USDA agency managing national forests and grasslands
Indiana has been granted a waiver to consolidate $50 million in federal education funding into a single pool with fewer restrictions, enabling the state to weight accountability differently and pursue limited school-choice adjustments. The move mirrors similar waivers in Iowa and Louisiana and aims to cut compliance costs while expanding state control. Critics warn it could reduce transparency and shift funds away from vulnerable students.
AP and partner outlets reveal that DEA agents monitored but did not seize fentanyl shipments in New Mexico to build cases against traffickers. Whistleblower testimony has sparked investigations from the inspector general and state authorities, while New Mexico’s governor and attorney general demand accountability.
A sweeping heatwave is driving extreme temperatures across the US, Canada, and parts of Europe. Health officials warn of heat-related risks as Fourth of July events unfold; cooling centers are opening and cities urge hydration and precautions.
Three federally deployed wildland firefighters have died while battling fast-moving wildfires in Colorado and Utah. Two others were injured after shelter injuries as the Knowles, Gore, and Snyder Mesa fires merge, highlighting questions around a new U.S. Wildland Fire Service and the push for full suppression.
Authorities say multiple mountaineering incidents are under way worldwide, with hikers requiring urgent assistance on high-altitude routes. A sequence of falls and injuries has prompted rescue efforts on Mount Shasta and Everest, while local authorities warn of dangerous conditions and advise climbers to reassess plans.
Mark Aaron Gatz has pleaded guilty to violating fire restrictions and unlawfully living in the Tonto National Forest. He has been sentenced to time served and three years of probation after authorities found an illegal campsite with about 1,000 pounds of trash and an active campfire. He has six prior warrants and faces up to five years in prison for related charges.
Trump's orders have reduced national monument sizes in Utah, reopening decades-long battles over land protections under the Antiquities Act. Biden previously restored boundaries and expanded protections, while legal questions about unilateral changes persist. The shift has sparked backlash from conservationists and tribes, and from Utah officials seeking more development room.
Two Forest Service biologists were kidnapped near Gumboot Lake in Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Joseph Charles Henrichsen and his son Phoenix have been charged with kidnapping federal employees after a near daylong standoff that ended with the hostages released and the suspects in custody. A large multiagency response was mounted, and prosecutors say the pair face life in prison if convicted.