Featured Stories
WildEarth Guardians: Government Accidentally Kills Mother Mexican Wolf in Arizona
SANTA FE, New Mexico, April 22 -- WildEarth Guardians issued the following news release on April 21, 2025:
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Government Accidentally Kills Mother Mexican Wolf in Arizona
Wildlife Services "mistakenly" killed the collared and presumed pregnant breeding female of the Bear Canyon Mexican gray wolf pack in Arizona
PHOENIX, Ariz. - Wildlife Services "mistakenly" killed the collared and presumed pregnant breeding female of the Bear Canyon Mexican gray wolf pack in Arizona last week. She was lethally shot pursuant to a removal order issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for an uncollared
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SANTA FE, New Mexico, April 22 -- WildEarth Guardians issued the following news release on April 21, 2025:
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Government Accidentally Kills Mother Mexican Wolf in Arizona
Wildlife Services "mistakenly" killed the collared and presumed pregnant breeding female of the Bear Canyon Mexican gray wolf pack in Arizona
PHOENIX, Ariz. - Wildlife Services "mistakenly" killed the collared and presumed pregnant breeding female of the Bear Canyon Mexican gray wolf pack in Arizona last week. She was lethally shot pursuant to a removal order issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for an uncollaredwolf from the pack, due to ongoing livestock depredations on public land. The wolf, AF 1823, was named Asiza by schoolchildren and was seven years old.
"It's outrageous that our government is authorizing wolves to be killed for preying on livestock on public lands, full stop," said Greta Anderson, deputy director of Western Watersheds Project. "But the fact that they killed a collared mother wolf 'by accident' is completely unacceptable. Wildlife professionals should be trained to know what they are shooting, especially when it comes to a highly imperiled species. We demand a full investigation and criminal charges for negligence if appropriate."
The April 4, 2025 removal order authorized the field team to kill an uncollared wolf from the Bear Canyon Pack and specifically noted that it was not their intent to "remove the breeding female ... who will likely whelp a new litter of pups soon." However, on April 14, 2025, exactly that event occurred.
"At a time in which federal agencies' purview and capacity to protect and conserve endangered wildlife is threatened, we in the conservation community stand behind the agencies' mandate to protect wildlife." said Nico Lorenzen, wildlife associate of Wild Arizona. "That said, there is a standard that these agencies must maintain in their practice, as with any profession. The mistaken killing of Asiza, wolf AF 1823, is brazen harm to a breeding female of critical importance to Mexican gray wolf recovery and should be further investigated."
"The killing of Asiza is extremely upsetting, both for her family and for lobo supporters across the country. Her death endangers the Bear Canyon pack's survival; research shows that killing a breeding female can destabilize the pack and increase the likelihood of future conflicts," said Regan Downey, Wolf Conservation Center director of education.
"We are outraged by this irresponsible and unnecessary killing of this highly endangered wolf and especially outraged and disappointed that it was the government itself that took this action and did so related to possible livestock depredation," said Sandy Bahr, director for Sierra Club's Grand Canyon (Arizona) Chapter. "All Mexican wolves are precious due to their small numbers, but a breeding female is especially precious and important. This is no way to treat endangered wildlife."
"Wildlife Services has a history littered with cruelty and mistakes; and usually it is wildlife that suffers. In fact, this is not the first time Wildlife Services has accidentally killed a Mexican wolf," said Chris Smith, wildlife program director for WildEarth Guardians. "It's clear that adequate care was not taken. Asiza never should have been killed - it's an outrage."
"The killing of this breeding female is tragic news for the recovery of Mexican wolves," said Andrea Zaccardi, carnivore conservation legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity. "While the agencies claim that killing this female was a mistake, they're staying silent on the details as to how such an egregious error was made and how they'll ensure mistakes like this won't be repeated. We need to know why this killing occurred and how they'll make sure it never happens again."
"We recognize that this is an incredibly challenging time for federal workers, and thus for the wildlife and wild places they defend, but there must be a thorough investigation into this tragic mistake," said Erin Hunt, managing director of Lobos of the Southwest. "The student who chose Asiza's name did so because wolves are keystones of their habitat and guardians of our world. We owe it to the wolves and to current and future generations to ensure that these critical guardians roam safely and freely in the wild places where they belong. Asiza's family deserves justice, and we all deserve the assurance that something like this will never happen again."
