Explore

Pueblo of Sandia Seeks Legislation from Representative Stansbury to Transfer 10,000 Acres of Sandia Mountains to Trust

Pueblo of Sandia Seeks Legislation from Representative Stansbury to Transfer 10,000 Acres of Sandia Mountains to Trust

The Pueblo of Sandia has approached U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) to introduce legislation that would transfer 10,000 acres on the west face of the Sandia Mountains from the U.S. Forest Service into trust for the Pueblo. This request aims to address the Pueblo's concerns regarding sacred sites, cultural resources, and land management. The proposal reopens a long-standing debate over land ownership and management in the area, which was previously addressed by the T’uf Shur Bien Preservation Trust Area Act in 2003. That act established co-stewardship and protected cultural interests while keeping the land as national forest. Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson has expressed reservations about altering the 2003 compromise, emphasizing the importance of maintaining public access and the land's status as national forest and wilderness.

Trump orders review of wolf protections for ranchers

Trump orders review of wolf protections for ranchers

Trump signed an executive order directing a review of federal wolf protections to help ranchers protect livestock and lower beef prices.

Representative Miller-Meeks Co-Sponsors House INSULIN Act to Cap Out-of-Pocket Costs

Representative Miller-Meeks Co-Sponsors House INSULIN Act to Cap Out-of-Pocket Costs

Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) has co-sponsored the bipartisan House INSULIN Act, H.R. 10227, alongside Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO), Kim Schrier (D-WA), Rob Bresnahan Jr. (R-PA), and Angie Craig (D-MN). This legislation aims to cap out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 per month for individuals with private insurance. The bill also includes additional measures designed to improve insulin affordability and access. The House INSULIN Act mirrors a similar bipartisan effort in the Senate, S. 4189, which has already advanced through the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee with a 17–5 vote and has been placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar. Both bills seek to address the high cost of insulin, which is a critical medication for individuals with type one diabetes (T1D). The House bill has been referred to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and Workforce.

Idaho Utilizes Nearly 300 Tons of Crushed Waste Glass as Highway Foundation Material on Highway 75

Idaho Utilizes Nearly 300 Tons of Crushed Waste Glass as Highway Foundation Material on Highway 75

In 2002, Idaho successfully incorporated nearly 300 tons of crushed waste glass into the foundation of Highway 75 near Ketchum. This innovative engineering trial involved placing an 8-to-12-inch layer of glass cullet beneath a 200-foot section of the road. The initiative, championed by the late Idaho State Senator Clint Stennett, aimed to repurpose massive accumulations of glass from the Ohio Gulch Recycling Center in the Wood River Valley, addressing a local landfill crisis. When crushed to optimal particle sizes, glass cullet performs similarly to natural sand and crushed rock, offering strong compaction and drainage. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) supports the use of glass cullet as an effective substitute for conventional aggregate in road embankments and base courses, noting its high internal friction angles, good permeability, and low moisture susceptibility.

Senator John Boozman Addresses Proposition 12 and Farm Bill Challenges Amidst Bipartisan Divide

Senator John Boozman Addresses Proposition 12 and Farm Bill Challenges Amidst Bipartisan Divide

Senator John Boozman, a Republican from Arkansas and Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, has been actively involved in discussions surrounding California's Proposition 12 and its potential inclusion in the federal farm bill. Proposition 12 mandates specific livestock production standards, particularly for breeding pigs, requiring at least 24 square feet of usable floor space and generally preventing the use of traditional gestation crates for products sold in California. While Senator Boozman supports congressional action to address Proposition 12, he acknowledged in April that the Senate farm bill was unlikely to adopt the House's approach due to a lack of Democratic support. The House had passed a farm bill provision that would prevent states from imposing livestock production standards on products originating outside their borders. A proposed compromise, which would grandfather existing state laws while preventing new similar requirements, also failed to gain Democratic backing. Senate Democra...

Westchester County Journal News

Trump DOJ backs Micron in legal challenge to $100B New York project

Trump DOJ backs Micron in legal challenge to $100B New York project

Justice Department lawyers say Micron's $100 billion investment in Central New York is essential to the nation's security.

