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Tribal advocates keep up legal pressure for fair political maps; 12-member jury sworn in for Trump's historic criminal trial; the importance of healthcare decision planning; and a debt dilemma: poll shows how many people wrestle with college costs.

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Civil rights activists say a court ruling could end the right to protest in three southern states, a federal judge lets January 6th lawsuits proceed against former President Trump, and police arrest dozens at a Columbia University Gaza protest.

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Rural Wyoming needs more vocational teachers to sustain its workforce pipeline, Ohio environmental advocates fear harm from a proposal to open 40-thousand forest acres to fracking and rural communities build bike trail systems to promote nature, boost the economy.

WI DNR Change Ramps Up

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Tuesday, September 8, 2009   

MADISON, Wisc. - The effort to change the way Department of Natural Resources (DNR) secretaries get their job in Wisconsin is now in the hands of the full legislature. Last week, committees in both the assembly and senate passed a bill that would take the DNR appointment away from the governor and put it back in the hands of a citizen board.

Rep. Spencer Black, chair of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee, says those who oppose the bill have an interest in weaker environmental laws.

"The organizations that oppose this are groups that come to the Legislature to lobby for weaker environmental regulations - groups that want to make it easier to pollute our air and water."

For nearly 70 years, the citizen-based Natural Resources Board selected the secretary of the Department of Natural Resources. In 1995, that process was changed to allow the governor to appoint the DNR Secretary. Those opposing the change say the DNR is no different than any other state agency and should answer to the governor, but supporters say removing politics from environmental policy is more important.

Black says good environmental policy requires decisions being made based on good science and not politics.

"We want decisions about our environment based on science and what's good for our outdoors."

More than 80 organizations representing tens of thousands of conservationists statewide have voiced support for the independent DNR secretary, and Black agrees it's time to make a change.

"What's right for the environment is to make sure that we keep day-to-day politics out of our conservation decisions and that decisions about our outdoors are based on what's good for the outdoors."

More information is available from Anne Sayers, Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters, 608-661-0845.




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