"The killing of Asiza is more than a mistake; it's a failure of ethical responsibility. Wolves are not the problem. Reactive, fear-driven policies are," said Claire Musser, executive director of the Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project. "If we want true recovery, we must move beyond coexistence and invest in relationships where both wolves and people can co-thrive."
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Original text here: https://wildearthguardians.org/press-releases/government-accidentally-kills-mother-mexican-wolf-in-arizona/
[Category: Environment]
Stakeholders' Advisory Committee Member Shares Her Thoughts on How to Foster the Next Generation of Environmental Leaders
ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, April 22 -- The Chesapeake Bay Program issued the following news:
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Stakeholders' Advisory Committee member shares her thoughts on how to foster the next generation of environmental leaders
Sara Ramotnik represents a new generation of Bay leaders
By Alex LoCurto
Sara Ramotnik works for the Choose Clean Water Coalition as a policy specialist, where she coordinates fellow non-governmental organization (NGO) partners from across the watershed to advocate for clean water policies in the Chesapeake Bay region. Ramotnik is passionate about the restoration effort and sees
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ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, April 22 -- The Chesapeake Bay Program issued the following news:
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Stakeholders' Advisory Committee member shares her thoughts on how to foster the next generation of environmental leaders
Sara Ramotnik represents a new generation of Bay leaders
By Alex LoCurto
Sara Ramotnik works for the Choose Clean Water Coalition as a policy specialist, where she coordinates fellow non-governmental organization (NGO) partners from across the watershed to advocate for clean water policies in the Chesapeake Bay region. Ramotnik is passionate about the restoration effort and seesmany opportunities for the Stakeholders' Advisory Committee to influence the next iteration of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement as well as encourage more people to become involved in the work.
Do you have a personal connection to the Chesapeake Bay, a river or a special place in the watershed? Was there a specific moment that inspired you to dedicate your time and talents to its protection?
My clean water journey started at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary when I was just five years old. Growing up in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, I spent nearly every Sunday with my dad visiting the Prince George's County side of Patuxent River Park, as it's technically known. This small and tranquil nature preserve is crisscrossed with hiking trails and speckled with access sites for launching kayaks or fishing. One day when my dad and I were there, the park was hosting a program focused on ospreys and they have remained my favorite bird ever since. Having that type of hands-on experience in a natural setting was fundamental to my childhood. Visiting Jug Bay throughout the years showed me how important nature can be for healing, how you can form an attachment to a waterbody and perhaps most importantly, how you can always learn from the natural world around you.
As I grew up, I was fortunate to spend a lot of time on the water kayaking and sailing. I remember the moment in high school looking out on Breton Bay when it hit me that I wanted to spend the rest of my life working to protect the Chesapeake Bay. After going to school to do just that, I worked for the Chesapeake Conservation Partnership as a Chesapeake Conservation Corps member in 2020-2021. My mentor, John Griffin, taught me how important partnerships are in this work. I was able to meet dozens of groups who were coalescing together to advance land conservation throughout the watershed. This was my first experience with coalition building, and I loved it so much that now I'm doing it with the Choose Clean Water Coalition.
Part of your role at the Choose Clean Water Coalition supports members in their grassroots and federal advocacy efforts around clean water policies. Tell us about the Coalition and some key issues you've learned from its members.
The Coalition is made up of over 300 NGOs throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed and we work to coordinate their clean water advocacy and communications. As the policy specialist, I work closely with a designated lead organization in each state to ensure that our members are all rowing in the same direction to advance clean water policies. I believe that through strong collective action and accountability, we can make policy changes that are crucial for protecting the lands and waters that surround us.
We often hear from our members or those interested in joining the Coalition that they are concerned about engaging in advocacy as a nonprofit. That's OK! It's allowed! We provide training to educate our members on what it means to advocate as a 501(c)3, and every March we bring them with us to our nation's capital for some hands-on experience during our Chesapeake Bay Day on Capitol Hill. There, our members meet with their federal representatives to share with them the investments that are being made in the 49 congressional districts in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
The Stakeholders' Advisory Committee has representatives across four generations. As a member from a younger generation, is there something that stands-out that you've gleaned from the more tenured members? Do you see your generation bringing a different perspective to this work?
