skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Saturday, June 21, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Trump can keep National Guard in Los Angeles for now, appeals court rules; Experts warn of normalization of political violence; FL shellfish industry, communities push governor to ban Apalachicola drilling; Utah weighs cost of repealing clean-energy tax credits.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

White House says decision on Iran strikes will come in two weeks. Conservatives in Congress demand answers on former President Biden's mental acuity, and a new lawsuit could change Maryland's primary election process.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Giant data centers powering artificial intelligence want cheap rural land but some communities are pushing back, Hurricane Helene mobilized a North Carolina town in unexpected ways, and Cherokee potters make ceramics that honor multiple generations.

House panel eyes boosting oil, gas drilling; most Utahns don't agree

play audio
Play

Wednesday, May 7, 2025   

This week, the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee is considering overhauling Biden-era restrictions on oil and gas leasing which could affect Utah but new polling, released by the Republican polling firm New Bridge Strategies, showed most Utahns are opposed to proposals to green-light more drilling.

The Bureau of Land Management recently announced it will no longer prepare environmental impact reports for more than 3,200 oil and gas leases across the western U.S. President Donald Trump has made it a priority to unleash American energy and signed an executive order to encourage more development on public lands.

Lori Weigel, principal at New Bridge Strategies, said Utah voters consider issues such as clean air and water, conservation, wildlife and recreation more important, as only 42% of Utahns said they think providing land for oil and gas development is important.

"We saw just overwhelming agreement with this idea that, again taking 'multiple use,' noting that we need to make sure that it's really held up in terms of how decisions are made regarding our national public lands," Weigel reported.

The BLM's "multiple-use doctrine" requires the agency to balance conservation and extraction on public lands, but is being targeted by the White House. The poll found more than seven in 10 Utah voters believe drilling should be limited to areas where there's "high likelihood" of producing oil and gas.

David Willms, associate vice president of public lands for the National Wildlife Federation, said as policymakers push to expand energy production, poll data show voters do not want to reduce bonding rates for energy developers.

"So that industry and not taxpayers are paying for cleanup after development," Willms explained. "This really is a timely discussion, and the results of this polling couldn't be more timely and applicable."

Russell Kuhlman, executive director of Utah's neighboring Nevada Wildlife Federation, said habitat and wildlife populations are showing "ignoring conservation, sustainability and sound science have a price."

"That is why we can no longer prioritize these activities that do not make sense on our public lands, while letting our wildlife and our habitat degrade and assume everything will be there for future generations," Kuhlman contended.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
Apalachicola Bay used to be the historic epicenter of the U.S. oyster industry, once producing 90% of Florida's oysters and 10% of the nation's supply. (Margaret Burlingham/Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

A critical decision now rests with Gov. Ron DeSantis, as Florida coastal communities and shellfish farmers urge him to sign a bill permanently …


Social Issues

play sound

By Jonathan Feakins for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Illinois News Connection reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News S…

Social Issues

play sound

By Frankie (Amy) Felegy for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Servi…


The U.S. agriculture sector includes farms and related industries. Together, they account for 5.5% of the country's gross domestic product and provide 10.4% of all U.S. jobs. (Anastasia Knyazeva/Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

With more than 95,000 farms, Missouri ranks among the top farming states in the nation. Now, a national agriculture group is warning that bills …

Social Issues

play sound

A new lawsuit is challenging Maryland's closed primary system. If the lawsuit is successful, nearly a million Marylanders may be able to vote in …

Environment

play sound

Supporters of public lands will gather in Santa Fe next week to oppose pending legislation that would sell off millions of acres in 11 Western states…

Social Issues

play sound

Eight Wisconsin cities, including four rural communities, will receive improvements to help make their communities more livable. Eleven grantees …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021