Cultural Resources / Public News Service

Parcels of land downstream of Ruybal Fox Creek Ranch have been subdivided into 35- to 50-acre large-lot tracts. (Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust)

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Preserving Cultural, Environmental Legacy in Southern Colorado

Ruybal Fox Creek Ranch sits in a dramatic canyon in the foothills of southern Colorado's San Juan Mountains, right next to the Rio Grande National …

Fossil research suggests the oldest chile pepper specimen may be from the Southwest, and not South America as originally believed. (R. Deanna/University of Colorado)

NM Chile Peppers Likely Millions of Years Older Than Previously Thought

New research shows ancient chili peppers were likely growing in Southwestern states like New Mexico millions of years earlier than previously thought…

Oil and gas leasing are currently allowed on 90% of publicly-owned lands managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. (Adobe Stock)

BLM Seeks Coloradans' Input on New Public-Lands Rule Aiming for Balance

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is holding a public hearing today in Denver on its new rule, which aims to put conservation, protection of …

A lack of social connections can increase the risk of premature death by more than 60%. (DREIDREIEINS Foto/Adobe Stock)

Mental, Heart Health Could Be Directly Connected

It's mental health awareness month and mental well-being is connected to a person's overall health, including heart health. Dr. Jennifer Shalz is …

Miigwech Inc. represents 12 federally recognized tribes. (Philip Hutchinson/Northern Territory Photography)

Our Vote as Our Voice: Rocking the Native Vote in Michigan

With elections on the horizon, Indigenous groups in Michigan are educating native communities about how they can make their voices heard to make …

Robert Fisher of Adel, Iowa, prevailed in his efforts to have an electronic button installed to operate the door at the local U.S. Post Office. (Robert Fisher/Iowa Council on Developmental Disabilities)

One Person's Battle Against the Post Office Prevails

A man in Adel who is part of Iowa's community of people with disabilities has been successful in having an electronic door installed at the U.S…

According to GreenLatinos, Hispanics and Latinos are twice as likely to depend on public transit for transportation, but current public transit lines don't ensure access to outdoor recreational spaces. (Andy Dean/Adobe Stock)

Group Pushes to 'Take Back Cinco de Mayo'

A national group says it wants to reclaim the significance of Cinco de Mayo, the anniversary of Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire at the …

Tours of the mid-century modern M Building, renovated by Diane McGinley and her husband in downtown Casper, is just one of this year's many sites to be celebrated during Preservation Month, which was started by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1973. (Diane McGinley)

M Building Kicks Off WY Historic Preservation Month

The Alliance for Historic Wyoming is putting a spotlight on the people responsible for preserving places during Preservation Month, which kicks off …

According to the American Library Association, a record 2,571 unique titles were targeted for censorship in 2022, a 38% increase over the previous year. (Adobe Stock)

Amid Censorship Craze, Library Campaign Aims to Turn the Page

Public libraries are known for their quiet settings. But during National Library Week, staff leaders in Minnesota and elsewhere are being vocal about …

According to the Topaz Museum, the U.S. government and army removed an estimated 120,000 men, women and children of Japanese ancestry from their West Coast homes and forced them into remote camps during World War II. (Wikimedia Commons)

UT Ceremonies Keep WWII Japanese American Experience Alive

Japanese Americans gather this weekend for memorial events at the World War II Topaz internment camp in Delta, and in Salt Lake City, to mark the 80…

The Tri-Faith Center, the last building to be completed on the Tri-Faith Commons is shown near 132nd and Pacific Streets in Omaha. More than 6,600 people worshiped at one of its three faith communities in 2022. (Photo courtesy of Tri-Faith Initiative)

From Conversation to a One-of-a-Kind Community in Omaha

Omaha's Tri-Faith Initiative, the only faith community of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, started with a conversation and is now the worship home …

With Democratic majorities this session, supporters of updating the Minnesota state flag are hopeful the effort will clear all legislative hurdles. (Adobe Stock)