The Bay restoration movement began long before I was born, which makes me appreciate the knowledge and perspectives that my fellow committee members bring to the table even more. My work today would not be possible without the passion those with whom I serve on this committee have brought to Bay restoration for many years. I enjoy hearing their stories of the early years of this movement, how it accelerated over time and where they think we should go next.
In moments of pause, I regularly reflect back on a quote from Jacques Cousteau: "When one man, for whatever reason, has the opportunity to lead an extraordinary life, he has no right to keep it to himself." I have been privileged to live a life appreciating much of what the Chesapeake Bay has to offer. And I fully believe it is incumbent upon people like me to work so that everyone may experience the same kind of personal connection to their extraordinary local waterways.
What do you see as a big opportunity for the Stakeholders' Advisory Committee in their role to advise the leadership of the Chesapeake Bay Program?
As the question above pointed out, we have four generations of expertise willing to share their knowledge. These committee members also bring their passion to make the world a better place to the table. As we move forward with updating the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, we are outlining how we all will work to improve the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. This will be our creed in the coming years and so we need to make sure it's a good one.
Ensuring that the language we are using in the Agreement can be easily understood by the public is crucial. Community members in the watershed should be able to comprehend the intention of different goals and outcomes and they should see themselves as a part of this effort. Focusing this work through a people centered lens will allow for us to bring more people into the effort. Approaching this work, I also see opportunities for committee members to engage with and advise new Executive Council members as a result of upcoming elections. By working together with them to identify priorities, we will be more effective in our pursuits. By promoting innovation we will be better prepared to adjust our course as needed and also find more efficient ways to reduce costs to improve water quality.
You've recently been elected to serve as co-chair of the Stakeholders' Water Quality Subcommittee. As the Chesapeake Bay Program revises and streamlines their work this year, do you think there should be new approaches to addressing water quality goals?
The Bay restoration effort thus far has mostly been focused on nitrogen, phosphorus (nutrient pollution) and sediment reduction in order to meet our water quality goals. We now have the opportunity to shift our focus to enhancing living resources. I think there should be a balance between the two as we move forward. By targeting living resources such as riparian buffers or wetlands with investments, we will see better water quality in our waterways and other benefits including increased wildlife habitat, natural flooding barriers and more resilient communities. We will always need to work to reduce our nutrient pollution, but by focusing more on living resources than before, we will have better and healthier watersheds overall.
Accountability will also play an important role if we are to meet our water quality goals. By outlining specific deadlines with interim targets for the jurisdictions, we will know when we need to adjust our course along the way. Having deadlines will also help us to better advocate for financial resources needed to meet our goals.
How do you think the Chesapeake Bay Program can better engage and empower the next generation of environmental leaders?
In the summer before my senior year at the University of Maryland, I interned at the Chesapeake Bay Program as part of the Agriculture Workgroup. This internship was my first experience with being a part of the restoration effort and I wouldn't be where I am without it. Unfortunately, this internship program no longer exists. Investing in internship and mentorship programs literally allows us to build our future environmental leaders. Providing paid internships and mentorship opportunities opens the door for our younger generations, especially those in marginalized communities, and helps us to build our workforce. Working with academic institutions on research is a great way to bring young future leaders into the fold.
I've had some great mentors and opportunities over the years which have allowed me to affect the Chesapeake Bay in ways I never thought possible. I strive to bring young people into this movement and to help them understand that they belong in this space. This work will never end- we will always be taking action to improve water quality in the Bay watershed. So we must build a resilient effort full of passionate people who will do this important work for the decades to come.
The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay is honored to support the appointed volunteers of the Stakeholders' Advisory Committee. We are committed to serving as an unbiased convener so the members can achieve their mission through learning and discussion. Views expressed by the members are not those of the Alliance.
About the author
Alex LoCurto
alocurto@allianceforthebay.org
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Original text here: https://www.chesapeakebay.net/news/blog/stakeholders-advisory-committee-member-shares-her-thoughts-on-how-to-foster-the-next-generation-of-environmental-leaders
[Category: Environment]
Scripps Research Institute: Empowering Antibodies to Better Activate the Immune System
LA JOLLA, California, April 22 -- The Scripps Research Institute issued the following news:
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Empowering antibodies to better activate the immune system
Scripps Research scientists discover that a higher ratio of antibodies to viral protein helps engage two specific types of immune cells.
