Featured Stories
MetroHealth Appoints Chair of Surgery
CLEVELAND, Ohio, Aug. 17 [Category: Health Care] -- The MetroHealth System posted the following news release:
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MetroHealth Appoints Chair of Surgery
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The MetroHealth System has named Natalie Joseph, MD, as Chair of its Department of Surgery.
A nationally respected surgical oncologist and longtime MetroHealth leader, Dr. Joseph will oversee a department that plays a critical role in delivering complex surgical care across Northeast Ohio, including supporting MetroHealth's status as the region's premier Level I Adult Trauma Center.
"Dr. Joseph is an exceptional surgeon, educator and leader
... Show Full Article
CLEVELAND, Ohio, Aug. 17 [Category: Health Care] -- The MetroHealth System posted the following news release:
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MetroHealth Appoints Chair of Surgery
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The MetroHealth System has named Natalie Joseph, MD, as Chair of its Department of Surgery.
A nationally respected surgical oncologist and longtime MetroHealth leader, Dr. Joseph will oversee a department that plays a critical role in delivering complex surgical care across Northeast Ohio, including supporting MetroHealth's status as the region's premier Level I Adult Trauma Center.
"Dr. Joseph is an exceptional surgeon, educator and leaderwhose commitment to our patients and our mission is evident in everything she does," said David Stepnick, MD, FACS, Executive Vice President, Chief Physician Executive and Chief Clinical Officer at MetroHealth. "The Department of Surgery is central to many of MetroHealth's most critical services, including trauma care, surgical innovation and physician training. We are excited to have Natalie leading the department as we continue advancing those efforts."
Dr. Joseph has been a member of the MetroHealth medical staff for nearly 18 years. In addition to serving as Interim Chair, she has held several leadership roles, including Interim Executive Director of the Cancer Institute, Director of the Division of Surgical Oncology and Director of the Center for Breast Health. She is also Past President of the Medical Staff.
Her career has been defined by a commitment to caring for patients facing not only complex medical diagnoses but also the social and economic challenges that can affect health outcomes.
"What has always inspired me about MetroHealth is the people," Dr. Joseph said. "Our caregivers understand that a diagnosis is often only one part of a patient's story. We care for the whole person, and that commitment to serving our community is what has kept me here throughout my career."
As Chair, Dr. Joseph will help lead a department that supports MetroHealth's broad clinical, academic and research missions. The Department of Surgery includes specialists across multiple disciplines, including bariatric surgery, vascular surgery, surgical oncology and plastic and reconstructive surgery. It also serves as a key component of MetroHealth's trauma program, which cares for thousands of patients each year as the region's most experienced trauma center.
"Dr. Joseph brings a collaborative leadership style, deep institutional knowledge and a strong commitment to advancing academic medicine," said John Chae, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer at MetroHealth and Senior Associate Dean for Medical Affairs at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. "She is uniquely positioned to help strengthen our surgical programs while ensuring that MetroHealth remains a destination for exceptional patient care, medical education and research."
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Original text here: https://www.metrohealth.org/en/newsroom/2026/metrohealth-appoints-chair-of-surgery/
'It's About Time': ALG Praises House Passage Of Sunshine Protection Act, Urges Senate Passage
FAIRFAX, Virginia, Aug. 16 [Category: Government/Public Administration] -- Americans for Limited Government posted the following news release:
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'It's About Time': ALG Praises House Passage Of Sunshine Protection Act, Urges Senate Passage
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July 15, 2026, Fairfax, Va.-Americans for Limited Government Executive Director Robert Romano today issued the following statement praising the House for passing the Sunshine Protection Act and urged the Senate to do the same:
"The House has finally passed legislation that will end standard time once and for all. No more sunsets in the middle of the
... Show Full Article
FAIRFAX, Virginia, Aug. 16 [Category: Government/Public Administration] -- Americans for Limited Government posted the following news release:
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'It's About Time': ALG Praises House Passage Of Sunshine Protection Act, Urges Senate Passage
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July 15, 2026, Fairfax, Va.-Americans for Limited Government Executive Director Robert Romano today issued the following statement praising the House for passing the Sunshine Protection Act and urged the Senate to do the same:
"The House has finally passed legislation that will end standard time once and for all. No more sunsets in the middle of theafternoon. It's about time. Nobody likes the constant clock changes. The fact is that under current law, there was never a way to opt out of standard time whereas states were permitted to opt out of daylight savings time if they really wanted to, as Arizona and Hawaii do. School districts can always have starting bells later to compensate if there is concern about later sunrises during the winter months, although it's worth noting almost all districts are already on Christmas vacation during the shortest days. Clearly, based on the House vote, and unanimous passage of practically identical legislation by the Senate in 2022, and the President's support, daylight savings time is far more popular. But really, it's just let's pick a time and stick with it. Compromise if needs be: shave a half hour off standard time. Anything's better than the clock changes, and the early sunsets in the winter are frankly depressing. But the bill's fine the way it is. It is time for the Senate to immediately take up this common sense, bipartisan legislation, stop switching the clocks and let the sun shine into the evening for good."
