skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

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.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

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.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

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.

Groups: "End Gridlock Over LWCF Funding"

play audio
Play

Monday, November 23, 2015   

LANSING, Mich. – The future of some conservation projects in Michigan hangs in the balance as Congress debates the reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

The program has been around for 50 years, but expired at the end of September. It helps to protect and preserve public land, including the Pilgrim River Watershed in Michigan.

Bill Leder, president of Copper Country Trout Unlimited, has followed the project for years, and says while there is some local funding, support is also needed from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

"If you have a really good project with a lot of local support, it enables it to happen,” he explains. “It's not just a gift from the federal government. It's a way to leverage funds to help us achieve this project."

Funding for the project would be cut under a proposal from Republican Rep. Rob Bishop of Utah that sets limits and restricts LWCF funding.

A Senate proposal, backed by Democratic Sens. Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, calls for permanent and full reauthorization of the program.

Alan Rowsome, senior director of government relations for lands with The Wilderness Society, says from its inception, the fund has been widely supported by both parties.

He adds that compromise is needed, and points out that Bishop's proposal has no bipartisan support, unlike the Senate plan.

"In an incredibly polarized world where Congress isn't doing much, you know, you see this incredible bipartisan cooperation among those members and it shows you that this is a special issue – this is an issue not like many others, and one that shouldn't be caught up in the politics," Rowsome states.

Since 1965, the fund has provided nearly $322 million to Michigan for land, forests and parks. And Leder feels it's a win-win.

"It's enabled the quality of life to be maintained and improved, and it makes our area more attractive for people to move to and work here,” he states. “It's got a lot of benefits.”

The Land and Water Conservation Fund is funded from offshore oil and gas royalties, not taxpayer dollars.





get more stories like this via email

more stories
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

play sound

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


Social Issues

play sound

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

play sound

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

play sound

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

Environment

play sound

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

play sound

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

play sound

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

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021