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Starved Rock State Park Experiences Slowest Summer in 16 Years Amid Trail Closures and Weather

Starved Rock State Park Experiences Slowest Summer in 16 Years Amid Trail Closures and Weather

Starved Rock State Park in Illinois recorded its slowest summer in 16 years, with attendance significantly below average. From June 1 to August 31, the park welcomed approximately 658,000 visitors, a substantial drop from 1.1 million visitors six years prior. This decline is attributed to several factors, including extensive trail closures due to an $18 million rehabilitation project, which has rendered about 30% of the park's trails inaccessible. Additionally, unfavorable weather conditions, characterized by a relatively wet and stormy summer in the Chicago-land area, contributed to the reduced foot traffic. Poor publicity regarding which trails remained open also played a role, as efforts to disseminate accurate information through social media proved challenging. In contrast, nearby Matthiessen State Park experienced a strong August, largely due to popular sunflower blooms, and is on track for one of its best years on record, suggesting that visitors may have opted for alternative local attractions.

Major Marriott resort plans extended closure

Major Marriott resort plans extended closure

An oceanfront property in one of the South’s busiest vacation destinations is preparing to temporarily shut its doors.

Alaska Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom Reinstates Treg Taylor and Jose Tagle on Ballot

Alaska Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom Reinstates Treg Taylor and Jose Tagle on Ballot

Alaska Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom has reinstated the candidacies of Treg Taylor for governor and Jose Tagle for a state House seat, just four days after the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) had disqualified them for failing to comply with financial disclosure laws. Dahlstrom's decision was based on an 'informal' and 'preliminary' review by the Department of Law, which reportedly found 'numerous potential discrepancies' in other candidates' filings. This review, which has not been made public, led Dahlstrom to conclude that she could no longer apply APOC's recommendations 'with confidence across the field of candidates.' APOC had previously voted 4-1 to disqualify Taylor for not adequately naming tenants who paid over $1 million in rental income, despite receiving a deficiency notice. Tagle was disqualified for submitting a blank disclosure form. Dahlstrom acted without APOC's input, despite the commission being a bipartisan body that reaches conclusions publicly. The Department of Law, whic...

Prosecutors Clear Fairbanks Officers and Trooper in Fatal Shooting of Warrant Suspect

Prosecutors Clear Fairbanks Officers and Trooper in Fatal Shooting of Warrant Suspect

Prosecutors have cleared two Fairbanks police officers and an Alaska State Trooper of any criminal wrongdoing in the June 28 shooting death of Brandon Michael Roberts. The 31-year-old was killed after he pointed a handgun at officers during a foot pursuit through the Bentley Mall parking lot. Body-worn camera footage released by the Fairbanks Police Department shows Roberts, who had an active $10,000 warrant for a prior burglary conviction, nearly fully upright with a pistol in hand as officers closed in on him from multiple directions. The incident began when an off-duty state probation officer reported spotting Roberts at a local Walmart, knowing he had a history of carrying a firearm. After Roberts drove to the Bentley Mall, officers located him, and he fled on foot. During the chase, Roberts fell, and while on the ground, he raised a 9mm pistol and pointed it towards officers. The Office of Special Prosecutions concluded that Roberts 'clearly pointed the firearm at more than one of the officers,' makin...

USGS Expands National Geologic Map to Cover All 50 States and U.S. Territories

USGS Expands National Geologic Map to Cover All 50 States and U.S. Territories

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has released Version 2.0 of its Cooperative National Geologic Map, which now includes Alaska, Hawaii, and most U.S. territories. This updated digital map is the first to provide standardized geologic data for all 50 states and numerous territories. The map allows users to interact with data to understand the nation's geologic framework, resources, and hazards. Assistant Secretary of the Interior Andrea Travnicek emphasized the importance of mapping for identifying and accessing energy and mineral resources crucial for the American economy, advanced manufacturing, and national defense. The new version incorporates remote and geologically complex regions, such as Alaska, which is now searchable by age, material, and rock type, and Hawaii, with detailed mapping of basalt flows, rift zones, and volcanic hazard areas. U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, parts of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa, are also in...