LA JOLLA, CA--Antibodies are best known for their ability to latch onto and neutralize bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. But these immune proteins can do more than that: They also activate other components of the immune system, which then go to work to clear an infection. A new study from Scripps
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LA JOLLA, California, April 22 -- The Scripps Research Institute issued the following news:
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Empowering antibodies to better activate the immune system
Scripps Research scientists discover that a higher ratio of antibodies to viral protein helps engage two specific types of immune cells.
LA JOLLA, CA--Antibodies are best known for their ability to latch onto and neutralize bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. But these immune proteins can do more than that: They also activate other components of the immune system, which then go to work to clear an infection. A new study from ScrippsResearch explores the factors that influence how effectively antibodies engage specific immune cells.
Their results, described April 22, 2025 in Cell Reports, indicate that a higher ratio of antibodies to viral protein--in this case, a part of HIV--better engages two specific types of immune cells. While this discovery is most immediately applicable to experimental HIV vaccines, it has implications for the development of other drugs as well.
"Many therapeutics and vaccines tap into antibodies' immune-stimulating function," says senior author Lars Hangartner, associate professor of immunology in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology at Scripps Research. "Understanding the mechanisms that govern it will help us to develop new versions that are better at their jobs because they have the most assistance from this secondary function."
Hangartner's team employed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool for a key aspect of this research: designing altered versions of the HIV protein. This AI-based approach accelerated their work and could do the same for future projects.
Fine-tuned by the immune system to latch onto a particular site on a pathogen, Y-shaped antibodies bind to their targets with their arms. Meanwhile, the Fc region (or "stem") of the antibody attaches to other immune cells. These include phagocytes, which engulf infected cells, and natural killer cells, which perforate and poison them.
Previous research in Hangartner's lab and elsewhere has indicated that in many cases--but not all--this interaction bolsters antibodies' effectiveness and improves protection against infection. But scientists know little about what determines how well, if at all, the Fc region stimulates immune cells.
Hangartner believed multiple factors could be at play, including binding location. Antibodies that target the same viral protein can bind to different spots on its surface, called epitopes. Likewise, the strength of the bond between the antibody and epitope can vary, as can the number of antibodies that bind near one another.
To answer these questions in the new study, Hangartner's team focused on a well-studied target, HIV's Env protein, which the virus uses to invade human cells. But Env's epitopes are highly complex and so not suitable for the experiments they had in mind, which included relocating the epitopes on the viral protein to study the importance of binding location. Instead, they used a smaller, simpler, more accommodating epitope derived from the influenza virus.
Even with the simpler flu epitope, conventional techniques for grafting it onto varying spots on Env would require considerable trial and error. What's more, the results would be limited by the protein's willingness to cooperate.
An AI tool called AlphaFold2 helped them work around these challenges. With AlphaFold2, they designed Env proteins with the flu epitope placed exactly where they wanted it. They then selected and refined those designs, before expressing the altered proteins.
They analyzed how relocating the epitope altered the behavior of two immune cells: natural killer cells and phagocytes. They also looked at how these two cell types responded when the antibodies formed weaker versus stronger bonds with the epitope. And finally, they evaluated how the cells reacted when one, two or three antibodies bound to a set of three Env proteins.
Of these three factors, only one appeared to matter: The ratio of antibodies to Env. Both immune cells became most destructive when three antibodies bound per set of Env proteins. While the phagocytes displayed a low level of activity with a single antibody, natural killer cells had almost no response unless at least two were present.
This research suggests that HIV vaccines could also enhance the response from these other immune cells, in addition to eliciting the immune system to produce antibodies against the virus. Experimental vaccines that produce antibodies that can bind at high ratios appear most likely to take advantage of this secondary effect.
Antibody ratio appears to influence these interactions in other infectious diseases as well, according to Hangartner.
"I think this rule is probably true for many other pathogens," Hangartner says, cautioning that only experiments will show whether such changes translate into better protection from disease. "It's likely but not a given."
It's not clear yet if binding ratio's influence extends beyond infections to therapeutic antibodies, like those that target cancer cells or errant immune cells that promote inflammation. But, in general, Hangartner says, a better understanding of how these interactions activate other parts of the immune system could speed the development of these treatments.