EPA seeks more public comments as it struggles to devise water rule that limits scope on wetlands

EPA seeks more public comments as it struggles to devise water rule that limits scope on wetlands

The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking additional public comments as it tries to redefine the scope of the nation’s bedrock clean water law to significantly limit the wetlands it covers

House VA Committee Subpoenas Oracle Executives Over EHR Modernization Contract Concerns

House VA Committee Subpoenas Oracle Executives Over EHR Modernization Contract Concerns

The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs has unanimously voted to subpoena Oracle co-founder and chairman Larry Ellison and CEO Mike Sicilia. This action stems from escalating concerns regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Electronic Health Record (EHR) modernization contract with Oracle. The subpoena follows Oracle's abrupt withdrawal from a scheduled September 2 hearing, where they were invited to testify. Committee Chairman Mike Bost, R-Ill., extended the invitation, which Oracle initially accepted on August 26, only to retract it a day later, citing 'time constraints.' Ranking Member Mark Takano, D-Calif., noted that Oracle reiterated its refusal to appear in an August 31 letter. This reversal transformed a potential routine oversight hearing into a direct confrontation, prompting the committee's bipartisan vote to compel testimony. VA Deputy Secretary Paul Lawrence, PhD, testified that the agency will not seek additional funding beyond the new $27 billion ceiling for the contract, a signi...

Senator Mike Rounds Proposes Bipartisan RANCH Act to Convert Marginal Cropland to Grassland for Livestock Production

Senator Mike Rounds Proposes Bipartisan RANCH Act to Convert Marginal Cropland to Grassland for Livestock Production

Senator Mike Rounds has introduced the bipartisan RANCH Act, a legislative proposal aimed at providing agricultural producers with an option to convert marginal cropland back into perennial grassland. This initiative would allow landowners to continue using the restored land for livestock production, distinguishing it from programs that idle farmland. Under the RANCH Act, producers would enter into 10- to 15-year contracts, receiving annual payments linked to county cropland rental rates and assistance for establishing grass. The program would prioritize highly erodible and poorly performing cropland and has the potential to cover up to 20 million acres nationally. South Dakota has prior experience with combining grass and agricultural production, with nearly 1.5 million acres enrolled in Grassland CRP by 2024, supporting sustainable livestock grazing. This proposal comes amidst ongoing debates surrounding the farm bill, with the Senate Agriculture Committee facing delays in advancing its version.

Pain at the pump? AAA says Labor Day gas prices set for record high

Pain at the pump? AAA says Labor Day gas prices set for record high

Travelers hitting U.S. roads for Labor Day are set to feel pain at the pump, with gas prices at a record high for this time of year, according to AAA.

University of Idaho Launches New Graduate Programs to Address Behavioral Health Provider Shortage

University of Idaho Launches New Graduate Programs to Address Behavioral Health Provider Shortage

The University of Idaho's School of Health and Medical Professions (SHAMP) has introduced two new graduate programs this fall: a Doctor of Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) and a Master of Science in Gerontology. These programs aim to address critical workforce needs, particularly the severe shortage of behavioral health providers in Idaho. Every county in Idaho is currently designated as a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area, and only about half of Idahoans with a diagnosed mental health condition receive treatment. The Psy.D. program is designed to train clinical psychologists to assess, diagnose, and treat mental and behavioral health conditions across various settings, including schools, hospitals, rural clinics, and private practices. The Master of Science in Gerontology program focuses on preparing professionals to meet the needs of Idaho's rapidly aging population, which has seen a more than 50% increase in adults aged 65 and older over the past decade. This online program is multidisciplinary, cate...

Senator Mike Rounds Proposes RANCH Act to Convert Marginal Cropland to Grassland for Livestock Production

Senator Mike Rounds Proposes RANCH Act to Convert Marginal Cropland to Grassland for Livestock Production

Senator Mike Rounds has introduced the bipartisan RANCH Act, a legislative proposal aimed at providing agricultural producers with an option to convert marginal cropland back into perennial grass. This initiative would allow landowners to continue using these restored lands for livestock production, distinguishing it from traditional land idling programs. The RANCH Act proposes 10- to 15-year contracts for producers, offering annual payments linked to county cropland rental rates and assistance for establishing grass. Priority for enrollment would be given to highly erodible and poorly performing cropland. The program has the potential to cover up to 20 million acres nationally. This proposal comes at a time when many South Dakota landowners are opting for Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) enrollment, with nearly 290,000 acres offered this year, indicating a growing interest in converting cropland to grass. The Senate Agriculture Committee is currently debating the farm bill, which includes other conserva...