Urban National Park Sites Offer Accessible Alternatives to Traditional Road Trips

Urban National Park Sites Offer Accessible Alternatives to Traditional Road Trips

Many National Park Service sites are located within major U.S. cities, providing accessible options for those who prefer not to undertake long road trips or travel to remote areas. These urban parks offer diverse experiences, from historical landmarks to natural habitats. For instance, Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis features the iconic arch, a museum, and the Old Courthouse. San Antonio Missions National Historical Park in San Antonio preserves four historic missions, which can be explored via a 10-mile trail along the San Antonio River. In San Francisco, The Presidio, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, offers forests, beaches, and trails overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. New York City's Gateway National Recreation Area spans over 27,000 acres across Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and Sandy Hook, New Jersey, including the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and Floyd Bennett Field. Other notable urban sites include Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in New Orleans, Bosto...

George Masa's Legacy Continues to Shape Great Smoky Mountains National Park Nearly a Century Later

George Masa's Legacy Continues to Shape Great Smoky Mountains National Park Nearly a Century Later

Nearly a century after his death, the legacy of George Masa, a Japanese immigrant photographer and mapmaker, continues to influence the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A new exhibit at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Cherokee, North Carolina, highlights Masa's life, his extensive photography of the region, and his crucial role in the establishment of the national park and the routing of the Appalachian Trail. Masa's work, which included documenting the largely unmapped terrain, was instrumental in showcasing the beauty of western North Carolina to a wider audience and garnering support for conservation efforts. Paul Bonesteel, author and filmmaker, has extensively researched Masa's life, uncovering new details about his identity and contributions, which are now being shared with visitors.

Alaska Gasline Development Corp. to Seek Funding for AKLNG Pipeline in 2027

Alaska Gasline Development Corp. to Seek Funding for AKLNG Pipeline in 2027

Alaska Gasline Development Corp. to Seek Funding for AKLNG Pipeline in 2027

Juneau Police Seek Public Assistance in Locating Missing Woman

Juneau Police Seek Public Assistance in Locating Missing Woman

The Juneau Police Department (JPD) is requesting the public's help to locate Lauralee Josephene Peters, a 37-year-old Juneau resident who was reported missing on Thursday. JPD received a report that Peters had not been seen or heard from for approximately one week. According to the police department, Peters was injured in early July and has since traveled to Wrangell and Anchorage for medical treatment. She was last known to be in Juneau. Peters is described as Alaska Native, approximately 200 pounds, five feet and three inches tall, with black hair and brown eyes. The press release also notes that she may be walking with a cane and could have difficulty climbing stairs, and is known to frequent downtown Juneau.

Judge reinforces order barring immediate work on Trump arch in Washington

Judge reinforces order barring immediate work on Trump arch in Washington

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Sept 4 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump administration to give 48 hours' notice before engaging in any activity on the site of a triumphal arch it wants to build near Arlington National Cemetery, except for work to identify underground cultural

Alaska Center for Energy and Power Receives $3 Million for Energy Resilience Research

Alaska Center for Energy and Power Receives $3 Million for Energy Resilience Research

The Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks has been awarded $3 million by the Office of Naval Research. This funding is designated to support research into technologies aimed at strengthening energy systems in remote and strategically important regions. This award marks the fourth phase of the Alaska Regional Collaboration for Technology Innovation and Commercialization (ARCTIC) program, which was established in 2017 and is slated to continue through 2031. With this latest contribution, ACEP has accumulated $33 million through the ARCTIC program. The program facilitates collaboration among researchers, local communities, and industry partners to test and evaluate energy technologies within real-world operational environments. Jeremy Kasper, principal investigator of the ARCTIC program and ACEP director, highlighted that this phase will include applied research on energy security and cyber protection of energy systems, topics of increasing importance in Alaska, the A...

Alaska Governor's Race Shifts to 'Toss Up' Due to Republican Disunity and Ranked-Choice Voting

Alaska Governor's Race Shifts to 'Toss Up' Due to Republican Disunity and Ranked-Choice Voting

The election-forecasting website Sabato’s Crystal Ball has reclassified Alaska's gubernatorial race from 'Likely Republican' to 'Toss Up.' This significant shift occurred three days after the certification of the state’s primary election. The race now features Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins against Republicans Bernadette Wilson, Dave Bronson, and Candice English. A primary factor cited for this change is Alaska's ranked-choice ballot system, which many Republicans oppose. The Crystal Ball site suggests that 'ballot exhaustion,' where supporters of Republican candidates do not rank other candidates, threatens Republican chances. Additionally, the website notes that the top three primary vote-getters—Kreiss-Tomkins, Wilson, and Bronson—are not proven statewide contenders in a general election, and English is even less known. The last Democrat elected governor in Alaska was Tony Knowles in 1998.