For media availability contact Americans for Limited Government at media@limitgov.org.
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Original text here: https://getliberty.org/2026/07/its-about-time-alg-praises-house-passage-of-sunshine-protection-act-urges-senate-passage/
KFF: Analysis - At Least 37 States Have Medicaid State Directed Payments for Hospital Services That Could Be Reduced by the 2025 Reconciliation Law Limits
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Aug. 15 (TNSrep) -- KFF, an organization that says it is an independent source of health policy analysis, polling and in-depth news coverage, issued the following news release:
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Analysis: At Least 37 States Have Medicaid State Directed Payments for Hospital Services That Could Be Reduced by the 2025 Reconciliation Law Limits
States with the Biggest Potential Reductions in Medicaid Payments to Hospitals Include California, Illinois, Kentucky, Texas, North Carolina, Louisiana, Arizona and Michigan
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An estimated $60 billion in federal Medicaid spending in 37 states
... Show Full Article
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Aug. 15 (TNSrep) -- KFF, an organization that says it is an independent source of health policy analysis, polling and in-depth news coverage, issued the following news release:
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Analysis: At Least 37 States Have Medicaid State Directed Payments for Hospital Services That Could Be Reduced by the 2025 Reconciliation Law Limits
States with the Biggest Potential Reductions in Medicaid Payments to Hospitals Include California, Illinois, Kentucky, Texas, North Carolina, Louisiana, Arizona and Michigan
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An estimated $60 billion in federal Medicaid spending in 37 states(including the District of Columbia) would likely exceed new federal limits on state directed payments for hospital services once fully implemented, a new KFF analysis (https://www.kff.org/medicaid/at-least-37-states-have-medicaid-state-directed-payments-for-hospital-services-that-could-be-reduced-by-the-2025-reconciliation-law-limits/) finds.
The 2025 reconciliation law made major changes to Medicaid eligibility and financing, including new limits on how much states can direct Medicaid managed-care organizations to pay for certain services, including hospital care.
The eight states with the biggest potential reductions in Medicaid payments to hospitals account for half of the total: California ($7.4 billion), Illinois ($4.0 billion), Kentucky ($3.9 billion), Texas ($3.5 billion), North Carolina ($3.4 billion), Louisiana ($3.3 billion), Arizona ($3.0 billion) and Michigan ($2.6 billion).
In the past, states were allowed to direct managed care plans to pay hospitals and other providers up to the average commercial rates for such services. Once implemented, the new law limits such payments in most states to Medicare payment rates, which typically are substantially lower than commercial rates. In the 10 states that have not expanded their Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act, payments are capped just above Medicare rates.
The Trump administration in June 2025 issued a proposed rule to implement the change but has not yet finalized those regulations. The analysis assesses the scope of federal funding for hospital services that could be affected once the new limits are fully in place, including insights into how the magnitude of the changes will vary by state.
The estimates do not project actual revenue losses for hospitals annually, which would be affected by other coverage changes, provider tax changes as well as state responses to the new limits.
States with state directed payments that exceed the new limit could take a range of actions in response, including increasing base payment rates for hospital services, though their ability to do so may be limited by other new restrictions on financing mechanisms, such as provider taxes. Hospitals' ability to absorb reduced payment rates also varies and could pose particular challenges for hospitals with low operating margins, including many rural hospitals and hospitals with relatively large numbers of Medicaid patients.
