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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

WA on Fast Track for New Wilderness Area

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Wednesday, April 18, 2007   


A bill to create a new "Wild Sky Wilderness Area" in Snohomish County passed in the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday, but it's a hurdle that has taken five years to clear. The Senate had approved the bill three times, but it sat in committee in the House. Mike Town of the group Friends of the Wild Sky says it probably would have stayed there, if not for the persistence of Washington's congressional delegation. Now, it appears to be on the fast track to become the nation's newest federally protected wild place.

"With the great work that Sen. Murray and Congressman Larsen did making this bill have very little opposition, it's kinda hard to see what could get in the way of this bill becoming law."

Its proximity to Seattle makes the "Wild Sky" the center of a thriving outdoor recreation business, and local communities had been waiting anxiously for the outcome of the vote. The area contains more than 100,000 acres of the Mount Baker-Snowqualmie National Forest, including 25 miles of salmon and steelhead habitat.

Town adds that the area is special not only because of its easy accessibility, but also its year-round recreation, and that means it's important to keep it from being logged, mined and developed.

"It has these tremendous low-elevation forests, which means they're accessible for most of the year 1000, 1500 feet or so above sea level. And most wilderness areas do not protect land that is of that particular elevation.

The bill (HR 886, S 520) now goes to a Senate committee for a hearing. It was introduced in May 2002, February 2003 and January 2005 by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA).


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The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

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Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

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Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

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Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

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Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

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New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Social Issues

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Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

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Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

 

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