Rocking K closer to development; smaller-scale project will start contruction within two years

After nearly a quarter-century of planning and controversy, the huge Rocking K development next to Saguaro National Park East should be ready to start construction within two years, the project's chief says.

Saguaro National Park has plans to expand, and willing sellers may make it happen

The latest of several bills to expand Saguaro National Park has a new ally who supporters say should increase its chances of passage - the Tucson area's most prominent and politically potent developer.

Pipe inadequate for 2 hookups to CAP, city says

An existing pipeline at a Sahuarita-area groundwater recharge project isn't nearly big enough to carry all the Colorado River water that two other parties say they want to put into two proposed connecting pipelines, Tucson officials said Tuesday.

Conflicting CAP stance on 2 projects

Central Arizona Project officials and board members are giving conflicting accounts of how they will decide which applicant they will allow to tie into an existing CAP pipeline near Sahuarita.

Will Tucson choose pipeline to take water to Rosemont Mine or Sahuarita pecan groves?

A long-running dispute over two proposed Central Arizona Project pipelines to Green Valley comes to a head Tuesday.

Study: Temperatures keep going up

The Southwest's average daily temperatures in 2001 to 2010 were the region's highest for any decade since 1900, says a new report coordinated by University of Arizona researchers.

Pima County air quality rated "unhealthy"

For the third time in a month, Pima County's air crossed the line Friday into the unhealthy realm because of windblown dust.

Tucson air quality at unhealthful levels due to wind

Pima County’s air quality has reached unhealthful levels, thanks to high winds and blowing dust.

Report: Warming threatens Southwest's power grid

The Southwest's power grid could become more vulnerable to climate change over the coming decades, says a new report led by University of Arizona researchers.

Record dust levels of April 8-9 came from California

Once again, Southern California has blazed a trail for Arizona - this time, a dusty trail.

Copper remains strong part of Ariz. economy

Salaries in Arizona's mines are more than twice those for the average job, says a new mining industry-financed report.

Star 200: Southern Arizona's big companies finding it hard to fill skilled jobs at Arizona mines

A second straight year of dropping copper prices has done little to slake Southern Arizona's two biggest mining employers' thirst for new workers.

New report shows how well Arizona's mines pay

Salaries in Arizona’s mines are more than twice those for the average job, says a new mining industry-financed report.

Ozone a concern for local air quality

Pima County's air quality gets an "A" for particle pollution but a "C" for ozone, the American Lung Association says in a new report.

Dust storm put Pima County over EPA air-quality limit

High winds that sent huge dust clouds swirling last week caused Pima County to exceed federal air-quality standards for the first time in nearly four years, county officials said.

Colo. River tops list of endangered waterways

The Colorado River, the Southwest's troubled lifeblood, tops an environmental group's endangered-rivers list for the third time in 23 years.

Another low-runoff year may herald CAP shortage

Another year of very low precipitation and snowpack in the Rocky Mountains has spurred another year of low runoff on the Colorado River - the 10th such year out of the past 14.

Tucson's historic Manning House gets foreclosure reprieve

At 106 years old, downtown's Manning House remains as showy, stately and historic as ever.

House was just one part of Manning's grand reach

Clare Schnaufer, now 85, lived in the Manning House for 18 years and was married there in 1948.

Audit raises red flag on Rosemont's parent firm

An auditor for Rosemont Copper's parent company has put up what outside experts call a red flag indicating significant financial issues that could jeopardize the company's future.

Auditor raises red flag about Rosemont's parent company

An auditor for Rosemont Copper’s parent company has put up what outside experts call a red flag indicating significant financial issues that could jeopardize the company’s future.

Arizona is new frontier in search for vital 'rare earth' elements

A growing global concern about supplies of "rare earth" elements for computers, hybrid cars and other staples of everyday life has sparked exploration in Arizona and across the Southwest.

Big pollution risk seen in rare-earth mining

Pulling rare-earth elements from deep underground carries the potential for big financial rewards - and big environmental risks.

L.A. to go coal-free; will ditch Navajo plant's power

Los Angeles officials said Tuesday they would stop buying power from the coal-fired Navajo Generating Station in northern Arizona by 2015, and replace its other source of coal-fired power, a Utah plant, by 2025. Bloomberg News reported that this move, which has been expected for some time, m…

A Q&A with jaguar advocate -- and jag critical habitat opponent -- Alan Rabinowitz

 “You don’t know how frustrated I am,” says Alan Rabinowitz, the world-renowned jaguar biologist and protector who opposes U.S. government designation of jaguar critical habitat in Southern Arizona. “I don’t like being on side of people fighting wildliands and wild spaces.

