Stories - AZPM

The Salt River Canyon Bridge in central Arizona.

Algae Levels Down, Lakes Cleared for Fishing

Tournaments can resume at the Salt River reservoirs.

The start of David Yetman West Trail, near Gates Pass.

Love the Outdoors? There's a Way to Help Others Enjoy It

Pima County is looking for volunteer 'trail stewards' to assist with safety, accessibility.

A lone saguaro silhouetted against the sunset on Tumamoc Hill.

UA Increasing Access to Tumamoc Hill

Change likely to bring more hikers, but also protect environment.

DeAnna Bublitz finds plenty of cicadas on the University of Arizona's mesquite trees.

Summer's Insects Draw Scientists to Southern Arizona

Hot and humid weather is optimal for exploring the outdoors.

Petroglyphs at Cocoraque Butte in the Ironwood Forest National Monument.

The Future of a Link to the Past

Also on Arizona Spotlight: Local hip hop dance team scores at national contest; Pink Martini brings swanky sounds to Tucson; "Love Letters to the Library" returns; and a profile of an Arizonan who fought in the Vietnam War.

A Harris's Hawk perches on a saguaro cactus in Ironwood Forest National Monument, with Ragged Top Peak in the distance.

Exploring Ironwood Forest, Its Future Unclear

Visiting the national monument to understand the debate, and what's at stake.

White-throated woodrat - (Neotoma albigula)

Pack Rats for Dinner, Anyone?

New cookbook encourages people to try out the rodent as a food source.

The Catalina Mountains are dusted with snow in the background of this desert photo.

Forest Service Seeks Input on Arizona Trail

The agency is creating a comprehensive plan for the future of the 800-mile trail.

Water Managers: 'Zero' Chance of Colorado River Water Shortage Next Year

Federal officials say water levels in Lake Mead are not as low as they worried.

The Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium (left) and the Kuiper Space Sciences Building (right) on the University of Arizona campus.

UA Opens Science Classes to the Community

The school is offering reduced tuition to attend lectures in many subjects.

Dense trees grow in a forest in northeastern Arizona.

Carbon Capture from Trees? It's All Downhill From Here, Study Says

UA research shows tall valley trees absorb more carbon from the atmosphere than trees on peaks.

Navajo uranium miners dump tailings over the side of a mesa in a photo dated 1952.

Two At A Time: Cleanup Of Navajo Uranium Mines Slow

Incidence of kidney failure and cancer, linked to uranium contamination, increased; tribe has banned any mining activity.

George Gunter (left) and Rahul Bhadani (right) show the data from a more advanced sensor attached to the roof of the "cognitive and autonomous test vehicle." The goal of their project was to get similarly accurate data with a sensor that records less data.

Learning to Program a Driverless Car at the UA

A 10-week summer course meant to encourage students to continue studies in research-based graduate programs.

Scientists Look for Impact of Pollution from Pills in Wastewater

Difficult to filter, chemicals from drugs and personal-care products are of 'emerging concern' in waterways like the Santa Cruz River.

Edward Abbey's Southwest

Also on Arizona Spotlight: The latest on the sewage pipe break in Nogales; and a UA project to return lost dog tags from the Vietnam War unites two generations of veterans.

Tohono O'odham Nation Vice Chair Verlon Jose spoke Aug. 2 about the obligation to protect national monuments like Ironwood Forest, which he says provide education that can't be found "in a classroom."

Groups Defend Ironwood Forest National Monument Status

Advocates say they 'won't go down without a fight' to keep the protected status of the site.

More Environment Stories