In addition to Hangartner, authors of the study, "Molecular parameters governing FcyR signaling and effector functions in the context of HIV envelope," include Michael Bick, Eduard Puig, David Beauparlant, Rebecca Nedellec, Iszac Burton, Keihvan Ardaghi, Thea R. Zalunardo, Raiza Bastidas, Xuduo Li, Javier Guenaga, Wen-Hsin Lee, Richard Wyatt, Wenwen Zhu of the University of Southamptom, Max Crispin, Gabriel Ozorowski, Andrew Ward, and Dennis Burton of Scripps Research.
This study was supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health (UM1Al44462 and R01 Al136621-05), and the European Molecular Biology Organization (fellowship ALTF 339-2021).
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Original text here: https://www.scripps.edu/news-and-events/press-room/2025/20250421-hangartner-antibodies.html
[Category: Environment]
Reporting on Alabama's Unsafe and Inhumane Prisons
MONTGOMERY, Alabama, April 22 -- The Equal Justice Initiative issued the following news on April 21, 2025:
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New Reporting on Alabama's Unsafe and Inhumane Prisons
In a new report yesterday on Alabama's prison crisis, AL.com gave voice to the often-ignored perspectives of families who have lost loved ones to Alabama's violent and dangerous prisons and asked what many Alabamians are wondering---why has not much changed?
Reporter Ivana Hrynkiw obtained letters that family members wrote to Alabama's Joint Prison Oversight Committee to plead for help and information about what happened to their
... Show Full Article
MONTGOMERY, Alabama, April 22 -- The Equal Justice Initiative issued the following news on April 21, 2025:
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New Reporting on Alabama's Unsafe and Inhumane Prisons
In a new report yesterday on Alabama's prison crisis, AL.com gave voice to the often-ignored perspectives of families who have lost loved ones to Alabama's violent and dangerous prisons and asked what many Alabamians are wondering---why has not much changed?
Reporter Ivana Hrynkiw obtained letters that family members wrote to Alabama's Joint Prison Oversight Committee to plead for help and information about what happened to theirloved ones.
"All share stories of loved ones dying in Alabama's prison system," she wrote, "and all come from families demanding help and change."
Through the lens of personal stories from Alabamians whose loved ones have died in our state prisons, the report traces the problems in Alabama's prisons and the State's failure to make even the "easy fixes."
"The state prisons are overcrowded and understaffed, while some of the buildings are falling apart. Too many inmates are raped and killed, drugs are readily available, and life expectancy falls at the entrance," AL.com reported. "And the federal government, under multiple presidents, said all of this makes Alabama prisons unconstitutional in their cruelty."
Following its extensive investigation into Alabama's prisons for men, the U.S. Justice Department in 2019 and 2020 made recommendations to improve conditions, including a number of doable, affordable solutions that could have been implemented immediately--things like fixing broken locks.
But federal prosecutors reported at the end of 2020 that Alabama "has not made this easy fix," leading the Justice Department to file a lawsuit that is set for trial next spring.
"There's a cancer in the system"
Instead of implementing solutions to these problems, Alabama has committed more than $1 billion to build just one new prison, AL.com reported.
But federal prosecutors have made clear that "new facilities alone will not resolve the contributing factors to the overall unconstitutional condition of ADOC prisons, such as understaffing, culture, management deficiencies, corruption, policies, training, non-existent investigations, violence, illicit drugs, and sexual abuse."
Changes that could help improve conditions are set out in AL.com's report, which details a number of recommendations from federal prosecutors, families, and advocates, including EJI attorney Charlotte Morrison, who suggested that new leadership is needed to make a difference in the prisons.
"What we know is there's a cancer in the system that hasn't been treated, and then it's going to be moved into this new system," Ms. Morrison told AL.com. "I think it's a real disservice to the officers to leave them without supervision, to give them these orders that (they) know (they) don't have the staff to be able to implement."
After EJI filed a complaint with the Justice Department about sexual abuse at Tutilwer Prison for Women, a federal investigation confirmed the prison's "history of unabated staff-on-prisoner sexual abuse and harassment," and recommended changes that were later formalized in a consent decree.
Alabama complied with almost of all of the requirements, AL.com reported, resulting in a dramatic turnaround.
