Arizona

A spiral petroglyph adorns a rock in the desert of Arizona.

Indigenous Resilience Center Launched at the University of Arizona

The University of Arizona will leverage traditional STEM education to partner with local indigenous tribes to find and implement culturally appropriate solutions to the challenges of climate change and other environmental risks.

September 15, 2021 - University of Arizona

Back to School September 2020

Biden Administration Targets Five States that Ban School Mask Mandates

President Biden asked his education secretary to see what could be done about states that prohibit school districts from enacting CDC public health recommendations. Miguel Cardona responded by empowering his Office of Civil Rights to investigate.

September 7, 2021 - The New York Times

An image of a sign asking people to wear masks during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Louisiana's Health Care System on Brink of Collapse

We've been here many times before in the pandemic, but without the benefit of a vaccine. Gov. John Bel Edwards, one of a few governors to mandate mask-wearing indoors, warns of a collapse of the health care system, but also rules out restrictions.

August 26, 2021 - The Advocate (Louisiana)

Dry Lake in Arizona

Federal Government Declares Water Shortage as Lake Mead Reaches Critical Low

The first-of-its-kind declaration triggers major water cutbacks for Arizona farmers and reduced allocations for Nevada and Mexico.

August 19, 2021 - The Arizona Republic

A river runs blue through the red rocks of the desert.

Developers Pull Plans for Hydroelectric Dams on Navajo Land

Developers have pulled plans that would have created two reservoirs upriver from where the Little Colorado and Colorado rivers meet in Grand Canyon National Park.

August 10, 2021 - Arizona Republic

Cyclist on a street in Tucson, Arizona

Activists Urge Action to Reduce Arizona's Bike and Pedestrian Deaths

The state ranks as the seventh most dangerous for pedestrians, with more than 100 pedestrian and cyclist deaths every year.

August 8, 2021 - AZ Central

Lake Powell

Lake Powell's Houseboat Launches Running Dry

Record low water levels are sinking Lake Powell's houseboat industry as climate change threatens water supplies in the West.

August 5, 2021 - The Guardian

Water slides at Slide & Splash, Lagoa, Portugal

Do Water Parks Belong in the Desert?

Three planned Phoenix-area developments have drawn criticism for wasteful water use, but how do water parks compare to other municipal uses?

August 2, 2021 - AZ Central

House in Tucson, Arizona

More Western Cities Approve ADUs to Help Relieve Housing Crisis

Proponents of 'granny flats' say they can alleviate housing shortages and help families keep their homes, but others worry that the programs don't do enough to target low- and middle-income property owners.

July 22, 2021 - High Country News

Glen Canyon Dam

Colorado River Dams Could Stop Producing Hydropower

Officials are releasing water from upstream reservoirs as water levels in the river's major reservoirs fall to historic lows.

July 22, 2021 - KUNC

Tall buildings in Downtown Phoenix.

Arizona's Tallest Building Will Soon Be Vacant

The tallest building in the Grand Canyon State will enter a new era.

July 21, 2021 - KJZZ

The San Pedro River where it passes through Saint David, south of Benson, Arizona.

Army Corps Rescinds Permits for Massive Master Planned Community in Arizona

A plan to conjure 28,000 new homes from the landscape fed by the San Pedro River in Southern Arizona is once again on the wrong side of regulators.

July 12, 2021 - Arizona Republic

Colorado River megadrought

House Bill Would Invest Up to $750 Million in Wastewater Recycling Projects

HR 4099, which recently passed a House subcommittee, would create a new pool of money for 17 western states to use for new wastewater recycling capacity.

July 5, 2021 - Congresswoman Grace F Napolitano

Phoenix Bike SHare

Bikelash Wins in Phoenix

Neighborhood opposition overwhelmed a plan to reduce the number of vehicles lanes on North Central Avenue to make space for a new bike lane, despite evidence of the benefits of the proposed street reconfiguration.

June 22, 2021 - Phoenix New Times

Highway 93

Unsustainable Sprawl Testing Water Supplies in the Valley of the Sun

As more and more people move to the suburbs blossoming in the Phoenix metro area, local water officials are increasingly concerned about the region's ability to keep up with demand.

June 9, 2021 - High Country News

Town Homes

Texas Metros Lead Residential Building Permit Activity in 2020; Atlanta, Phoenix Also in the Top 5

A new report quantifies the number of housing units in the development pipelines in metropolitan areas around the United States.

June 6, 2021 - Urbanize Atlanta

Mass Vaccination

Vaccination Disparities Between Urban and Rural America

The pandemic has largely been measured by case incidence, down significantly in recent weeks in most states. A new metric, the vaccination rate, may determine where the virus strikes next. The urban-rural divide is a major factor, says the CDC.

May 25, 2021 - CNBC

Arizona Streetscape

Tucson's Pledge to Plant 1 Million Trees

Details and background of Tucson's pledge to plant one million trees by 2030.

May 17, 2021 - The Daily Climate

Colorado River megadrought

How Arizona Is Preparing for the Coming Water Shortage

Arizona will lose one-fifth of its water allotment from the Colorado River in 2022 as cuts from the river's Drought Contingency Plan take effect.

May 5, 2021 - Arizona Republic

Colorado River

More Need Than Ever for Drought Resilience on the Colorado River

The effects of climate change are already cutting deeply into the lifeblood of the U.S. West—the Colorado River.

April 27, 2021 - Arizona Republic

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Top Books

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Top Schools

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.