KNAU and Arizona News

By Daniel Kraker

Flagstaff, AZ – Yesterday the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued an air permit for the proposed Desert Rock Power Plant in northwest New Mexico on the Navajo Nation. From KNAU's Indian Country News Bureau, Daniel Kraker reports.

By Geoff Norcross

Flagstaff, AZ – The Republicans have one fewer candidate in the Congressional District One race. Flagstaff business-owner Preston Korn has ended his candidacy.

Korn's decision is partly a financial one. In the last eight months, he was able to raise around 25-thousand dollars. Korn says that's about a quarter of what he needed to mount a viable campaign.

By Laurel Morales

Flagstaff, AZ – AMBY: Buzz of chainsaws

Johnny Peltier turns off his chainsaw to take a break. Dressed in fire retardant wool in the middle of the summer, sweat drips from his forehead. The work is hard but Peltier says it's better than making license plates and it makes him feel something he hasn't felt in a while - proud.

By Laurel Morales

Flagstaff, AZ – Andy Thode and Heath Norton had their baby at FMC before the hospital stopped giving out free formula samples. So they came home with a tote bag full of formula powder and coupons. Andy decided before they had their daughter Zylie that she would breastfeed.

By Laurel Morales

Grand Canyon, AZ – To understand what's behind the recent boom in uranium mining claims near the Grand Canyon, you just have to look at the numbers.

In the last few years the price of uranium has jumped from about 10 dollars per pound to more than a hundred dollars per pound. Today it's at about 60 dollars (CHK) BUT speculators project it to increase again as demand for uranium grows.

SFX: screeching of scintillometer

By Laurel Morales

Flagstaff, AZ –
AMBY: Bagpipes

It was a day very much like the day the helicopters crashed more than a week ago - clear sky, calm breeze.

Blue flight suits, red scrubs, park service green, Hot Shot yellow and almost all of the other uniform colors were represented.

AMBY: sound of bagpipes and guard marching onto stage

Bagpipes played as the Honor Guard marched to the stage. They formed a uniform V around the speakers.

By Laurel Morales

Grand Canyon, AZ – It was a calm, clear day when Grand Canyon back country ranger Bill Vandergraff got the call from dispatch to contact the helibase.

VANDERGRAFF: I asked him over the phone was Clausing on board?' He didn't say anything and I sort of barked was clausing on board?' And he said yes. It was just like getting punched in the stomach.

Vandergraff says in his eighteen years at the park he's usually the one delivering the bad news. He's not prepared to receive it.

By Gillian Ferris Kohl

Flagstaff, AZ – Arizona Public Radio's Gillian Ferris Kohl reports on a real life School of Rock in Flagstaff where kids learn to play electric guitars and pay homage to the rock legends who came before them.

By Daniel Kraker

Flagstaff, AZ – Host Intro:

When two helicopters collided in mid air over Flagstaff last Sunday, the deafening boom of the crash echoed like a cannon shot across town. It was followed by shock and sorrow. Some of the six victims rescue workers pulled from the burning wreckage were people they knew and worked with. As Arizona Public Radio's Daniel Kraker reports, the crash has raised wider concerns here and elsewhere about the dangers of emergency flights.

By Laurel Morales

Flagstaff, AZ – HOST INTRO:

The National Transportation Safety Board arrived in Flagstaff this morning to investigate yesterday's mid-air collision of two medical transport helicopters. Arizona Public Radio's Laurel Morales was one of a handful of reporters allowed to visit the crash site. She spoke with All Things Considered Host Geoff Norcross.