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Original text here: https://www.kff.org/medicaid/analysis-at-least-37-states-have-medicaid-state-directed-payments-for-hospital-services-that-could-be-reduced-by-the-2025-reconciliation-law-limits/
[Category: Health Care]
FFRF Action Fund: League of Women Voters Chapter is 'Secularist' for Christian Nationalism Panel
MADISON, Wisconsin, Aug. 15 -- FFRF Action Fund, an organization that says it develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, posted the following news on Aug. 14, 2026:
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League of Women Voters chapter is 'Secularist' for Christian nationalism panel
The FFRF Action Fund awards the League of Women Voters of Tarrant County its "Secularist of the Week" plaudit for recently hosting a panel discussion on the threat of Christian nationalism.
As part of the League of Women Voters' nationwide
... Show Full Article
MADISON, Wisconsin, Aug. 15 -- FFRF Action Fund, an organization that says it develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, posted the following news on Aug. 14, 2026:
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League of Women Voters chapter is 'Secularist' for Christian nationalism panel
The FFRF Action Fund awards the League of Women Voters of Tarrant County its "Secularist of the Week" plaudit for recently hosting a panel discussion on the threat of Christian nationalism.
As part of the League of Women Voters' nationwideday of civic action on Aug. 8, in honor of the anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Tarrant County League, based in Fort Worth, Texas, facilitated a panel discussion with faith leaders, election experts and free-speech advocates on Christian nationalism. The panel, billed as a discussion on "faith, freedom and democracy," centered on issues of state and church, religious influence in our government and the rise of religious nationalism.
The panel included Perry Crenshaw, spiritual director of the NAACP's Arlington chapter, Chris and Mendi Tackett, founders of the website See it. Name it. Fight it., which aims to help people understand Christian nationalism, and Laney Hawes, the co-director of the Texas Freedom to Read Project, which advocates against theocratic book bans in Texas. The League partnered with the NAACP's Fort Worth and Arlington chapters, March to the Polls, the Faith and Justice Coalition of Tarrant County, Pastors for Texas Children and Texans Defending Democracy to host the event.
The League of Women Voters of Tarrant County president, Janet Mattern, told the Fort Worth Report that the League planned the event to educate locals about what it sees as an attack on democracy. Mattern said the League is concerned about "the gutting of voting rights," the elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion programs and other local government policy changes rooted in a common movement.
"That movement is the Christian nationalist movement, and they have been working towards undermining our democracy," Mattern said. "In the League of Women Voters, we have as part of our mission to defend democracy ... and so we thought it was very necessary to educate ourselves and to educate the community about what Christian nationalism is."
Mattern shared that, at the group's annual convention in June, members approved a measure reaffirming that the League stands for "the separation of church and state and religious freedom founded upon individual conscience, free of social or political influence by any state or religious body."
The Tarrant County League reflected on the panel in a Facebook post, writing, "It was great to learn more about Christian nationalism, but much more importantly it was great to be with great organizations and people who put faith, community, democracy, freedom of and from religion and the power of love first."
The League of Women Voters of Tarrant County is a nonpartisan, grassroots civic organization that encourages informed participation in government and conducts education and advocacy work for major public policy issues. Membership is open to all people 16 and older who support the League's mission and policies.
The FFRF Action Fund sincerely thanks the League for championing sound governance and confronting the threat Christian nationalism poses to secular democracy. Through its stellar panel discussion, the group conducted much-needed grassroots education on Christian nationalism -- and its effects on public policy and local government.
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FFRF Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) organization that develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church. It also advocates for the rights and views of nonbelievers, endorses candidates for political office, and publicizes the views of elected officials concerning religious liberty issues.
