Laurel Morales
Senior Field Correspondent
Senior Field Correspondent Laurel Morales (Flagstaff) has been a public radio reporter for 10 years; eight of them in Arizona. She has won several awards for her work, including national recognition from Public Radio News Director Inc. (PRNDI) for the only commentary she’s ever written. She prefers to highlight compelling voices other than her own and has covered blizzards, wildfires, floods and tornadoes. Morales came to northern Arizona from rural Minnesota where she worked as a reporter after receiving her master’s degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.
Recent Stories
Pot Farms Still A Problem On Public Lands
For several years the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has been eradicating millions of marijuana plants in national parks and forests. And it’s still a major problem. Memorial Day weekend marks the launch of camping and hiking season. So backpackers should be on the lookout.
- By Laurel Morales
- May 26, 2012
Mormon Modesty Makes It Challenging To Find A Prom Dress
Flip through any fashion magazine and you may wonder if there’s a nationwide wardrobe malfunction going on -- no neckline seems too low, no hemline too high. So what do you do if your religion requires a more modest dress code?
- By Laurel Morales
- May 24, 2012
Solar Eclipse Dazzles Across Southwest
Sunday evening’s annular eclipse was a rare sight in Southwestern skies ... and crowds flocked to watch.
- By Nick Blumberg, Laurel Morales, Mónica Ortiz Uribe, Jill Replogle
- May 21, 2012
Experts: Drought, Climate Change Make Mega Fires Inevitable
Several large wildfires are burning in Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico. Severe drought has led to a hot start to this year’s fire season. While we may not see massive wildfires this year, fire experts warn it may happen in the near future.
- By Laurel Morales
- May 18, 2012
Tribal Gambling Revenue Up
Arizona has seen its revenue from tribal casinos rise for the seventh consecutive quarter. Nevada and New Mexico have seen a similar increase.
- By Laurel Morales
- May 3, 2012
Former Guns & Ammo Editor Shoots, Kills Friend
A former editor of Guns & Ammo magazine has been arrested for shooting and killing a friend Wednesday in Mohave County.
- By Laurel Morales
- May 3, 2012
National Forests Close Roads
More people than ever are riding off-highway vehicles and motorbikes throughout the Southwest. At the same time National Forests must comply with federal rules to limit that traffic and close some roads.
- By Laurel Morales
- May 3, 2012
Wood Industry Can Prevent Catastrophic Fires
Forest managers, policy makers and entrepreneurs are meeting this week in Flagstaff to discuss what to do with small trees before they become fuel for catastrophic wildfires or food for beetles.
- By Laurel Morales
- May 1, 2012
Southwestern Tribes Talk Indigenous Rights
Tribal leaders from across the Southwest gathered in Arizona this week to discuss how to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.
- By Laurel Morales
- April 27, 2012
Southwest Seen As Most Vulnerable To Wildfire
Fire season is upon us. Government leaders, climate forecasters and fire experts talked Thursday about the most vulnerable regions, and the Southwest topped the list.
- By Laurel Morales
- April 26, 2012
Reporters on Twitter
