However, even with this robust community support, High Country News, like many non-profit organizations and news outlets nationwide, has not been immune to the broader economic forces and rising operational costs shaping the global landscape. The confluence of these factors, including escalating staff expenses and a challenging economic climate characterized by inflationary pressures and shifting market dynamics, necessitated difficult organizational adjustments in late 2025. These strategic realignments unfortunately led to the departure of three valued team members, whose contributions were instrumental to the publication’s reach and community engagement.

Among those who transitioned was Michael Leveton, HCN’s dedicated community outreach manager. Drawing on his extensive background in corporate communications, Michael played a pivotal role in expanding the publication’s digital footprint and fostering innovative partnerships. He spearheaded efforts to connect with social media influencers and digital platforms, strategically placing HCN’s meticulously researched articles and compelling stories before diverse audiences that might not traditionally engage with long-form magazine content. His work was crucial in bridging the gap between traditional print media and the rapidly evolving digital sphere, ensuring that critical reporting reached a broader demographic. Beyond his professional acumen, Michael was cherished for his vibrant sense of humor and unique personal passions, including his captivating pursuit as a luchador in the rich tradition of Lucha Libre, a facet of his life that brought both intrigue and camaraderie to the office environment.

Also departing was Carol Newman, a dedicated and meticulous member of the fundraising team, whose commitment spanned over six years. Carol was the quiet force behind thousands of personalized thank-you notes, a tangible expression of gratitude that many subscribers and donors received through the mail. Her meticulous attention to detail and personal touch reinforced the deep connection between HCN and its supporters. Outside her professional role, Carol is an accomplished artist, celebrated for her vibrant mosaics, pieces of which she often shared with colleagues during virtual meetings, offering glimpses into her creative spirit and enriching the team’s shared experience.

The customer service team also bid farewell to Jess Kiernan, whose diligent work was fundamental to the seamless operation of reader relations. Jess was responsible for processing reader checks, managing subscription renewals, and expertly handling new and gift subscriptions—essential tasks that directly supported the continuity of HCN’s non-profit journalism model. Her efficiency ensured that readers could easily access and support the publication’s vital reporting. Jess is also a former pastry chef, a skill that occasionally delighted her colleagues, and a devoted mother to her young, adorable toddler, Sunny, embodying a balance of professional dedication and personal joy. The departure of these individuals represents not just a loss of talent but also a poignant reminder of the human impact of economic pressures on vital community-serving organizations.

In an inspiring counter-narrative to these operational challenges, High Country News is significantly bolstering its commitment to collaborative journalism, a philosophy deeply embedded in its organizational ethos. The publication has long championed the power of shared resources and collective storytelling, with its reporters and editors regularly partnering with other media outlets to produce dynamic, impactful stories that empower communities across the Western United States. This collaborative approach is designed to amplify voices, share diverse perspectives, and foster informed action on pressing regional issues.

Building upon this foundational principle, HCN is embarking on an ambitious new venture, teaming up with the national non-profit Report for America to establish a groundbreaking West-wide corps of environmental reporters. This innovative initiative aims to embed dedicated journalists within local newsrooms, with a specific focus on serving the often-overlooked rural and Indigenous communities throughout the vast Western landscape. Report for America, renowned for its mission to address "news deserts" and strengthen local journalism, brings invaluable experience and a proven model for sustainable reporting. Under this partnership, High Country News will serve as the central hub for the collaborative, undertaking a multifaceted role that includes fostering relationships with partner newsrooms and reporters, designing and delivering comprehensive workshops, and providing essential educational opportunities for emerging journalists. Furthermore, HCN will be instrumental in coordinating cross-newsroom collaborations, facilitating the sharing of resources and expertise to maximize impact and reach.

This vital new initiative has been aptly named the Western Environmental Reporting Collaborative, or WERC—a moniker chosen with a respectful nod to the storied Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC), a long-standing advocate for community and environmental justice. WERC is envisioned as a strategic vehicle for High Country News to deepen its roots within the diverse communities it serves, simultaneously building and rebuilding a robust network of reporters. This network will be specifically dedicated to shining a light on regions and populations that frequently find themselves marginalized or entirely absent from the narratives presented by larger urban and national media outlets. The initiative directly confronts the ongoing crisis in local journalism, which has seen countless community newspapers shrink or close, leaving critical information gaps in environmental accountability and local governance.

The first cohort of WERC partners is slated for announcement in the coming months, marking an exciting milestone in the collaborative’s rollout. The ambitious long-term goal is to establish a presence with collaborators in all 12 Western states by 2028, ensuring comprehensive coverage across the entire region. Beyond local reporting, the initiative also plans to deploy additional reporters specifically tasked with watchdogging Congress and various federal agencies, thereby providing crucial oversight on policy decisions and their environmental ramifications in the West. A core tenet of WERC is the open-source availability of its content: every piece of journalism produced by WERC reporters will be freely available for publication by all participating newsrooms within the collaborative, fostering a powerful ecosystem of shared knowledge and amplified reach. This commitment to open access not only strengthens local news outlets but also ensures that critical environmental information is widely disseminated, empowering communities with the knowledge needed to engage in informed decision-making. The early champions and supporters who have already contributed to getting this transformative project off the ground deserve an extra-hearty thank you for their foresight and investment in the future of Western environmental journalism.

In a moment of reflection and remembrance, the news community, and indeed the nation, mourned the passing of Betty Reid Soskin, an extraordinary American whose life embodied a living bridge across centuries of history. Soskin, who taught about the profound Black experience during World War II at the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California, was a truly remarkable figure. At the venerable age of 104, she held the distinction of being the oldest active park ranger in the entire National Park Service, a testament to her enduring spirit and unwavering dedication to sharing vital historical narratives. Her impact, however, far exceeded her official title. As Wayne Hare, a former park ranger himself and a respected member of HCN’s board of directors, eloquently articulated in his Civil Conversations Project newsletter, Soskin was not merely an interpreter of history but a "living historian."

Soskin’s unique perspective stemmed from her personal lineage and lived experience. Raised in the American South, she was directly influenced by her father and, crucially, her great-grandmother, who was born into slavery in the 1840s. This direct familial connection meant that, within a single family’s narrative, the sweep of American history—from the harrowing Dred Scott decision, which infamously denied Black people citizenship and humanity, through the brutal realities of slavery, the transformative period of the Civil War, the promise of the Emancipation Proclamation, and all the way to the momentous swearing-in of America’s first Black president in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial—was not just studied but lived, discussed, and deeply understood. Her ability to connect these epochal events through personal testimony provided an unparalleled depth of understanding. Wayne Hare’s reflection underscores the profound power of such firsthand accounts, concluding that while history is inherently informative and interesting, experiencing it through the eyes of someone who was there is nothing short of "amazing." Betty Reid Soskin’s legacy continues to inspire, reminding us of the imperative to preserve diverse historical voices and to understand the long arc of justice and struggle that defines the American experience.

Readers are encouraged to engage with High Country News by submitting letters, which can be sent to [email protected] or through the dedicated online portal. The publication maintains a clear policy regarding letters to the editor, ensuring respectful and constructive dialogue. This article, offering a blend of organizational updates and commemorative reflection, originally appeared in the February 2026 print edition of the magazine under the headline “Thank-yous and farewells,” reinforcing the cyclical nature of growth, change, and remembrance within a vibrant community. In a commitment to broad accessibility and the amplification of critical Western narratives, news organizations are welcome to republish High Country News articles, essays, and feature stories free of charge, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license, fostering an open ecosystem of information sharing.