New Mexico

Immigrants without legal status make up a large part of the workers in several industries and have a combined household income of almost $27 billion in the Mountain West.

Nationwide, nearly 17,000 homes on tribal lands still need electricity hook-ups. A majority are spread across the Navajo Nation, where climate change is making it harder for families to keep cool. A mutual aid program, however, has helped to change lives.

Navajo Nation Attorney General Ethel Branch announced that an investigation has cleared the Navajo president of sexual harassment allegations by the vice president. Even as results of the investigation were announced Monday, Branch was removed from office by tribal lawmakers.

The seven states that share the shrinking river are deeply divided about new rules for its future. They met in Las Vegas for the annual Colorado River Water Users Association, or CRWUA, conference.

As the Colorado River Water Users Association gathers, the seven river states are like kids coming home to a family reunion. Policy watchers are frustrated with their level of disagreement.

Biden's Interior Department released four proposals for managing the river in an apparent attempt to nudge the states toward agreement.

Arizona's top water official said states are still unable to agree on new rules for sharing water after 2026.

Water managers across the West say they do not expect a new Trump administration will alter post-2026 Colorado River talks.

Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren says Navajo Vice President Richelle Montoya no longer represents his administration. The move was announced Tuesday during a news conference.

The U.S. is struggling to replant forests destroyed by increasingly destructive wildfires, with some areas unlikely to recover. Researchers are studying which species are likely to survive — and where — as climate change makes it difficult or impossible for many forests to regrow.

Engineering hurdles, high costs and political challenges stand in the way of an easy fix to the West's water shortages.

After the departure of Utah State, the 7 remaining Mountain West schools have agreed to stay in the league amid overtures by the Pac-12 and other conferences to lure away more of its teams.