In the Rockies today, federal policies on guns in parks, partnerships to fight invasive species, and critical habitat for lynx are in the news.
Under a rule change proposed by Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne on Wednesday, gun policies in national parks would be governed by the states in which those parks are located.
Gun owners with a valid permit to carry a concealed weapon would be able to carry their guns into any national park in any state that allows guns in parks.
A massive public lands bill that is currently awaiting President Bush's signature contains a provision that makes it easier for federal agencies, such as the National Park Service, to team up with states, tribes and other entities to fight invasive species.
And finally, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that once it finishes its economic analysis of a proposed critical habitat designation for the Canada lynx, it will open a new 30-day public comment period.
And in our In-depth section, we offer a roundup of articles about the changing demographics of the Rocky Mountain West.
Rockies today
Interior moves forward with rule change on guns in national parks
A proposed rule change published Wednesday in the Federal Register would allow people with concealed weapons permits to carry loaded guns into national parks and wildlife refuges in states that allow firearms in parks; the rule change would allow loaded guns in Grand Teton and Yellowstone as Wyoming does not ban guns in parks.
Jackson Hole News & Guide; May 1
Two Utah cities make American Lung Association's dirty air list
The American Lung Association issued its annual report on the state of the nation's air, and on the list of the worst cities in the nation for short-term, particle pollution, Logan was ranked sixth and Salt Lake City was ranked seventh; no other cities in the Rocky Mountain West made that list. Phoenix was ranked 19th for ozone pollution, but no areas in the Intermountain West were cited for year-round particle pollution.
Salt Lake Tribune; May 1
House-passed public lands bill allows pacts to fight invasive species
One of the provisions contained within the massive public lands bill now on President Bush's desk makes it easier for federal agencies to enter into cooperative agreements with states, tribes, local governments and private landowners to fight invasive species.
Las Vegas Review-Journal; May 1
Federal agency asks for public comments on proposed Colorado reservoir
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released its 700-page preliminary report on a proposed reservoir on the Cache la Poudre River northwest of Fort Collins to provide water to several fast-growing communities in northern Colorado.
Denver Rocky Mountain News; May 1
USFWS to reopen public comment on lynx habitat decision
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Thursday that after it finishes a draft economic analysis of its proposed critical habitat designation for the Canada lynx in July, it will open a new 30-day public comment period.
Denver Post (AP); May 1
Wyoming governor's office gets hundreds of calls on wolf issue
After the Defenders of Wildlife asked people to call Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal to express their displeasure with the state's policy on wolves, his office received more than 800 telephone calls on Tuesday and Wednesday, with only a handful coming from Wyoming residents.
Casper Star-Tribune; May 1
Russian billionaire picks up Colorado mansion for a cool $36.375M
Leon Hirsch's three-year effort to sell his Snowmass mansion ended Tuesday, when Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich picked up the 14,300-square-foot home on 200 acres for $36.375 million, making the sale the third-most expensive residential land deal ever in Colorado's Pitkin County.
Denver Rocky Mountain News; May 1
Opinion
Congress must find a way to protect Medicaid, children's health programs
A new report released this week found that for every percentage point rise in the unemployment rate, another million people need Medicaid or children's health insurance programs, and estimated that such an increase would send another 1.1 million into the ranks of the uninsured, and Congress must find a way to help beleaguered states fund these vital health programs.
New York Times; May 1
Beyond the region
Oregon senator presses USFS for quick response on salvage sale
In an effort to keep mills in Grant County in operation, conservation groups are supporting two salvage sales in an area of eastern Oregon burned by recent wildfires in exchange for timber companies' promise not to log in sensitive areas, and U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden has asked the U.S. Forest Service to expedite approval of those sales.
Portland Oregonian; May 1
Report makes tough recommendations for factory farms
A report released this week by the Pew Charitable Trusts and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health chronicles the costs of large-scale factory farms and recommends a ban on nontherapeutic use of antibiotics in farm animals, phasing out intensive confinement operations of animals and aggressive enforcement of antitrust laws in the agricultural industry.
Washington Post; April 30
Congress shifts focus to non-corn based biofuel
Rising food prices and global shortages have created some backlash in Congress against corn-based ethanol, with some legislators seeking a freeze on federal mandates for biofuels productions at current levels, while others want to shift tax incentives from corn-based biofuels to cellulose-based ethanol in the current Farm Bill.
Christian Science Monitor; May 1
Economists say gas-tax holiday won't help
Democratic presidential contender Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. John McCain, the Republican Party's presumptive presidential nominee, have both said they'd suspend the federal 18.4-cent-per-gallon gas tax for the summer, but economists said such a suspension would drive up demand at a time when no excess exists in the supply chain and would cost the federal government $9 billion in much-needed road funds.
Washington Post; May 1
U.S. House members forced to go green on leased vehicles
A little-noted provision of last year's energy bill requires the 130 or so members of the U.S. House who lease vehicles through their office budgets to drive vehicles that have low emissions of greenhouse gases, but not all lawmakers are happy about the provision.
Los Angeles Times; May 1
In depth
Census: Frost Belt loses young workers, Mountain West gains them
USA Today's analysis of Census data released today found that the Mountain West and the South gained the largest number of residents aged 25 to 44, lured by job availability and affordable housing, with Arizona reporting a 17.8 percent gain in the 25-44 demographic between 2000 and 2007; Idaho had a 11.1 percent gain; and Colorado a 4.1 percent gain.
USA Today; May 1
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Census: 1 in 4 children under the age of 5 is Hispanic
New Census data to be released today says that Hispanics are the fastest-growing minority group in the United States, with about Hispanics accounting for 1 in 4 children in the nation under the age of 5; in New Mexico more than half the children under the age of 5 are Hispanic; and in Arizona, Colorado and Nevada, about-one third of the children younger than 5 are Hispanic.
Washington Post; May 1
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Census: Minorities represent 18 percent of Utah's population
New Census data released today found that 40 percent of Utah's population growth in 2007 occurred in the state's minority population, with Latinos accounting for a quarter of the population increase.
Salt Lake Tribune; May 1
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New Census data: Hispanics remain largest minority group in Idaho
New data released by the U.S. Census Bureau today said that the Hispanic population in Idaho grew by more than 43 percent between 2000 and 2007, and that Hispanics now make up nearly 10 percent of the state's population.
Twin Falls Times-News (AP); May 1
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