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Ex-attorney for Daniels and McDougal testifies in Trump trial; CT paid sick days bill passes House, heads to Senate; Iowa leaps state regulators, calls on EPA for emergency water help; group voices concerns about new TN law arming teachers.

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House Democrats say they'll vote to table a motion to remove Speaker Johnson, former President Trump faces financial penalties and the threat of jail time for violating a gag order and efforts to lower the voting age gain momentum nationwide.

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More rural working-age people are dying young compared to their urban counterparts, the internet was a lifesaver for rural students during the pandemic but the connection has been broken for many, and conservationists believe a new rule governing public lands will protect them for future generations.

Wildlife Bill Gets Bipartisan Support

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Tuesday, July 16, 2019   

HARTFORD, Conn. — A new bill in Congress would bring millions of dollars to help at-risk wildlife in Connecticut.

The Recovering America's Wildlife Act, introduced with bipartisan support in the House last Friday, would send $1.3 billion of general revenue each year to states for implementation of Wildlife Action Plans. For Connecticut, that could mean about $12.5 million per year to help at-risk bird species and other wildlife.

Patrick Comins, executive director of the Connecticut Audubon Society, called it the most important legislative initiative he's seen in his 30 years as a conservationist.

"It would provide a steady and increased source of funding for wildlife conservation, wildlife research, wildlife habitat management, even education related to wildlife,” Comins said.

Comins said populations of many bird species are declining and are now vulnerable, including federally threatened piping plovers, blue-winged warblers and Connecticut's most endangered bird, the saltmarsh sparrow.

"It's a small bird that lives near the coastal marshes, and it actually nests right on the ground in the higher portions of the marshes,” he said. “And so, it's actually been having some serious problems with even small levels of sea level rise."

Experts say rising sea levels have put saltmarsh sparrows on a path to extinction within the next 50 years.

A bill to permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund now is pending in the Senate. Comins said passing that bill and the Recovering America's Wildlife Act would be the biggest news for wildlife conservation in living memory.

"With Land and Water Conservation Fund, we could protect critical habitat. And then with the Recovering America's Wildlife Act we could appropriately manage them and also better understand what the areas that are most important to protect are,” he said.

He added wildlife conservation benefits all Americans and is an issue that should transcend partisan divisions.


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