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Original text here: https://ffrfaction.org/league-of-women-voters-chapter-is-secularist-for-christian-nationalism-panel/
[Category: Sociological]
FFRF Action Fund: 'Theocrat' Rep. Mace Deploys 'Christian Foundations' to Launch Anti-Muslim Attacks
MADISON, Wisconsin, Aug. 15 -- FFRF Action Fund, an organization that says it develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, posted the following news on Aug. 14, 2026:
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'Theocrat' Rep. Mace deploys 'Christian foundations' to launch anti-Muslim attacks
The FFRF Action Fund names Rep. Nancy Mace its "Theocrat of the Week" for her anti-Muslim attacks on social media.
Mace started her anti-Muslim rant on X last week, seemingly responding to U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed's
... Show Full Article
MADISON, Wisconsin, Aug. 15 -- FFRF Action Fund, an organization that says it develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, posted the following news on Aug. 14, 2026:
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'Theocrat' Rep. Mace deploys 'Christian foundations' to launch anti-Muslim attacks
The FFRF Action Fund names Rep. Nancy Mace its "Theocrat of the Week" for her anti-Muslim attacks on social media.
Mace started her anti-Muslim rant on X last week, seemingly responding to U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed'sDemocratic primary victory in Michigan, writing, "Every single Muslim holding public office in America is a Trojan horse, and a threat to both national security and our republic. We refuse to be silent."
Mace is an unapologetic Christian nationalist; her dangerous rhetoric is bigotry that targets all Muslim Americans and is not a fair critique of religion's entanglement with government.
Congressional Freethought Caucus member Rep. Pramila Jayapal responded to Mace with a post asserting, "This is absolutely disgusting and dangerous. Republicans must denounce this blatant Islamophobia. To Muslim communities across America: I will always stand with you."
Mace reposted Jayapal message a day later, doubling down on her anti-Muslim remarks: "She's right. I don't want to get stabbed or blown up by a suicide bomber -- nor do I want to hear the call to prayer five times a day in the United States of America. Total Islamaphobe [sic] here."
Mace wrote another post the same day, "You cannot pledge allegiance to the U.S. Constitution and Sharia Law at the same time. One is a roadmap for freedom, the other is a blueprint for tyranny. Islam has no place in Western society." She attached a CNN clip to the post, showcasing Mace clashing with CNN's Omar Jimenez. In the clip, when Jimenez asked the congresswoman, "Are you saying that anyone who is Muslim is a threat to this country?" Mace tried to walk back her remarks, saying she was referring only to "Muslim elected officials."
"They're trying to push these people out and our values out," Mace professed, seemingly referring to Muslims working to "push" out white Christian Americans. "I don't want to hear the call to prayer five times a day in an American city."
Jimenez cited the First Amendment and its protections for religious freedom, responding, "Well, if you don't want to hear it, that's OK. The First Amendment protects [the] freedom of religion. ... If that is how they worship, even if I don't want to hear it, that is their right to hear."
"I don't want this seeping into American culture. We have Christian foundations as a nation," Mace replied, turning to her Christian nationalist playbook.
"That's your opinion," Jimenez said. "The First Amendment disagrees that it needs to stay that. If someone wants to express their religion, it's right there; it's number one in terms of the Constitution."
"Then go back to that country, is all I have to say," Mace countered. "Go back to that country of origin. It doesn't need to be here."
In the original CNN interview, Mace signed off by saying, "I think we should ban all immigrants from those countries, thank you," but she did not include that tidbit in her social media post.
Mace previously received our "Theocrat" designation in December after centering her South Carolina gubernatorial campaign on Christian nationalism. In one campaign email, she intoned, "The Left is trying to erase Christ from every part of American life." Having chosen to run for governor rather than seek reelection, her term in Congress will conclude in January, following her loss in June's Republican primary, where she garnered 12.1 percent of the vote.
Mace has espoused Christian nationalism for years. Her remarks are not rooted in a genuine concern for preserving state/church separation; the congresswoman is attacking Muslim Americans under the guise of defending America's purported Christian heritage. Mace's discriminatory comments directly defy our democracy -- rooted in freedom of and from religion. She amply deserves her second "Theocrat" designation.
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FFRF Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) organization that develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church. It also advocates for the rights and views of nonbelievers, endorses candidates for political office, and publicizes the views of elected officials concerning religious liberty issues.
