Author: The Associated Press

NEW MEXICO Feud over beleaguered Rio Grande nears settlement ALBUQUERQUE – The fight between Texas and New Mexico over the management of one of the longest rivers in North America could be nearing an end as a date to resume the trial has been put off pending negotiations aimed at settling the years-long case before…

WYOMING? Yellowstone accelerates reopening plans YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK – The nation’s oldest national park, hit hard by flooding, has accelerated its reopening plans. Days after flooding forced the park’s closure, Yellowstone said its less-damaged south loop would again allow vehicular entry starting on June 22, albeit at reduced capacity based on the license plate numbers…

MONTANA Floods leave Yellowstone landscape ‘dramatically changed’ RED LODGE – The forces of fire and ice shaped Yellowstone National Park over thousands of years. It took decades longer for humans to tame it enough for tourists to visit, often from the comfort of their cars. In just days, heavy rain and rapid snowmelt caused a…

MONTANA Wildlife agency to consider protecting Yellowstone bison HELENA – A wildlife agency that lost key court rulings over its denial of petitions to protect Yellowstone National Park bison will undertake a comprehensive study over whether the animals should be covered under the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said on June…

OKLAHOMA Governor signs the nation’s strictest abortion ban OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on May 25 signed into law the nation’s strictest abortion ban, making the state the first in the nation to effectively end availability of the procedure. State lawmakers approved the ban enforced by civil lawsuits rather than criminal prosecution, similar…

NEW MEXICO Voting starts to pick GOP challenger for governor SANTA FE – Early voting started on May 10 across New Mexico ahead of the June 7 primary Election Day to determine the Republican nominee for governor and Democratic nominees for attorney general and other statewide offices. Election officials began mailing absentee ballots to local…

UTAH US to hold back Lake Powell water to protect hydropower SALT LAKE CITY – U.S. officials announced what they called extraordinary steps on May 3 to keep hundreds of billions of gallons of water stored in a reservoir on the Utah-Arizona line to prevent it from shrinking more amid prolonged drought and climate change.…

MONTANA Canada lynx protections deal sealed by US, environmentalists BILLINGS – U.S. wildlife officials have agreed to craft a new habitat plan for the snow-loving Canada lynx that could include more land in western states where the rare animals would be protected, according to a legal agreement made public on April 26. The U.S. Fish…