Leadership and security
One of the reforms that worked at Tutwiler was a change in leadership. As Ms. Morrison told AL.com, the Alabama Department of Corrections brought in a new deputy commissioner whose job was to focus solely on Tutwiler.
"We can bring on additional supervisors to be on the ground at the facilities to help staff understand, 'How do you manage this crisis?' Ms. Morrison said. "It does require bringing in independent supervision and leadership."
Understaffing remains a system-wide problem, with ADOC Commissioner John Hamm reporting in 2023 that 28% of security positions and 18% of support staff positions remained vacant. Hiring is happening, AL.com noted.
But as Ms. Morrison suggested, Alabama could follow the lead of other states and hire social workers and other criminal justice professionals as supervisors or wardens, rather than restricting hiring to certified law enforcement officers.
Another fix that worked at Tutwiler is a simple one--install and monitor video cameras. AL.com reported that the federal government said ADOC needed to install a camera system within six months. That was six years ago.
"I don't understand why we don't have live monitoring of video feeds at the prisons," Ms. Morrison told AL.com. "If you don't have staff to put in a unit, contract with a live monitor and watch it, make sure those cameras are always functioning."
Families, treatment, and programming
Given how many people in prison struggle with addiction, the number of spots available for addiction programs in Alabama's prisons is, Ms. Morrison said, "minuscule compared to the problem."
In addition to drug treatment, offering programs--including job training and education--is a win-win proposition, she explained. Keeping people occupied with positive programs is key to maintaining security in prisons, and programming can help prepare people to return home, which increases public safety in the community.
Currently, Alabama provides "virtually no re-entry support for people coming out having been raped, still having an ongoing addiction, dealing with this trauma," Ms. Morrison told AL.com. "Men are coming out broken by abuse and violence, by addiction, with nothing."
That leaves mostly poor families to shoulder the burden of re-entry on their own.
Getting families involved from day one--to help their loved ones understand what is expected of them and what programming, classes, and opportunities for rehabilitation and reform are available--is another low-cost change that would increase safety in Alabama's prisons, Ms. Morrison pointed out.
Like in other prisons, ADOC could easily provide family movie nights or worship sessions as incentives for good behavior, which would reduce violence and disciplinary issues.
And plenty of volunteer groups are eager to come into prisons and teach.
Programming can be "low-cost and high-yield in terms of security outcomes," Ms. Morrison said.
ADOC should see families as a resource to help address violence in state prisons, Ms. Morrison told AL.com, because "treating families as if they're part of the problem is really jeopardizing the mission of the Department of Corrections to ensure public safety by decreasing the chances of recidivism."
Families who flooded the state house with letters and calls for help for their incarcerated loved ones are hopeful that lawmakers will implement changes, AL.com reported.
One woman, who found out that her cousin was slain behind bars, wrote: "In this upcoming legislative session, please use the power you have to make Alabama prisons safer and ensure that family members of prisoners are treated like human beings, especially when they are in a crisis. We are counting on you."
Drawing on past experience, Ms. Morrison also expressed hope.
"I think we turned Tutwiler from the most notorious women's prison in the U.S. to a model within just a very short time," she told AL.com. "I think we could do that. We could start with one prison... I think we could do it system-wide, but why not even just start with one of the prisons?"
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Original text here: https://eji.org/news/new-reporting-on-alabamas-unsafe-and-inhumane-prisons/
[Category: Sociological]
Removing Habitat Protections From Endangered Species Act Would Imperil Wisconsin's Endangered Wildlife
MADISON, Wisconsin, April 22 -- Clean Wisconsin issued the following news release:
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Removing habitat protections from Endangered Species Act would imperil Wisconsin's endangered wildlife
The rusty-patched bumble bee, whooping crane, karner blue butterfly--these are some of the rare Wisconsin wildlife species that rely on protection from the Endangered Species Act to survive. Now, a push from the Trump Administration to allow the destruction of endangered species' habitat would leave no path to recovery for wildlife across the state and country.
"Habitat loss is the single biggest driver
... Show Full Article
MADISON, Wisconsin, April 22 -- Clean Wisconsin issued the following news release:
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Removing habitat protections from Endangered Species Act would imperil Wisconsin's endangered wildlife
The rusty-patched bumble bee, whooping crane, karner blue butterfly--these are some of the rare Wisconsin wildlife species that rely on protection from the Endangered Species Act to survive. Now, a push from the Trump Administration to allow the destruction of endangered species' habitat would leave no path to recovery for wildlife across the state and country.