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Original text here: https://ffrfaction.org/theocrat-rep-mace-deploys-christian-foundations-to-launch-anti-muslim-attacks/
[Category: Sociological]
Coalition Demands Justice for Endangered Mexican Wolf Killed in Illegal Trap
HAILEY, Idaho, Aug. 15 -- The Western Watersheds Project posted the following news release on Aug. 14, 2026:
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Coalition Demands Justice for Endangered Mexican Wolf Killed in Illegal Trap
Santa Fe, N.M. -- A coalition of wildlife conservation, environmental and animal protection organizations is demanding accountability after new reporting revealed that the New Mexico Department of Justice declined to bring criminal charges against a trapper who illegally set a trap on public land and then killed an endangered Mexican gray wolf. The incident, covered in yesterday's Albuquerque Journal, involved
... Show Full Article
HAILEY, Idaho, Aug. 15 -- The Western Watersheds Project posted the following news release on Aug. 14, 2026:
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Coalition Demands Justice for Endangered Mexican Wolf Killed in Illegal Trap
Santa Fe, N.M. -- A coalition of wildlife conservation, environmental and animal protection organizations is demanding accountability after new reporting revealed that the New Mexico Department of Justice declined to bring criminal charges against a trapper who illegally set a trap on public land and then killed an endangered Mexican gray wolf. The incident, covered in yesterday's Albuquerque Journal, involvedWilliam Nelson, a permitted public safety and depredation control officer for the Catron County Sheriff's Office, who unlawfully set a trap for coyotes on public land in July 2025. After a Mexican gray wolf was caught in the trap, Nelson and a rancher restrained the wolf using a sleeping bag. The wolf died from asphyxiation due to vomit that obstructed his airway while being restrained.
According to the Albuquerque Journal, the New Mexico Department of Wildlife sought prosecution in the case, while the NMDOJ and federal authorities declined to bring charges. The New Mexico Department of Justice ultimately entered into an agreement under which the trapper would not be prosecuted and instead was required to download an app showing public and private land boundaries.
"An endangered Mexican gray wolf was caught in an illegal trap and died a horrific death, and the consequence was essentially downloading an app," said Michelle Lute, Ph.D., executive director of Wildlife for All. "Why are we unable to protect an endangered species when multiple laws were violated so clearly? If our laws cannot deliver meaningful justice in a case like this, we need to fix both the enforcement and the laws themselves."
Since 2022, at least 23 Mexican gray wolves have been documented caught in traps in New Mexico, demonstrating that trapping is an ongoing and recurring threat to the state's endangered wolf population.
"New Mexico banned public lands trapping to prevent these exact kinds of incidents. The legislature wanted to keep public lands safe and protect wildlife from cruelty," said Chris Smith, wildlife and wild places program director for WildEarth Guardians. "Roxy's Law is a beacon of enlightened wildlife and public lands policy in the West, but only if we uphold it."
"Wildlife enthusiasts, outdoor recreationists, and people opposed to animal cruelty and the brutality traps inflict along with the support of the majority of New Mexicans worked for years to finally see traps banned on NM public lands", said Mary Katherine Ray, wildlife chair for the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club. "The state of New Mexico is entrusted to enforce this law including prosecuting violators and administering penalties and this is regardless of whether the victim is a coyote or an endangered animal like a wolf. That it did not is a betrayal to all of us."
The coalition is urging New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez to strengthen the NMDOJ's prosecution of illegal activity related to trapping and other cruelty to wildlife and is calling on state leaders to strengthen enforcement and close statutory loopholes that put wolves and other wildlife at risk.
"The Governor and the Department of Wildlife recognized that this case warranted prosecution, yet the state's response failed to provide meaningful accountability for the unlawfully set trap that resulted in the death of an endangered wolf," said Cyndi Tuell, Arizona and New Mexico director at Western Watersheds Project. "We urge Attorney General Torrez to get tough on wildlife crime, and we urge the Legislature to ensure that future cases do not fall through the same cracks."
"We cannot simultaneously claim that Mexican gray wolves are ready for fewer federal protections while an endangered wolf can be illegally trapped and killed with no meaningful criminal consequence," said Regan Downey, director of education and advocacy at the Wolf Conservation Center. "Recovery requires more than increasing the number of wolves on the landscape through wild breeding or captive releases. It requires protecting them once they are there."