Quirk in water law allows SV project to move ahead

When deciding if a development should be blocked, Arizona water regulators lack the power to consider whether groundwater pumping for the project could lower the neighboring San Pedro River.

Appeal: Air-quality OK for mine flawed

Rosemont Mine opponents claim in an appeal that Arizona's environmental agency approved an air quality permit for an outdated mine plan and overlooked the likelihood of air quality violations.

City's artificial lakes are magnets for birds

On a sunny, cool morning recently on Tucson's far northeast side, a Say's phoebe, complete with a light-orange breast and a gray back, stood atop an orange metal fence.

Grijalva to be feted by national parks group

Al Jazeera reports on the Rosemont issue

Another outside media outlet looks into the Rosemont mine debate, this time Al Jazeera. The Qatar-based TV network ran a two-plus minute spot on the controversy, with two opponents quoted, including the Center for Biological Diversity, and Rosemont Copper CEO and President Rod Pace speaking …

Arizona mineral potential improves, says annual mining company survey

Lee Allison's Arizona Geology blog recently reported that the latest annual survey from the Fraser Institute showed that Arizona rose from 31st to 15th in "current mineral potential," out of 96 various government jurisdictions internationally.

Trekker: Sonorans are "open-minded" about conservation

For nearly five weeks, environmental activist John Davis walked and swam in rivers, rode bicycles in the desert and hiked and rode horseback in the mountains, all in northern Mexico.

Target shooting banned at Ironwood Forest Monument

Recreational target shooting is now illegal at Ironwood Forest National Monument, following years of controversy about the practice.

San Manuel area may get new underground mine

Another new, major Southern Arizona copper mine is in the planning stages near San Manuel, where copper was mined for many decades.

Toxic ash from Arizona power plants called a potential groundwater hazard

The water table beneath three Arizona coal ash landfills lies 300 to 900 feet deep. The ground is tightly packed clay. The sites lie miles from populated areas.

Toxic releases by Arizona mines increasing

Activity at Arizona's mines is surging, and so is the release of toxic materials.

Early cold snap locked in a January of extremes

A chilly first half of January outmatched a much warmer second half in Tucson, leading to temperatures that averaged well below normal for the entire month.

Major jaguar biologist opposes plan

A wildlife biologist at the forefront of global jaguar conservation is one of the most outspoken critics of a federal proposal for critical habitat for the jaguar.

Man's body found near Ryan Airfield

The body of a man was discovered late Friday afternoon on the far southwest side, authorities said.

Snow possible Saturday in Tucson area foothills

It won’t be like New York or Boston, but the Foothills of Tucson and the higher, surrounding deserts and mountains are due for some snow Saturday.

Man's body found in desert near Tucson

The body of a man was discovered late Friday afternoon on the far southwest side, authorities said.

Cutting air pollution will cost CAP users

An expensive upgrade to slash air pollution from a power plant would boost Central Arizona Project water costs nearly 12 percent for Tucson and other major Arizona cities, the CAP says.

Rosemont gets key air permit from state

Rosemont Copper now has one of the most hotly contested permits - although not the last needed - for it to operate a mine southeast of Tucson.

One man's trek for wildlife

 Starting at 7 a.m. Tuesday, conservationist John Davis is scheduled to be on horseback in eastern Sonora. He'll be starting a trek across the Sierra Madre, the Sky Islands and the Rocky Mountains in the name of protecting wildlife corridors.

Mining marriage now on the rocks

It seemed like the start of a beautiful friendship last summer, when a Tucson-based mining company and an Alaska native company signed an agreement for explaratory drilling at a huge copper and gold site.

Tucson mining company, Alaska firm trade accusations

It seemed like the start of a beautiful friendship last summer, when a Tucson-based mining company and an Alaska Native company signed an agreement for explaratory drilling at a huge copper and gold site.

Report: Climate to stress crops

Agriculture, a $9 billion industry in Arizona, is vulnerable to the increased heat and drought that's likely to accompany continued climate change, said a new federally commissioned report.

'63 jaguar killing echoes today in habitat debate

LAKESIDE

Website ranks area high for job-seekers

Tucson, whose economic reputation has been something less than stellar in recent years, just bagged a new statistical if not financial boost: a report saying we're the second-best city in the country in which to find a job.

More likely moved out than into AZ in recent years

A sagging economy and a lousy housing market have made leaving Arizona more popular than moving to it in recent years, a leading moving company's statistics show.