Texas Border County Judges Urge Transparency In Plans For Big Bend Border Wall
Elected county judges from all 14 Texas border counties sent a letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin urging greater transparency and early coordination on the Big Bend border wall. The request follows a series of shifting CBP maps that removed, then reinstated, plans for a physical barrier through national parkland and private property. Judges stress support for effective security but warn that one‑size‑fits‑all construction could harm land access, water resources, and local economies. They are asking for consistent communication, flexible security solutions, and protections for private land and agriculture.
Grizzly Bear Research Captures Set To Begin Within Yellowstone National Park
U.S. Geological Survey and Yellowstone National Park will resume grizzly bear pre‑baiting and capture operations on May 1, continuing through October 15. The Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) conducts the field work to monitor population trends and document recovery under the...
Enhancement Project Will Improve Old Rag Trailhead At Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park will launch an infrastructure enhancement at the Old Rag Trailhead on May 4, with completion slated for November 2026. The main parking lot will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians, but visitors can still reach the trail via overflow lots...
Resurfacing Work To Begin On George Washington Memorial Parkway
The National Park Service will begin resurfacing the George Washington Memorial Parkway between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and First Street in Alexandria on April 23, with work continuing through June. Crews will replace worn asphalt overnight and on weekends, while pedestrian‑crossing medians...
Latest U.S. Customs And Border Protection Map Returns Border Wall To Big Bend
U.S. Customs and Border Protection released a new GIS map that marks four sections of wall or vehicle barriers and an extensive technology‑and‑patrol road inside or adjacent to Big Bend National Park in Texas. The plan revives a physical‑border wall...
Reorganization Of Interior Has Not Produced Promised Results, Says PEER
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s 2025 reorganization transferred roughly 5,000 administrative, IT and communications staff to the Office of the Secretary, promising significant cost savings. A FOIA request by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) revealed the department has no records...
Luminescence Dating Helps Determine The Age Of Hydrothermal Explosions In Yellowstone
Recent advances in luminescence dating are allowing scientists to directly date hydrothermal explosion deposits in Yellowstone, a task that has long eluded geochronologists. By measuring the stored radiation signal in sediment grains, researchers determined that the Pocket Basin crater erupted...
House To Vote On Legislation That Would Weaken Endangered Species Act
The U.S. House will vote on Rep. Bruce Westerman’s ESA Amendments Act (H.R. 1897) on Earth Day, aiming to roll back core protections of the Endangered Species Act. The bill would narrow federal consultations, weaken take‑permit safeguards, and extend listing timelines,...
Groups Sue Administration Over Approval Of Ultra-Deepwater Oil Drilling Project In Gulf
Five Gulf and environmental groups have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for approving BP’s Kaskida ultra‑deepwater drilling project, the first new Gulf oilfield since the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. The suit claims BP failed to provide adequate safety...
Annual Gray Wolf Counts Find Increased Numbers In Oregon and Washington
The 2025 annual gray wolf reports show population growth in both Oregon and Washington. Oregon’s wolf count rose to 230 individuals, a 13% increase, while Washington reported 270 wolves, up 17% from 2024. Washington also saw a sharp decline in...
A Day In The Park: Effigy Mounds National Monument
Effigy Mounds National Monument in Iowa safeguards more than 200 prehistoric earthworks shaped like birds, bears, cones and rectangles, created by the Late Woodland Effigy Moundbuilders between 1400 and 750 B.P. The site spans three units—North, South and Sny Magill—offering 1‑7‑mile hiking...
National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 370 | Wildlife Crossings
The National Parks Traveler podcast highlighted the growing toll of wildlife‑vehicle collisions in the United States, which claim roughly 200 lives and injure more than 26,000 people each year. Research shows that dedicated wildlife crossings can slash those incidents by...
Op-Ed | Mining Threats To Boundary Waters Spill Over To Voyageurs National Park
The U.S. Senate voted to roll back long‑standing protections for the Boundary Waters watershed, opening the area to sulfide mining upstream of the pristine freshwater system. The decision threatens the Voyageurs National Park watershed with potential mercury, arsenic and acid...
Legal Challenge Launched To Block Border Wall Through Big Bend Region
The Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Ruidosa Church and a local landowner have filed a lawsuit to stop the Department of Homeland Security from constructing a border wall through Texas' Big Bend region. The suit alleges DHS illegally waived...
UPDATED | Senate Overturns Protections For Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
The U.S. Senate approved HJ Resolution 140 by a 50‑49 vote, overturning a two‑decade mineral withdrawal that shielded the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota. The repeal removes protection for roughly 225,000 acres, paving the way for a Chilean...