apportionment of the US house of representatives 2021

Drawing Fair Maps is Crucial for WORC Region

Above: Western states’ populations grew faster than much of the U.S., adding representation in the House and political power in national decisions. Image: US Census WORC Region Gains Congressional Seats and Political Power. Now we must ensure that the districting … Continued

soil science

The Six Basic Principles of Soil Health: An Explainer

This article was adapted from Dakota Resource Council’s website. Soil health is a journey, not a destination. This roadmap will help you understand where you’re going. In the world of regenerative and sustainable agriculture, there are many practices and buzzwords. … Continued

western native voice

Western Native Voice Community Spotlight: Alissa Snow

Alissa got her start in Montana politics registering voters as a community organizer for Western Native Voice. She soon after became the State Field Director and Montana’s first full-time Native woman lobbyist. Alissa helped to create, pass, and implement state law that protects the culture of Montana’s Indigenous people.

clean energy jobs

As Coal Plants Close, Colorado Focuses on Just Transition

Above: Workers assemble a wind turbine. Clean energy jobs are just one part of transitioning coal communities. Western Colorado Alliance is organizing around the many opportunities for coal communities and Colorado’s economy to transition away from fossil fuels. In 2019, … Continued

coal trucks stand ready to extract minerals

Addressing The Collapse of the Coal Industry

This post was adapted from a fact sheet produced by WORC, Northern Plains Resource Council, Powder River Basin Resource Council, and a collaboration of allied organizations. As coal mines close, there’s an urgent need for regulatory action to restore lands … Continued

native leaders

Western Native Voice Community Spotlight: Laurie Sun Child

Above: Laurie Sun Child member of the Chippewa Cree unfurls the Tribe’s flag. Rocky Boy’s Shining Star Has Deep Rooted Connection to Elders, Community, and Culture We are excited to share with you Western Native Voice’s Community Spotlight, designed to highlight … Continued

orphaned oil and gas well

Leadership Failure Led to Orphaned Well Crisis – Now it’s Time for Solutions

Over 13,000 new jobs could be created by reclaiming current orphaned wells, but bonding requirements need to be updated to assure that taxpayers aren’t stuck with future cleanup bills. There’s no question that the past year has been difficult for Americans living across the mountain West and across the country. But the crises of public health, inequality, and unemployment are not new challenges; they’re simply the most recent evidence of systemic problems we need to address in our communities. The failure of our leaders to address these broken systems has left us with few easy decisions ahead of us.