Mountain West News Bureau

Before most residents have acclimated to the heat or set up home cooling systems, temperatures are rising to unseasonably high levels. New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah are among 14 western states, expecting record-breaking heat this weekend.

Statehouses across the West are considering reforms to respond to the homeowners insurance crisis. While some are hitting headwinds, concern about the issue isn’t going away.

Salt lakes in the American West are shrinking — from Utah’s Great Salt Lake to smaller lakes scattered across the Great Basin. In her new book “Salt Lakes: An Unnatural History,” writer Caroline Tracey explores why these unusual landscapes matter, and what their decline reveals about humans’ impact on the environment.

Using a massive data set detailing some 70 million policies, researchers have found that “credit scores impact homeowners insurance premiums as much as disaster risk.”

The National Park Service recorded 323 million visits in 2025 at parks, historic sites, monuments and recreation areas, about a 3% decline from 2024’s all-time high.

The city used to auction off surplus animals to ranchers. But six years ago, it started donating them to tribes instead. More than 170 animals have been gifted so far.

In its latest quarterly earnings report, Vail Resorts said North America skier visits were down roughly 12% through the beginning of March compared to last year, and revenue fell about 5% for the quarter.

Cardiac activity can be detected with a transvaginal ultrasound at about six weeks. A group of abortion access advocates say they'll ask a court to block the ban.

States across the Mountain West added record amounts of wind and solar power in 2024. Now, a new industry report shows the region is also becoming a national leader in battery storage.

Study finds link between wildfire smoke exposure and depression