U.S. Department of the Interior

The image is a panoramic shot of mountain peaks in Yellowstone National Park. In the center of the image is the newly named First Peoples Mountain.

Interior forms advisory group to remove nation’s derogatory place names

Kaleb Roedel

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland recently announced an advisory committee to do away with place names considered derogatory and offensive toward Indigenous people.

A head and shoulders portrait of Amber Torres, Walker River Paiute Tribe chairman, shows Torres smiling, wearing a black blazer and leaning against a tree.

Local Stories

Walker River Paiute Tribe chairman discusses new Department of Interior role

Gustavo Sagrero

Walker River Paiute Tribe chairman Amber Torres discusses her plans as a member of the Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC).

A still from a video shows a rendering for the outside of the Debbie Smith CTE Academy. A black, metal sign shows the name of the school hanging above people walking through a courtyard with tables and chairs.

Local Stories

KUNR Today: Debbie Smith CTE Academy project delayed, WCSD using federal relief on summer program

Jose Davila IV

Read or listen to news headlines for Thursday, June 23, 2022.

A desert with several rows of solar panels stretching from the foreground to the background.

Energy and Environment

Haaland announces moves to boost clean energy production on public lands in the Southwest

Yvette Fernandez, KNPR

In Las Vegas, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on Tuesday announced new efforts to facilitate more renewable energy development, including cutting by 50% rent and fees charged for wind and solar projects on public lands.

Albuquerque Indian School in 1885. The Presbyterian Church opened it in 1881 then the federal government started operating it in 1884. It is part of the United States traumatic history of kidnapping Indigenous children and to assimilate them into white society.

'Our children had names': Interior Department releases first report on Indian boarding schools

Emma Gibson

The first volume in the Interior's investigative report shows that the United States operated or supported 408 boarding schools in 37 states between 1819 and 1969, including 127 in the Mountain West. Editor's note: As a warning for those impacted by the trauma of Native American boarding schools, this story discusses some of what happened there.

A close-up of Deb Haaland standing at a podium with a microphone pointed toward her. She is smiling and looking forward.

Local Stories

KUNR Today: Interior Secretary Haaland launches commission on murdered and missing Indigenous people

Gustavo Sagrero

Read or listen to the news headlines for Friday, May 6, 2022.

Energy and Environment

Interior resumes oil and gas leases on public lands, raises royalty rates

Madelyn Beck

The Interior Department is reopening lease sales on public lands. However, the agency announced that it was 80% less acreage than the oil and gas industry nominated for leasing. The Interior also increased royalty rates.

Local Stories

KUNR Today: RPD Chief Soto retiring, Nevada’s unemployment rate sits at 5 percent

Lucia Starbuck

Read or listen to the news headlines for Tuesday, April 19, 2022.

A syringe extracts a vaccine out of a glass bottle. It's being held by two gloved hands.

KUNR Today: Historic COVID mission ends for Nev. Guard, Hispanic vaccination rates lag across region

Mountain West News Bureau

Read or listen to the morning news headlines for Monday, March 28, 2022.

An image of a firefighter with a chainsaw cutting down debris.

KUNR Today: California hits 70,000 COVID-19 deaths, Tahoe getting federal funds to fight wildfires

Noah Glick

Here are the local news headlines for the morning of Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021.Justice Department awards $1.2 million for Nevada police trainingBy Noah…