The Robertson Draw Fire south of Red Lodge, Mont. InciWeb hide caption toggle caption InciWeb The Robertson Draw Fire south of Red Lodge, Mont. InciWeb The number of new wildfires in the U.S. so far this year is at a ten-year high, according to federal data, prompting warnings of a long, potentially dangerous summer of fire. One of the biggest areas of concern right now is […]
Kirk Siegler
25 posts
Many residents of Guadalupe County, New Mexico skew older and have pre-existing health conditions. In more rural areas, some depend on poorly ventilated wood stoves for heat. Kirk Siegler/NPR hide caption toggle caption Kirk Siegler/NPR Many residents of Guadalupe County, New Mexico skew older and have pre-existing health conditions. In more rural areas, some depend on poorly ventilated wood stoves for heat. Kirk Siegler/NPR Shoppers and […]
Marissa Lovell had hoped to buy her small Boise, Idaho, rental home until the price shot up by nearly $100,000 amid the coronavirus pandemic. Kirk Siegler/NPR hide caption toggle caption Kirk Siegler/NPR Marissa Lovell had hoped to buy her small Boise, Idaho, rental home until the price shot up by nearly $100,000 amid the coronavirus pandemic. Kirk Siegler/NPR This time last year, amid the pandemic lockdown, […]
The Sunshine Spice Cafe opened in Boise in 2019, one of several Afghan refugee-owned businesses in the area. Kirk Siegler/NPR hide caption toggle caption Kirk Siegler/NPR The Sunshine Spice Cafe opened in Boise in 2019, one of several Afghan refugee-owned businesses in the area. Kirk Siegler/NPR Even amid the global pandemic, Idaho’s unemployment rate has been hovering around 3%. In the capital city, Boise, for-hire signs […]
Deb Haaland, who made history this week by becoming the first indigenous interior secretary, promised to begin repairing a legacy of abuses committed by the federal government toward tribes. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Deb Haaland, who made history this week by becoming the first indigenous interior secretary, promised to begin repairing a legacy of abuses committed by the federal government […]
Molina Richards promised her friend that she wouldn’t let anyone forget her daughter, Waniyetu Rose Loves War, who died in 2019. Kirk Siegler/NPR hide caption toggle caption Kirk Siegler/NPR Molina Richards promised her friend that she wouldn’t let anyone forget her daughter, Waniyetu Rose Loves War, who died in 2019. Kirk Siegler/NPR In the summer of 2019, Molina Richards got a call that made her stomach […]
In Wyoming, public schools such as Pinedale’s middle school, face significant cuts to their budgets due to slumping oil, gas and coal prices. Kirk Siegler/NPR hide caption toggle caption Kirk Siegler/NPR In Wyoming, public schools such as Pinedale’s middle school, face significant cuts to their budgets due to slumping oil, gas and coal prices. Kirk Siegler/NPR Not many American towns the size of Pinedale, population roughly […]
A wildfire raced through Malden, Wash., on Labor Day, 2020. Residents had only a few minutes to evacuate and returned to a largely destroyed town. Kirk Siegler/NPR hide caption toggle caption Kirk Siegler/NPR A wildfire raced through Malden, Wash., on Labor Day, 2020. Residents had only a few minutes to evacuate and returned to a largely destroyed town. Kirk Siegler/NPR In Washington state, federal aid is […]
A sign in the Jonah Field advertises cheap rates at a deserted motel built for oil and gas workers. Kirk Siegler/NPR hide caption toggle caption Kirk Siegler/NPR A sign in the Jonah Field advertises cheap rates at a deserted motel built for oil and gas workers. Kirk Siegler/NPR After 15 years working in western oil patches, Antonio Magana finally struck out on his own, starting a […]
In January 2016, armed militants led by Ammon Bundy, seized the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon in an attempt to control US public lands. Kirk Siegler/NPR hide caption toggle caption Kirk Siegler/NPR In January 2016, armed militants led by Ammon Bundy, seized the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon in an attempt to control US public lands. Kirk Siegler/NPR As the violent mob broke into […]
Gene Bracegirdle was relieved to get his first dose vaccine shot recently in rural Colorado. Matt Bloom/KUNC hide caption toggle caption Matt Bloom/KUNC Gene Bracegirdle was relieved to get his first dose vaccine shot recently in rural Colorado. Matt Bloom/KUNC In the small town of Oak Creek, Colo., — a three-hour drive from Denver assuming the roads are clear — Gene Bracegirdle, a firefighter and EMT-in-training, […]
Tribal leaders on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota say they plan to hold IHS accountable as the first vaccines are set to be delivered to Indian Country. Kirk Siegler/NPR hide caption toggle caption Kirk Siegler/NPR Tribal leaders on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota say they plan to hold IHS accountable as the first vaccines are set to be delivered to Indian Country. Kirk Siegler/NPR […]
After a false rumor circulated that Antifa agitators were coming to Sandpoint and nearby Coeur d’Alene to riot and loot businesses, armed vigilantes and Second Amendment supporters gathered in downtown Coeur d’Alene. This alarmed some of the residents. Kirk Siegler/NPR hide caption toggle caption Kirk Siegler/NPR After a false rumor circulated that Antifa agitators were coming to Sandpoint and nearby Coeur d’Alene to riot and loot […]
