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High Country News – April 2026: Inside the Attack on Public Lands
In this issue we take a hard look at the on-the-ground impacts of the Trump administration’s slash-and-burn staffing and budget cuts, particularly as they affect the beloved, irreplaceable Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. We also ask what “domestic terrorism” really means and why so many notorious bombers have some connection to the Western U.S. Why is the administration’s pursuit of “energy dominance” — combined with its efforts to weaken the National Environmental Policy Act — happening without consultation with tribal nations? A DNA database created to identify missing migrants has somehow disappeared, leaving distraught family members feeling abandoned. Another story examines how intense wildfires can transform a common component of rocks into a carcinogen. One writer discovers the beauty of the common fly, while another finds a unique trans joy in splitboarding in the Colorado mountains. Maybe it’s time to learn to slow down and say “no” to our crazy modern lifestyles.
Newsletter
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Congratulations to Montana’s onX – The companies with the most innovative corporate social responsibility programs of 2026
When public lands came under threat, onX leveraged its expertise in mapping to pinpoint every single parcel of public land at risk for disposal, which engaged recreationists on both sides of the aisle—ultimately resulting in a massive (and successful) outreach effort.