"Habitat loss is the single biggest driverof wildlife extinction," says Clean Wisconsin Science Program Director Paul Mathewson. "That's why the Endangered Species Act has long been interpreted to include protections for habitat. Common sense tells us that destroying a species' food and shelter harms the species itself."
The Endangered Species Act prohibits actions that "harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect" endangered plants and animals. But last week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service said in a proposed rule that degrading or destroying habitat should not be considered harm.
"Habitat protection and restoration is what allowed native species like the Kirtland's warbler to finally move off of the federally Endangered Species list," Mathewson points out. The Wisconsin songbird hit population lows of just a few hundred in the 1980s and was one of the first songbirds placed on the Endangered Specieis list. Populations began to rebound after years of intensive work to safeguard its habitat.
"The removal of habitat protections would undercut much of the progress we've made since the Endangered Species Act became law in 1973. It may remain on the books, but its ability to truly protect America's biodiversity would be substantially diminished," says Matthewson.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service are accepting public comments on this proposed change until May 19. Public comments can be submitted here on the Regulations.gov website.
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Original text here: https://www.cleanwisconsin.org/removing-habitat-protections-from-endangered-species-act-would-imperil-wisconsins-endangered-wildlife/
[Category: Environment]
Diamond Mountain Retreat Center Earns DarkSky Approved Lodging Certification
TUCSON, Arizona, April 22 -- DarkSky International issued the following news release:
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Diamond Mountain Retreat Center earns DarkSky Approved Lodging certification
Bowie, Arizona
Diamond Mountain Retreat Center, located in southeastern Arizona, has been officially designated as DarkSky Approved Lodging by DarkSky International. This prestigious recognition reflects Diamond Mountain's commitment to protecting the night sky through sustainable lighting practices while offering guests a one-of-a-kind stargazing experience.
Nestled in the remote foothills of the Chiricahua Mountains, Diamond
... Show Full Article
TUCSON, Arizona, April 22 -- DarkSky International issued the following news release:
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Diamond Mountain Retreat Center earns DarkSky Approved Lodging certification
Bowie, Arizona
Diamond Mountain Retreat Center, located in southeastern Arizona, has been officially designated as DarkSky Approved Lodging by DarkSky International. This prestigious recognition reflects Diamond Mountain's commitment to protecting the night sky through sustainable lighting practices while offering guests a one-of-a-kind stargazing experience.
Nestled in the remote foothills of the Chiricahua Mountains, DiamondMountain spans over 1,000 acres of wilderness near Fort Bowie National Monument, Chiricahua National Monument, and the ghost town of Dos Cabezas.
Established in 2004 as a quiet refuge for spiritual practice, the retreat center was intentionally sited far from urban light and noise. Its pristine, star-filled skies are a key feature of the landscape--underscored by the nearby Mount Graham International Observatory, just 50 miles to the north.
The property includes Bear Springs, once a vital water source for the nomadic Chiricahua Apache. Diamond Mountain features 28 minimalist retreat houses powered by solar energy and equipped with waterless composting toilets. The center is also developing an ecological restoration plan to enhance native habitat, reduce erosion, capture rainwater, and cool the local environment.
Sitting at the intersection of four major bioregions, the area supports abundant biodiversity. Guests often enjoy birdwatching, wildlife sightings, and dark sky viewing from their cabin porches.
Visitors from cities around the world--many who have never seen a truly dark sky--are awed by the crystal-clear, star-studded nights. The Tucson Astronomy Club regularly brings telescopes and offers guided night sky education. Beginning in April 2025, Diamond Mountain will offer monthly stargazing events for local schools and the public, and plans are underway to build a small public observatory atop one of its 5,000-foot peaks.
"Transitioning Diamond Mountain's outdoor lighting to meet DarkSky's rigorous standards at first seemed daunting," said Kat Ehrhorn, Diamond Mountain's DarkSky Program Administrator. "But with DSI's clear lighting program education and staff support, we were able to make sense of what was needed for our 38 buildings to safely support night pollinators and bird migrations."
