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Wednesday, December 25, 2024

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Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of the federal death row; Mississippi group working in 71 counties to end homelessness in Mississippi; Farmers no longer feeling Farm Bill anguish, but relief might be fleeting; Addressing Montana's expanding 'news deserts.'

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President-elect Donald Trump considers reclaiming Panama Canal. Lawmakers are uncertain Trump's cabinet will help everyday Americans and, advocates feel Biden must reconsider clemency actions.

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National Parks: How NC's votes could shape future of public lands

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Tuesday, October 29, 2024   

As public lands emerge as a defining issue in November's elections, advocacy groups like as the National Parks Action Fund are urging North Carolina voters to consider how their choices at the ballot box will affect parks nationwide.

The group recently released its 2024 Congressional Scorecard, offering voters across the country a clear look at how members of Congress voted on key park-related issues.

Kristen Brengel, executive director of National Parks Action, said recent congressional votes have underscored the ongoing battle over resources.

"We lost the park funding vote in Congress and we also lost the vote on Endangered Species Act protections," Brengel pointed out. "This is, again, another value of national parks. People love to go to national parks to see the incredible wildlife and plants that exist there that, in some cases, don't exist anywhere else."

The scorecard revealed a contrast between North Carolina's representatives, with Rep. Alma Adams, D-N.C., scoring an "A" for supporting park funding and sacred-site protections, while Rep. Dan Bishop, R-N.C., received an "F" because of his support for a budget cut of 13% to the National Park Service.

Phil Francis, former superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway, said budget cuts are having real consequences, affecting everything from staffing and maintenance to recovering from natural disasters.

"Hurricane Helene came through and has caused an enormous amount of damage," Francis observed. "Part of that damage could have been prevented to some extent but there's landslides up and down the Blue Ridge Parkway and each one of those landslides can cost as much as $3 million apiece."

Francis believes sufficient funding for routine maintenance could have mitigated the damage from landslides. With record numbers of visitors relying on public spaces, he emphasized the economic impact of North Carolina's parks, as the National Park Service reports 20.9 million visitors contributed approximately $4.1 billion to the state economy in 2023.

Disclosure: The National Parks Action Fund contributes to our fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Cultural Resources, Environment, and Public Lands/Wilderness. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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