"This case should concern everyone who cares about the future of Mexican gray wolves. We are being told that lobos are approaching a point where federal protections can be weakened, yet an endangered breeding male can be illegally trapped on public land, die as a result, and there is no meaningful prosecution," said Claire Musser, executive Dire of the Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project. "Recovery cannot simply be measured by how many wolves are counted each year. It must also mean that wolves can live on the landscape with meaningful legal protections, accountability when those protections are violated, and a genuine chance to thrive."
Nelson's victim, referred to by the code AM2765, was the breeding male of the Frieborn pack and had welcomed pups earlier that year. He served as the adoptive father to seven wild-born pups who were fostered from the Pancho Spring pack to the Frieborn pack in 2024.
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About Wildlife for All
Wildlife for All is a national organization dedicated to reforming wildlife management to be more democratic, just, compassionate and focused on protecting wild species and ecosystems. Through research, advocacy, and education, we aim to protect wildlife and ensure that policies reflect the values of all Americans.
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About Western Watersheds Project
Western Watersheds Project is a nonprofit conservation organization with more than 50,000 members and supporters who care about protecting western public lands for watersheds and wildlife.
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About WildEarth Guardians
WildEarth Guardians protects and restores the wildlife, wild places, wild rivers, and health of the American West.
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About Sierra Club
The Sierra Club's mission is to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the Earth, practice and promote the responsible use of its ecosystems, and educate humanity to protect the natural environment.
* * *
About Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project
The Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project is a nonprofit dedicated to bringing back wolves to help restore ecological health in the Grand Canyon region, while also recognizing wolves as sentient beings with intrinsic value and worth.
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About Wolf Conservation Center
The Wolf Conservation Center advances the survival of wolves by inspiring a global community through education, advocacy, research, and recovery, and is an active participant in the SAFE Mexican Wolf Program.
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Original text here: https://www.westernwatersheds.org/2026/08/coalition-demands-justice-for-endangered-mexican-wolf-killed-in-illegal-trap/
[Category: Environment]
Coalition Demands Justice for Endangered Mexican Wolf Killed in Illegal Trap
SANTA FE, New Mexico, Aug. 15 -- WildEarth Guardians posted the following news release on Aug. 14, 2026:
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Coalition Demands Justice for Endangered Mexican Wolf Killed in Illegal Trap
Trapping is an ongoing and recurring threat to New Mexico's endangered wolf population.
-
A coalition of wildlife conservation, environmental and animal protection organizations is demanding accountability after new reporting revealed that the New Mexico Department of Justice declined to bring criminal charges against a trapper who illegally set a trap on public land and then killed an endangered Mexican
... Show Full Article
SANTA FE, New Mexico, Aug. 15 -- WildEarth Guardians posted the following news release on Aug. 14, 2026:
* * *
Coalition Demands Justice for Endangered Mexican Wolf Killed in Illegal Trap
Trapping is an ongoing and recurring threat to New Mexico's endangered wolf population.
-
A coalition of wildlife conservation, environmental and animal protection organizations is demanding accountability after new reporting revealed that the New Mexico Department of Justice declined to bring criminal charges against a trapper who illegally set a trap on public land and then killed an endangered Mexicangray wolf. The incident, covered in yesterday's Albuquerque Journal, involved William Nelson, a permitted public safety and depredation control officer for the Catron County Sheriff's Office, who unlawfully set a trap for coyotes on public land in July 2025. After a Mexican gray wolf was caught in the trap, Nelson and a rancher restrained the wolf using a sleeping bag. The wolf died from asphyxiation due to vomit that obstructed his airway while being restrained.
According to the Albuquerque Journal, the New Mexico Department of Wildlife sought prosecution in the case, while the NMDOJ and federal authorities declined to bring charges. The New Mexico Department of Justice ultimately entered into an agreement under which the trapper would not be prosecuted and instead was required to download an app showing public and private land boundaries.
"An endangered Mexican gray wolf was caught in an illegal trap and died a horrific death, and the consequence was essentially downloading an app," said Michelle Lute, Ph.D., executive director of Wildlife for All. "Why are we unable to protect an endangered species when multiple laws were violated so clearly? If our laws cannot deliver meaningful justice in a case like this, we need to fix both the enforcement and the laws themselves."