Ehrhorn will also assist county planning and zoning departments in sharing DSI's safe and affordable lighting codes with local residents and businesses.
"As a DarkSky International Approved Lodging, this is another step in Diamond Mountain being able to preserve this environment for future generations," said Gail Deutsch, President of the Diamond Mountain Retreat Center Board. "It aligns perfectly with Diamond Mountain's vision of preserving, enhancing, restoring and maintaining the land that we have been entrusted to steward."
The DarkSky Approved Lodging designation brings global attention to Diamond Mountain's exceptional night skies--furthering the effort to protect this natural wonder for generations to come.
About the DarkSky International Lodging Program
Founded in 2023, the DarkSky International Lodging Program sets a new standard in the travel industry, encouraging hospitality companies to actively participate in safeguarding the night from the damaging effects of light pollution while providing their guests with an awe-inspiring and educational experience under pristine dark skies. Learn more.
About DarkSky International:
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Original text here: https://darksky.org/news/diamond-mountain-retreat-center-earns-darksky-approved-lodging-certification/
[Category: Science]
Consumer Reports Urges the White House to Abandon Its Plans to Eliminate the Independent, Bipartisan Consumer Product Safety Commission
YONKERS, New York, April 22 -- Consumer Reports posted the following news release on April 21, 2025:
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Consumer Reports urges the White House to abandon its plans to eliminate the independent, bipartisan Consumer Product Safety Commission
Draft plans to gut the independence of the CPSC are dangerously misguided and would leave Americans at greater risk of being harmed by unsafe products
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As reports circulate about White House plans to restructure federal health agencies and drastically slash public health programs, Consumer Reports (CR) today denounced an overlooked and
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YONKERS, New York, April 22 -- Consumer Reports posted the following news release on April 21, 2025:
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Consumer Reports urges the White House to abandon its plans to eliminate the independent, bipartisan Consumer Product Safety Commission
Draft plans to gut the independence of the CPSC are dangerously misguided and would leave Americans at greater risk of being harmed by unsafe products
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As reports circulate about White House plans to restructure federal health agencies and drastically slash public health programs, Consumer Reports (CR) today denounced an overlooked andsignificant part of the plan: a proposal to eliminate the independent, bipartisan Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and put the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in charge of overseeing the safety of more than 15,000 types of consumer products.
William Wallace, CR's director of safety advocacy, said, "This dangerously misguided proposal would leave American families at greater risk in their own homes. It would take critical data-driven safety rules that protect babies, children, and adults nationwide, and immediately expose them to political whims. Consumers depend on the CPSC to enforce our safety laws, stop dangerous imported products at the border, and warn them when there's a hazardous product on the market--or already in their homes--that could injure or kill them.
"The CPSC's ability to take strong action based on scientific evidence is critical to keeping people safe, and it's tied directly to its status as an independent agency relatively insulated from day-to-day politics. If you take that away, the CPSC all too easily could become a tool for the political interests of the White House, regardless of which party is in charge."
According to the draft budget proposal by the Office of Management and Budget, which reports directly to the President, a newly created HHS division would become responsible for protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from consumer products. It would take the place of the CPSC, which was specifically established by Congress in 1972 to be insulated from the political pressures associated with being under the control of the President as "[a]n independent regulatory commission ... consisting of five Commissioners who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate" where "[n]ot more than three of the Commissioners shall be affiliated with the same political party."
Gabe Knight, CR's senior safety policy analyst, said, "It cannot be overstated how damaging it would be to eliminate the Consumer Product Safety Commission. This small but vital agency is often the only one responsible for stopping dangerous toys, baby products, appliances, and electronics from harming the public. The White House should immediately abandon its reckless proposal and leave it out of its final budget request. If the White House doesn't reverse course, Congress must assert itself and reject any attempts to undermine the lawmaking powers of our elected representatives. Congress should hold the administration accountable to federal law and preserve the CPSC as the independent, bipartisan consumer safety watchdog it has supported for more than fifty years."
Media contact: Michael McCauley, michael.mccauley@consumer.org
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Original text here: https://advocacy.consumerreports.org/press_release/consumer-reports-urges-the-white-house-to-abandon-its-plans-to-eliminate-the-independent-bipartisan-consumer-product-safety-commission/
[Category: Business]