MN State Flag on Track for Redesign

In recent years, the Minnesota state flag has come under scrutiny for its depiction of Native Americans, and now, a Legislative proposal would set up …

From 2008 to 2021, Maine saw a sharp decline in the number of licensed child care providers operating in the state, with Lincoln County alone experiencing a 61% decrease. (Adobe Stock)

Training Underway to Eliminate 'Child Care Deserts' in Maine

A community-development nonprofit is helping to counter the sharp decline in child care providers in Maine by offering the training needed to start an…

While more than 3,500 people have been awarded the Medal of Honor since it was created by President Abraham Lincoln, only 65 of them are alive today. (The White House)

Plans Advance for Medal of Honor Museum, Monument

While National Medal of Honor Month is ending, plans to develop a museum and monument for the award are continuing. Numerous Medal of Honor …

3,514 men and one woman have won the Medal of Honor in service of their country from the Civil War to the present day. 19 have won it twice. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Plans for National Medal of Honor Monument Progress in Washington, D.C.

Congress is moving forward with plans to build a National Medal of Honor Monument in Washington, D.C. - honoring the 3,600 Americans who have earned …

In 2021, Congress unanimously approved - and President Joe Biden signed into law - legislation authorizing the creation of the National Medal of Honor Monument. (National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation Staff)

Survivors Call for Monument in Honor of Fallen Heroes

Robert Patterson received his Medal of Honor in 1969 for risking his life above and beyond the call of duty during the Vietnam War. He's among the 65 …

Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Pat Brady speaks at a reception this week for the 160th anniversary of the award in Washington, D.C. (Medal of Honor Museum Foundation staff)

Progress on Museum and Monument as Medal of Honor Turns 160

On this week 160 years ago, President Abraham Lincoln presented the first Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for bravery and …

The proposed National Medal of Honor Museum will also include a Leadership Institute to allow Americans to reflect on the Medal's values and the impact of all U.S. military servicemembers. (Hannah Foslien/Wikimedia Commons)

Monument, Museum for Medal of Honor Move Forward

March marks 160 years since the creation of the Medal of Honor by President Abraham Lincoln. Numerous Medal of Honor awardees have been in Washington…

Fear of death is a core human motivator, according to a theory developed by Ernest Becker. (Takver/Adobe Stock)

Ideas in 'The Denial of Death' Still Alive, 50 Years Later

An influential work of sociology turned 50 this year. "The Denial of Death" by Ernest Becker won the Pulitzer Prize and continues to have a lasting …

Army Col. Paris D. Davis received the Medal of Honor at the White House in March. (Bernardo Fuller/Wikimedia Commons)

Medal of Honor Recipients in DC as Museum, Monument Move Forward

This month marks 160 years since the first Medal of Honor was awarded by President Abraham Lincoln. More than a dozen of the 65 recipients alive …

According to a 2022 report from the American Library Association, 80% of parents have confidence in librarians to make good decisions about the books they make available in their collections. (Adobe Stock)

NY Libraries Grapple With Increase in Book Challenges

As National Reading Month ends soon, libraries across New York and the nation are dealing with the increasing number of book challenges. New data …

Wildfire experts plan to use unmanned drones to help improve early detection, battle fires more effectively, and to reseed and restore scarred forests. (Windsong/Adobe Stock)

Report Charts a Course for Mitigating Wildfire Risk

As wildfire seasons in Colorado and across the American West become longer, less predictable and increasingly destructive, a new report aims to …

During the White House Conservation Summit, President Joe Biden designated Avi Kwa Ame a national monument. (photo courtesy of Will Pregman)

President Biden Declares Avi Kwa Ame National Monument

President Joe Biden has designated Avi Kwa Ame, known by some as Spirit Mountain, a national monument. The designation preserves about half a million …

Hip Hop Higher Ed Symposium programming brings hip-hop culture and scholarship to North Carolina college students. (Stephanie Reed)<br />