U.S. Bureau of Land Management Acting Director William “Perry” Pendley speaks at a conference for journalists in Fort Collins, Colo., last year. Matthew Brown/AP hide caption toggle caption Matthew Brown/AP U.S. Bureau of Land Management Acting Director William “Perry” Pendley speaks at a conference for journalists in Fort Collins, Colo., last year. Matthew Brown/AP The Trump administration says it will comply, for now, with a federal […]
Bureau of Land Management Acting Director William Perry Pendley, speaking at a conference last year. A federal judge has ruled that he isn’t eligible to continue to serve in that office. Matthew Brown/AP hide caption toggle caption Matthew Brown/AP Bureau of Land Management Acting Director William Perry Pendley, speaking at a conference last year. A federal judge has ruled that he isn’t eligible to continue to […]
A home near Iowa, La., was crushed by a snapped tree after Hurricane Laura made landfall with 150 mile-per-hour winds Thursday. The area is facing two disasters at once. Kirk Siegler/NPR hide caption toggle caption Kirk Siegler/NPR A home near Iowa, La., was crushed by a snapped tree after Hurricane Laura made landfall with 150 mile-per-hour winds Thursday. The area is facing two disasters at once. […]
After he refused to stand when asked, anti-government activist Ammon Bundy was wheeled into an elevator in a chair, following his arrest at the Idaho Statehouse in Boise Tuesday. Keith Ridler/AP hide caption toggle caption Keith Ridler/AP After he refused to stand when asked, anti-government activist Ammon Bundy was wheeled into an elevator in a chair, following his arrest at the Idaho Statehouse in Boise Tuesday. […]
The United States Postal Service warned states in late July 2020 that it might not be able to deliver mail-in ballots in time to be counted. Amid a growing outcry from rural leaders, the agency’s director recently backed down from planned broad cuts and changes. Pacific Press/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Ge hide caption toggle caption Pacific Press/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Ge The United States Postal Service warned states […]
President Trump nominated William Perry Pendley in June to lead the Bureau of Land Management, but it has never been clear he had enough support to win confirmation in the Senate. Kirk Siegler/NPR hide caption toggle caption Kirk Siegler/NPR President Trump nominated William Perry Pendley in June to lead the Bureau of Land Management, but it has never been clear he had enough support to win […]
Bureau of Land Management Acting Director William Perry Pendley speaking at a conference for journalists in Fort Collins, Colo., last October. Matthew Brown/AP hide caption toggle caption Matthew Brown/AP Bureau of Land Management Acting Director William Perry Pendley speaking at a conference for journalists in Fort Collins, Colo., last October. Matthew Brown/AP Republicans up for reelection in key western states could be facing an uncomfortable vote […]
A hallway leads to a makeshift isolation ward for COVID-19 patients. Kirk Siegler/NPR hide caption toggle caption Kirk Siegler/NPR A hallway leads to a makeshift isolation ward for COVID-19 patients. Kirk Siegler/NPR In the Idaho mountain town of Grangeville, population 3,200, signs in windows on Main Street advertise that Border Days “is on.” The annual Fourth of July celebration boasts street dances, Idaho’s longest-running rodeo and […]
Gov. Steve Bullock (D-Mont.), left, gets an update on coronavirus testing from councilman Martin Charlo of Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes. Kirk Siegler/NPR hide caption toggle caption Kirk Siegler/NPR Gov. Steve Bullock (D-Mont.), left, gets an update on coronavirus testing from councilman Martin Charlo of Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes. Kirk Siegler/NPR At a free, mass testing site on Montana’s Flathead Reservation, hundreds of people are […]
Cliven Bundy listens to other speakers before giving the keynote address to the state convention of the Independent American Party of Nevada, in February 2018. Scott Sonner/AP hide caption toggle caption Scott Sonner/AP Cliven Bundy listens to other speakers before giving the keynote address to the state convention of the Independent American Party of Nevada, in February 2018. Scott Sonner/AP It’s been more than two years […]
Yellowstone National Park begins a phased reopening Monday, with the park’s Wyoming entrances slated to open for day use only. Kirk Siegler/NPR hide caption toggle caption Kirk Siegler/NPR Yellowstone National Park begins a phased reopening Monday, with the park’s Wyoming entrances slated to open for day use only. Kirk Siegler/NPR Billed as the oldest operating hotel in West Yellowstone, Mont., the Madison is a short hop […]
William Perry Pendley’s temporary appointment at the Burea of Land Management was recently extended for the fifth time since taking over the agency last summer. Kirk Siegler/NPR hide caption toggle caption Kirk Siegler/NPR William Perry Pendley’s temporary appointment at the Burea of Land Management was recently extended for the fifth time since taking over the agency last summer. Kirk Siegler/NPR In a federal lawsuit filed Monday, […]