(Courthouse News Service) – The National Park Service predicted in a new study that sea levels will rise up to two feet before the end of this century, jeopardizing America’s coastal national parks and monuments. Decorated with photos of the Redwood National Park and the Fort Point National Historic Site, both in California, the 90-page report emphasizes that a full quarter … [Read more...] about National Park Service sounds alarm on dramatically rising sea levels

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks issued a warning Tuesday afternoon after a Billings man drowned while floating the Smith River and a man and woman were swept down Belt Creek. Neither the man nor the couple was wearing a life jacket. Officials said a middle-aged Billings man drowned Monday while floating the Smith River about eight miles upstream of the Eden Bridge take-out, … [Read more...] about FWP issues warning after floater drowns in swollen Smith River

The Missoula-based Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has a new president and CEO. Kyle Weaver is joining RMEF after a long career with the National Rifle Association, most recently as the group’s executive director of general operations and an officer. At the NRA, Weaver oversaw educational, safety and training programs, as well as grassroots fundraising and hunting and … [Read more...] about NRA executive director named CEO of Missoula’s Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

As she inherits an agency hamstrung by the skyrocketing cost of fighting wildfires, the interim chief of the U.S. Forest Service is encouraging her charges to plan differently for future fire seasons. “If we think what worked for us for the last 100 years is going to work for us the next 100 years, we might as well fold and go home because I don’t see success,” said Vicki … [Read more...] about ‘No blank checks’: New Forest Service chief says firefighting must become more efficient

(Courthouse News Service) The 15-year-old boy who admitted sparking a massive wildfire in the Columbia River Gorge by lobbing firecrackers into a ravine won’t serve any jail time, but he will have to pay a $36.6 million restitution bill that his lawyer called unconstitutional and “absurd.” The boy, who has not been identified in court records, was sentenced in February to … [Read more...] about Judge fines 15-year-old boy $36.6M for starting Columbia River Gorge wildfire