Symposium Brings Hip Hop Culture, Scholarship to NC Campuses

An upcoming event in Raleigh hosted in part by William Peace University aims to bring hip-hop arts culture to North Carolina's college students…

Tacoma Art Museum workers have held multiple rallies calling for recognition of their union. (Washington Federation of State Employees)

Tacoma Art Museum Workers Persistent in Calls for Union Recognition

Tacoma Art Museum workers are rallying Thursday outside the museum while the Board of Trustees meets, to call for recognition of their union from the …

Some of the art to be featured at the Regenerative Gala was produced on upcycled canvas. Here we see a detail from the painting,

Regenerative Gala to Spotlight Ethical Consumerism

To kick off Earth Month in April, a Bay Area event called the Regenerative Gala will promote the concepts of ethical consumerism and fashion and art …

Irresponsible target shooting, littering and off-highway vehicles are among the human factors causing damage to heritage assets. (Adobe Stock)

New Map Outlines Reasons for Protecting Great Bend of Gila

Conservation groups have added an interactive story map to their toolkit as they continue to push for permanent protections for the Great Bend of the …

Visitors to New Mexico's Gila Wilderness have reported that stray or feral cattle, grazing there since the 1970s, have become aggressive, with no fear of people and also protective of their young and food sources. (Robin Silver/Center for Biological Diversity)

Aerial Shooting of Feral Cattle Closes NM's Gila Wilderness Area

A helicopter will be used starting tomorrow to fly over a portion of the Gila Wilderness in southwestern New Mexico, searching for feral cattle to …

The Colorado River, which once flowed to the sea in Mexico, has been chronically overused, and combined with climate change, the river system now is in crisis as reservoirs dry up. (John/AdobeStock)

Poll: Westerners Remain Strongly Supportive of Conservation Issues

Climate change, pollution, effects from oil and gas drilling and a strong concern for protecting drinking water are just some of the issues New …

A new conservation easement overlooking the Animas River protects natural habitat for wildlife ranging from swift fox, bear and mountain lion to elk and deer. (Linda Lidov)

Conservation as a Tool for Strengthening Business

A few miles south of Durango on a parcel of Florida Mesa land overlooking the Animas River, a landowner is using an increasingly popular land …

Currently, New Mexico is one of the few Western states without a dedicated land and water conservation funding. (Don/AdobeStock)

NM Legislature Considers Dedicated Funding for Land, Water Conservation

As New Mexico recovers from its worst wildfire in history, lawmakers are considering a proposal to create the "Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund" to …

As part of the National Day of Racial Healing, a 14-part digital series debuts. Produced by NBC News and sponsored by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, <a href=

"Changing the Narrative"explores advancing racial equity though racial healing. (Adobe Stock) ">

NY Celebrates National Day of Racial Healing

Today is National Day of Racial Healing, which aims to encourage more dialogue about race and racism. Events commemorating the day in New York …

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation will host its seventh annual National Day of Racial Healing on Tuesday. (Adobe Stock)

AZ Events Highlight National Day of Racial Healing

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a day in which many across the country celebrate the revolutionary words and thoughts of the civil rights …

Resolutions that focus on helping others can help people be less materialistic. (ricka_kinamoto/Adobe Stock)

How New Year's Resolutions Can Help Combat Consumerism, Death Anxiety

The beginning of a new year is a time for resolutions, offering people a chance to assess their own values and priorities. Some might wish to cut …

The conservation group Keep it Colorado has awarded $197,000 in grants to protect 8,512 acres of lands, including 2,500 acres adjacent to Mesa Verde National Park, that would otherwise be at imminent risk of being sold, subdivided or converted to other uses. (Adobe Stock)

New Grants to Help Preserve Iconic Mesa Verde Viewshed

A new grant is expected to help close the deal to protect key parcels of historic ranchlands and wildlife habitat adjacent to Mesa Verde National Park…

Evanston�s Historic Roundhouse and Railyards, constructed by Union Pacific Railroad in 1912-1914, was refurbished by the city in 2009 as a public facility. (Mary Humstone)

