skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Thursday, September 19, 2024

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

Alabama woman works to help returning citizens rebuild their lives; Marist polls: Harris leads Trump in Michigan, Wisconsin; they're tied in Pennsylvania; UAW contract negotiations at VW focus on healthcare, safety, wages; NC dentists warn of crisis due to low Medicaid reimbursement rates.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Rising threats of political violence, a Federal Reserve rate cut, crypto industry campaign contributions and reproductive rights are shaping today's political landscape.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

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.

Groups Call for Action on Nat'l Park Maintenance Backlog

play audio
Play

Monday, November 19, 2018   

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — With the end of the year not so far off on the horizon, time is running out for Congress to act on a bill that conservation and tourism groups hope will address the massive maintenance backlog at national parks.

The Restore Our Parks Act is a bipartisan proposal to direct up to $6.5 billion in revenue from offshore oil and gas royalties to fix crumbling roads and buildings, in addition to electrical and wastewater systems at the parks. Marcia Argust, project director with The Pew Charitable Trusts, said parks such as Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park are crucial to the state's tourist economy.

"Maryland welcomes over 6.5 million visitors each year to its national park units,” Argust said. “Those visitors spend almost $220 million in local communities and generate over 2,800 jobs."

She said legislation has passed committees in both the U.S. House and the Senate, but it needs a floor vote in each house - ideally before the end of the year.

A recent study estimated addressing the estimated $12 billion maintenance backlog could lead to the creation of 110,000 jobs nationwide. Though there are many competing interests vying for what remains of this Congress’ time, Argust said she remains hopeful the measure will pass because of its strong bipartisan and public support.

"Many park facilities and resources are over 100 years old,” she said. “And over the past few years, nearly 3,000 organizations across the nation have urged Congress to respond to this problem and fix our parks."

An analysis by the National Park Service showed visitors to parks in Maryland spent more than $223 million last year. Nationwide, visitors spent $18 billion, supporting more than 300,000 jobs and generating $35 billion in economic activity.

Support for this reporting was provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts.



get more stories like this via email

more stories
Recipients of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Grant can now access funding to drive financing for thousands of climate-focused and clean energy initiatives. (bilanol/Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

Michigan's most vulnerable communities are receiving federal funding to fight the devastating effects of climate change. It's part of the $27 billion …


Health and Wellness

play sound

September is Health Literacy Month, and a Denver-based group is working to help health professionals break a persistent pattern of discrimination …

Environment

play sound

A new report contends fossil fuel funding has biased Columbia University's climate research. The report, by two Columbia students, shows the …


Alabama releases roughly 220,279 men and 78,247 women from its prisons and jails each year. (Chad Robertson/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

An Alabama woman is on a mission to help people who've been incarcerated for decades successfully transition back into society. The mission to …

Health and Wellness

play sound

In North Carolina, the gap between Medicaid reimbursement rates and the actual cost of dental care has reached a crisis point, impacting both …

So far in 2024, community health centers in North Dakota have screened 11,580 patients for food insecurity. Through those screenings, more than three thousand box meals have been distributed. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

September is Hunger Action Month. In North Dakota, it isn't just food banks trying to help underserved populations get nutritious items. Health …

Environment

play sound

Marine biologists conducting deep dives near five California islands are collecting data they hope will strengthen the case for ending gillnet fishing…

Environment

play sound

Researchers at Iowa State University are taking aim at the huge amount of energy used by data centers, now and in the future. They have developed a …

 

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