains

The Buzz: Tracing the Colorado River’s problems back for more than a hundred years

This week, we preview Thirst Gap, a new podcast from the team at NPR member station KUNC.

A view from Coconino Overlook at the north rim of the Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon gets $27.5 million federal grant for greener shuttle buses

The replacement project includes 30 new buses — 20 that run on compressed natural gas and 10 electric buses.

AZ Project WET program coordinator, Josh Ruddick instructs educators like JoAnna McCormick, how to conduct percolator tests or, testing water absorption rates as part of the hands-on activities of Southwest Urban Corridor Integrated Field Laboratory's summer teacher workshop. Teachers from throughout the greater Tucson area have gathered for this two-day workshop, to participate in hands-on activities and develop climate-change centric curriculum.

UA workshop deepens local educators' knowledge of the impact of climate change in Arizona

Relevant data will be used to develop relevant curriculum for students

The stretch of the Verde River that goes through Clarkdale ends near the Tuzigoot Road Bridge.

The Buzz takes a trip down the Verde River

We're revisiting this episode after it and another The Buzz episode were honored by PMJA

"The Neotenic Queen" explores the secrets of desert wildlife, both flora and fauna.

Also on Arizona Spotlight: How the youth group Studio Mariposa is beautifying the border wall; and an uplifting tale of love & survival from "Children of the Holocaust."

Bear that fatally attacked man at Arizona campsite didn't have rabies

The bear acted in what appeared to be an unprovoked predatory attack, Game and Fish officials said.

A view of the Colorado River near the Silver Bridge on the Bright Angel Trail in Grand Canyon National Park. From November 2022.

Tucson releases draft water plan

The city is now asking for the public to provide feedback on the draft plan.

Environmental groups file lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service

The agency authorized two mineral exploration projects in the Patagonia Mountains.

Forest Service vehicles in Tucson with smoke from the Ventana Fire in the background. June 20, 2023

Fire near Ventana Canyon

The fire started in the Catalina Mountains in the early morning hours of Tuesday.

Dense trees grow in a forest in northeastern Arizona.

Man dies in bear attack at Arizona campsite

The Tucson man was attacked in Yavapai County.

Why water well goes dry

Pima County is helping with a solution.

This June 7, 2023, photo provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows a female Mexican gray wolf before she is released back into the wilds of Apache National Forest in eastern Arizona. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said the wolf had been found wandering in New Mexico outside a zone created for the recovery of her subspecies.

Female Mexican gray wolf released into wild in Arizona in move to help wolf's recovery

The wolf was headed north into the southern Rocky Mountains of New Mexico in January when the wildlife service captured her outside the recovery area.

Monsoon madness forecast game returns

Online prognosticators invited to guess rainfall totals in Tucson and other regional cities.

Fresh snow blankets the Catalina Mountains. From February 2021.

Ponderosa Pine at risk due to megadrought

New research shows that the species is facing higher mortality rates due to the drought.

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