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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.

Coffin Rock: A Not-So-Scary Prospect for Central OR

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009   

MADRAS, Ore. - Just in time for Halloween, a wilderness area named "Coffin Rock" is being pitched to Congress in Central Oregon, just north of Madras, as part of a proposed land swap between a Christian youth camp and the Bureau of Land Management. The deal would make it easier for the public to get to federal land that is surrounded by the Young Life Washington Family Ranch and other private land, a situation that has created trespassing problems over the years.

It would also protect the land from development by creating two new wilderness areas, Coffin Rock and Horse Heaven, according to Brent Fenty, executive director of the Oregon Natural Desert Association.

"It's just really spectacular views along the John Day River and provides important habitat for steelhead and salmon, and mule deer and pronghorn antelope in the uplands."

Representatives of the Young Life organization and conservation groups are on Capitol Hill this week to see if the Oregon congressional delegation will agree to move the plan forward. It has been in the works for a year, says Fenty, and requires Congressional approval in order to declare the federal land as wilderness.

"It was the agreement of the various stakeholders who've been involved that we were concerned about the potential of consolidating a bunch of public land and having extractive use of those lands in the future, something that actually might harm the ecological integrity of the area."

The land swap also involves two other, privately owned ranches. The proposed new wilderness areas would cover about 18,000 acres. Fenty says no formal opposition has been voiced, although he notes it is early in the process.




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