Since 2022, at least 23 Mexican gray wolves have been documented caught in traps in New Mexico, demonstrating that trapping is an ongoing and recurring threat to the state's endangered wolf population.
"New Mexico banned public lands trapping to prevent these exact kinds of incidents. The legislature wanted to keep public lands safe and protect wildlife from cruelty," said Chris Smith, wildlife and wild places program director for WildEarth Guardians. "Roxy's Law is a beacon of enlightened wildlife and public lands policy in the West, but only if we uphold it."
"Wildlife enthusiasts, outdoor recreationists, and people opposed to animal cruelty and the brutality traps inflict along with the support of the majority of New Mexicans worked for years to finally see traps banned on NM public lands", said Mary Katherine Ray, wildlife chair for the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club. "The state of New Mexico is entrusted to enforce this law including prosecuting violators and administering penalties and this is regardless of whether the victim is a coyote or an endangered animal like a wolf. That it did not is a betrayal to all of us."
The coalition is urging New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez to strengthen the NMDOJ's prosecution of illegal activity related to trapping and other cruelty to wildlife and is calling on state leaders to strengthen enforcement and close statutory loopholes that put wolves and other wildlife at risk.
"The Governor and the Department of Wildlife recognized that this case warranted prosecution, yet the state's response failed to provide meaningful accountability for the unlawfully set trap that resulted in the death of an endangered wolf," said Cyndi Tuell, Arizona and New Mexico director at Western Watersheds Project. "We urge Attorney General Torrez to get tough on wildlife crime, and we urge the Legislature to ensure that future cases do not fall through the same cracks."
"We cannot simultaneously claim that Mexican gray wolves are ready for fewer federal protections while an endangered wolf can be illegally trapped and killed with no meaningful criminal consequence," said Regan Downey, director of education and advocacy at the Wolf Conservation Center. "Recovery requires more than increasing the number of wolves on the landscape through wild breeding or captive releases. It requires protecting them once they are there."
"This case should concern everyone who cares about the future of Mexican gray wolves. We are being told that lobos are approaching a point where federal protections can be weakened, yet an endangered breeding male can be illegally trapped on public land, die as a result, and there is no meaningful prosecution," said Claire Musser, executive director of the Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project. "Recovery cannot simply be measured by how many wolves are counted each year. It must also mean that wolves can live on the landscape with meaningful legal protections, accountability when those protections are violated, and a genuine chance to thrive."
Nelson's victim, referred to by the code AM2765, was the breeding male of the Frieborn pack and had welcomed pups earlier that year. He served as the adoptive father to seven wild-born pups who were fostered from the Pancho Spring pack to the Frieborn pack in 2024.
* * *
About Wildlife for All
Wildlife for All is a national organization dedicated to reforming wildlife management to be more democratic, just, compassionate and focused on protecting wild species and ecosystems. Through research, advocacy, and education, we aim to protect wildlife and ensure that policies reflect the values of all Americans.
* * *
About Western Watersheds Project
Western Watersheds Project is a nonprofit conservation organization with more than 50,000 members and supporters who care about protecting western public lands for watersheds and wildlife.
* * *
About WildEarth Guardians
WildEarth Guardians protects and restores the wildlife, wild places, wild rivers, and health of the American West.
* * *
About Sierra Club
The Sierra Club's mission is to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the Earth, practice and promote the responsible use of its ecosystems, and educate humanity to protect the natural environment.
* * *
About Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project
The Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project is a nonprofit dedicated to bringing back wolves to help restore ecological health in the Grand Canyon region, while also recognizing wolves as sentient beings with intrinsic value and worth.
* * *
About Wolf Conservation Center
The Wolf Conservation Center advances the survival of wolves by inspiring a global community through education, advocacy, research, and recovery, and is an active participant in the SAFE Mexican Wolf Program.
* * *
Original text here: https://wildearthguardians.org/press-releases/coalition-demands-justice-for-endangered-mexican-wolf-killed-in-illegal-trap/
[Category: Environment]
