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U.S. gender wage gap grows for first time in a decade; Trump has embraced NC's Mark Robinson, calling him 'Martin Luther King on steroids'; Volunteers sought as early voting kicks off in MN; Women's political contributions in congressional races fall short of men's.

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Rising threats of political violence, a Federal Reserve rate cut, crypto industry campaign contributions and reproductive rights are shaping today's political landscape.

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A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Proposed Wildfire Funding Reform Could Impact Utah

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Monday, May 11, 2015   

SALT LAKE CITY – Treating major wildfires in Utah and elsewhere as natural disasters and spending more money on improving forest health are goals of proposed federal legislation.

The Wildfire Disaster Funding Act would update how the federal government funds suppression efforts.

As Congress considers the bill, Utah continues to live through what Jason Curry, public information officer with the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, says is an era of extreme fire seasons.

"It's been a trend that's been continuing,” he points out. “Fire season in general has been longer, and fire intensity and fire behavior have been more extreme."

Officials in other states, including New Mexico and Nevada, say their worst wildfire seasons on record have happened in the past decade.

Meanwhile, U.S. Forest Service chief Tom Tidwell testified recently before a Senate committee. He said his agency's budget is decimated each year fighting massive wildfires, resulting in cutbacks to thinning, prescribed fires and other programs that help to reduce wildfire risk.

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, a co-sponsor of the legislation, says it would create separate funding for fighting the biggest fires, which would free up money to pay for other Forest Service programs.

"This bill would fund those catastrophic fires as natural disasters by making any fire suppression spending above 70 percent of the 10 year average for fire suppression eligible to be funded other a separate disaster account," he explains.

Heinrich adds improvements to roads, bridges and trails at several national forests have gone undone because of the huge costs of battling the biggest blazes.






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