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Day two of David Pecker testimony wraps in NY Trump trial; Supreme Court hears arguments on Idaho's near-total abortion ban; ND sees a flurry of campaigning among Native candidates; and NH lags behind other states in restricting firearms at polling sites.

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The Senate moves forward with a foreign aid package. A North Carolina judge overturns an aged law penalizing released felons. And child protection groups call a Texas immigration policy traumatic for kids.

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Wyoming needs more educators who can teach kids trade skills, a proposal to open 40-thousand acres of an Ohio forest to fracking has environmental advocates alarmed and rural communities lure bicyclists with state-of-the-art bike trail systems.

Protecting California's Central Coast

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Friday, May 16, 2014   

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – California's Central Coast may be getting more federal protection under a bill expected to be introduced next week.

The Central Coast Heritage Protection Act calls for nearly 250,000 acres of new and expanded wilderness in the Los Padres National Forest and the Carrizo Plain.

U.S. Rep. Lois Capps of California says her bill would protect 159 miles of wild and scenic rivers and officially designate the Condor Trail as a national recreational trail.

"Central Coast is home to some of the most diverse habitats and ecosystems, and they're right here in our backyard,” she points out. “They contribute to our community, they add beauty and biodiversity, provide educational and economic opportunities, and they're accessible."

The bill would also create four new wilderness areas and expand nine existing wilderness areas.

Some opponents of the increased protection say too much of the Los Padres Forest is already wilderness and they worry the bill will impact recreational access.

The wilderness designation is the highest form of protection the government can give to public land and it's something Capps says needs to be done now to preserve the land for future generations.

"It means there won't be any roads built, permanent structures, prohibits activities like logging or mining,” she explains. “So, this has been considered with great care amongst all the stakeholders and we feel it's time to do this kind of designation now.”

Mark Johnson, a member of the Santa Barbara Fly Fishers club that supports the act, says he hopes the increased protections will help with the long-term recovery of steelhead.

"Whatever helps those fish is going to help all of the inhabitants of the watershed,” he points out. “It's going to benefit other animals. These areas are just the last of what's left. "

U.S. Reps. Julia Brownley and Sam Farr of California have both signed on as original co-sponsors of the bill.





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