Historic Restoration Called More Sustainable Than New Construction

A changing climate is prompting many developers to consider how their work can be more sustainable, and how they can produce housing, retail and …

The name Shelterwood is intended to reference the larger trees sheltering the rest of the forest, and the collective providing a safe place for the BIPOC and queer communities. (Shelterwood)

Healing the Land and Themselves

By Michaela Haas for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Yes! Media-Public News Service …

Researchers followed all 26 elk herds that call the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem home, tapping data from 1,088 GPS-collared elk. (Adobe Stock)

Third of Yellowstone Elk Habitat Not Protected from Development

More than a third of all known elk habitat in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem remains wide-open for human development, according to new analysis …

An estimated 52% of immigrant-owned businesses were started by people using their personal savings, according to the Immigration Research Library. (Adobe Stock)

A Taste of Home: How Ethnic Grocery Stores Create Community

Michelle Chen wrote the original version of this story for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for California News Service reporting for …

Following defacement of New Mexico's centuries-old La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs in January, momentum is growing for permanent protections for Caja del Rio. (sfnfsitestewards.org)

Permanent Protections Sought for NM's Caja del Rio

New Mexico is home to more world heritage sites than any other state, but also a smaller site outside Santa Fe that indigenous leaders and …

Book bans occurred in 138 school districts in 32 states between 2021 and the middle of 2022. These districts represent 5,049 schools with a combined enrollment of nearly 4 million students, according to PEN America. (Adobe Stock)

Librarians Lament Censorship in MO

In what the American Library Association has called an unprecedented year of censorship, libraries in Missouri are fighting a rule proposed by the …

Harvard's Peabody Museum has posted an apology on its website for what it calls

Harvard’s 'Hair Collection' Triggers Demand for Legislative Action

Indigenous activists in the Commonwealth are calling on state lawmakers to pass legislation to strengthen protections for Native American remains…

Makerspaces allow Native American youths, communities and teachers to engage with culturally connected making activities using high- and low-tech materials, leveraging existing indigenous technologies and craft practices. (Adobe Stock)

Native American Makerspace Coming Soon to Macy and Santee

The Center for Rural Affairs is launching collaborative work spaces on Nebraska Indian Community College campuses in Macy and Santee for making…

Advocates say the creation of a new national monument at Spirit Mountain would be a boon to the outdoor economy in Southern Nevada. (Kirk Peterson)

Feds to Hold Public Meeting Today on Proposed National Monument

The proposed national monument to be called Avi Kwa Ame is getting a big boost today as the top leaders of the Bureau of Land Management hold a public…

A 2022 study from the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs finds suicide rates decreased for veterans in 2020 compared to 2019. However, it still ranked as the second-leading cause of death for veterans under age 45. (Adobe Stock)

NY Outdoor RX Coalition Aids Veterans' Mental Health

New York State's Outdoor RX Coalition is launching a website to spread the word about its services. Established in late 2020, the coalition is a …

As buffalo herds graze, they inspire new vegetative growth across vast tracts of lands in a natural process that mimics the onset of spring. (Adobe Stock)

Buffalo Restoration Key to Wildlife Economy, Tribal Health

By Jake Bullinger for Bitterroot Magazine.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Wyoming News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Pu…

Despite its name, the Day of the Dead or 'Dia De Los Muertos,' is a celebration of life, not death. (Unidad Latina en Accion)

CT Group Hosts Day of the Dead Celebration

Although the official holiday passed earlier this week, a "Day of the Dead" celebration is being held this Saturday in New Haven. The 12th annual …

In 2021, volunteers drove or flew 42 injured raptors 9,583 miles and donated more than 165 hours of their personal time to help wild birds rehabilitate. (Adobe Stock)

Teton Raptor Center Nears Historic Restoration Goal

The Teton Raptor Center was recently awarded a $10,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to help the site become a year-round de…

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