Trump Pardons Mountain Runner Michelino Sunseri, Who Was Prosecuted for Using an Unapproved Trail
The decision is consistent with the president's avowed concerns about "overcriminalization in federal regulations."
National Parks
He Was Charged With a Federal Offense for Running Up a Mountain
Michelino Sunseri broke the trail running record on Grand Teton but was prosecuted for "shortcutting" on a commonly used trail.
The Feds Own Half the Western U.S.—and Can't Take Care of It
Selling just a fraction of the land would reduce our enormous debt.
Lawmakers Wonder Why a Mountain Climber Was Prosecuted for Climbing a Mountain
Two members of the House Judiciary Committee say the case against Michelino Sunseri epitomizes the overcriminalization that the president decries.
A Runner Was Prosecuted for Unapproved Trail Use After the Referring Agency Called It 'Overcriminalization'
The case against Michelino Sunseri exemplifies the injustice caused by the proliferation of regulatory crimes—the target of a recent presidential order.
Trump Cut Funds From Wasteful Projects To Spend on Wasteful Statue Garden
Even when the administration has cut from seemingly obvious sources, Trump has redirected federal spending toward sources closer to his heart.
The Gutting of the National Park Service
Plus: An attack on pro-Israel protesters in Colorado, a conservative wins Poland's presidential elections, and more...
Trump's Empty and Expensive Plan To Build 250 Statues of 'American Heroes'
The president's planned National Garden of American Heroes might be a nice idea, but it would be extremely costly—and unnecessary.
Abolish the National Park Service
Revising how America's most beautiful public lands are protected would create more ways for Americans to interact with some of the best parts of the country.
William Penn Statue Reversal Shows Positive Power of Social Media
In an era when X (formerly Twitter) is blamed for all the ills of the world, here's a case where it did good.
Monday Bear Blogging: Find Your Way Home Edition
Mondays are good days for bear stories, even if we have not posted any in a while.
Fight Fire With Fire
What Florida gets right about using controlled burns to prevent damaging wildfires, and what California could learn from it.
Complicated Rules For Foraging Aren't Helping Our National Parks
Let the people pick berries!
Hovercraft-Driving Moose Hunter Is Big Winner at SCOTUS Today
John Sturgeon can once again "rev up his hovercraft" to hunt moose on Alaska's rivers, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously.
Don't Tie Tragic National Park Deaths to the Government Shutdown
Some news outlets have insinuated that the government shutdown is to blame for several tragic deaths. Statistics say otherwise.
Private Companies Are Paying to Keep Yellowstone Clean During Shutdown
They have a profit-based incentive to keep the tourists coming.
Stop Pretending the Smithsonian, National Park Closures Are a Crisis
Yes, the government shutdown is to blame. No, it's not that big of a deal.
Demonstrators Might Have to Pay a Fee to Protest on the National Mall
The National Park Service says there's an "enormous cost" to managing large political protests.
The Puffy Coat Makers at Patagonia Want You to Subsidize Their Rich Customers
There are better ways to pay for hiking trails.
Fairfax Police Chief Releases Video of Fatal U.S. Park Police Shooting
The FBI has not released the names of the cops or any other information since opening an investigation.
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke Review Proposes Shrinking 4 of 27 National Monuments
Environmental activists go ballistic.
Trump, Twitter, and the Revolt of the Permanent Government
Trump rose to power on tweets; maybe tweets will take him down too.
National Park Service Will Permanently Ban Vaping Wherever it Bans Smoking
Updating rules to include "the use of electronic cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery systems" in national parks.
Celebrate the History of the Stonewall Riots by Following All These Rules!
LGBT history gets its first national monument and all that entails.
Memorialize Stonewall by Remembering It Was About Fighting Government-Endorsed Punishment
Learn from history and stop trying to use the law to hurt others.
American Prairie Reserve Announces the 'Ken Burns American Heritage' Prize
The documentary filmmaker is teaming up with the privately funded conservation group.
Oysters vs. the State
The fight to save a California oyster farm from the National Park Service
Where the Private Buffalo Roam and the Private Antelope Play
Restoring the herds and landscape seen by Lewis and Clark
Flying a Hobby Drone in a National Park? That's a Tasering.
Man shocked (geddit?) by park ranger's behavior.
Predictions of a Man-Made Sixth Mass Extinction May Be Exaggerated
Urbanization, forest, and agricultural trends point in a more hopeful direction
Boy Scouts Boot Two Men Involved in Destruction of Rock Formation in Utah
Glenn Taylor toppled a 170 million-year-old formation in Goblin Valley State Park
Men Could Face Criminal Charges For Pushing Over Rock Formation in Utah
Goblin Valley State Park
Park Service Chief Ripped by GOP over Closure Tactics
Brought before House for hearing about methods behind closing things that didn't need to be closed
National Parks Shutdown Costing Money, Not Saving It
Something that produces revenue for the government via voluntary action. Can't have that!
Department of the Interior Considering Reopening Some National Parks
Shutdown fight in Washington D.C. in its second week
Republican Lawmakers To Look Into Reports of Feds Kicking Families Out of Their Homes Amid Government Shutdown
Some homes and private businesses are on federal land
