Featured Stories
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership: Video Series Highlights Importance of Atlantic Menhaden
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -- The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership issued the following news release:
* * *
New Video Series Highlights Importance of Atlantic Menhaden
TRCP's 10-part 'The Most Important Fish in the Sea' series features breathtaking wildlife footage and interviews with a diverse range of local experts, anglers, scientists, small businesses, and artists to explain what these critical baitfish are and why they matter
-
Over the last eight months, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership released an educational video series centered on Atlantic menhaden to raise public
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -- The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership issued the following news release:
* * *
New Video Series Highlights Importance of Atlantic Menhaden
TRCP's 10-part 'The Most Important Fish in the Sea' series features breathtaking wildlife footage and interviews with a diverse range of local experts, anglers, scientists, small businesses, and artists to explain what these critical baitfish are and why they matter
-
Over the last eight months, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership released an educational video series centered on Atlantic menhaden to raise publicawareness about this critical baitfish and its management, particularly in the Chesapeake Bay.
The 10 short videos feature local experts, anglers, scientists, and conservationists from Virginia Beach to Montauk, N.Y., to capture the significance of this small, yet mighty, fish - presented with award-winning footage of the species being pursued by predators in its natural environment.
Menhaden (also called pogies or bunker) are a small, oil-dense forage fish - similar to herring or sardines - that serve as food, or "forage," for sportfish, marine mammals, and seabirds. This keystone species is often referred to as "the most important fish in the sea" because it provides a necessary foundation for healthy ecosystems, transferring energy from plankton to much larger fish and wildlife higher in the food chain. Menhaden also support charter businesses, bait and tackle industries, and commercial lobster and crab fisheries as one of the most important sources of bait on the Atlantic.
"Menhaden fuel entire ecosystems and economies," said Jaclyn Lunaas, forage fish program manager for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. "But rather than simply take our word for it, we wanted these videos to feature our respected partners and other well-known figures to explain in their own words why these small fish matter so much to so many."
TRCP partners including the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Audubon, and the Virginia Saltwater Sportfishing Association are featured in the videos, as well as footage from professional drone photographers Joanna Steidle - winner of the top prize at the inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year Awards in 2025 - along with Sutton Lake Lynch and Chris Paparo, who also have garnered international attention with their eye-catching footage of menhaden. Legendary saltwater flats fishing guide Captain Paul Dixon, who served as a producer and technical advisor for the 2025 fly fishing film "Looking Through Water," starring Michael Douglas and Walker Scobell, is also featured.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which is responsible for coastwide menhaden management, is currently exploring possible management changes that include options to reduce the Chesapeake Bay's industrial menhaden harvest and more evenly distribute commercial fishing pressure across the fishing season. The Bay is considered the most important and largest nursery for Atlantic menhaden.
TRCP and partner conservation groups are also urging the ASMFC to reduce the coastwide Atlantic menhaden catch limit to align with the most recent stock assessment results and to initiate a process this fall to reallocate state quotas, in part to reduce fishing pressure in the Bay.
Watch the full video playlist HERE (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTfXDHMgzT16W2lJjTpOKpbKPEPhqAxLv).
Learn more about TRCP's efforts toward better menhaden conservation HERE (https://www.trcp.org/forage-fish-recovery/).
* * *
Original text here: https://www.trcp.org/2026/08/19/new-video-series-highlights-importance-of-atlantic-menhaden/
[Category: Environment]
Environmental Law & Policy Center: Roadless Rule Rollback Threatens Remaining Midwest Wildlands
CHICAGO, Illinois, Aug. 20 -- The Environmental Law and Policy Center issued the following news release:
* * *
Roadless Rule Rollback Threatens Remaining Midwest Wildlands
The Trump administration this week proposed a repeal of the 2001 Roadless Area Conversation Rule, threatening to strip protections from nearly 45 million acres of wildlands within our national forests, which would leave them vulnerable to logging, road construction, and other industrial activities.
The administration, which has made timber production a major priority, has also argued that increased road-building and logging
... Show Full Article
CHICAGO, Illinois, Aug. 20 -- The Environmental Law and Policy Center issued the following news release:
* * *
Roadless Rule Rollback Threatens Remaining Midwest Wildlands
The Trump administration this week proposed a repeal of the 2001 Roadless Area Conversation Rule, threatening to strip protections from nearly 45 million acres of wildlands within our national forests, which would leave them vulnerable to logging, road construction, and other industrial activities.
The administration, which has made timber production a major priority, has also argued that increased road-building and loggingwould help prevent wildfires. In fact, rescinding the Roadless Rule would do the opposite. In 2001, the Forest Service acknowledged that new roads actually increase wildfire risks by bringing more people and ignition sources into fragile ecosystems. Meanwhile, taxpayers would shoulder the burden: expanding road networks would worsen the Forest Service's already deep maintenance backlog and force downstream communities to pay more for water treatment as forests lose their natural ability to filter pollutants.
Sean Helle, Senior Attorney at ELPC, said:
"The Trump Administration's proposed repeal of the Roadless Rule is reckless and indefensible. For more than two decades, the rule has protected much of the wildness that remains in our national forests. The protections have been particularly vital in the Midwest, where less than 200,000 acres of roadless land survived the widespread logging of the past two centuries."
"The remaining wildlands in our region provide critical habitat for wildlife, clean our drinking water, store carbon, and offer refuge for people seeking quiet and beauty. These areas deserve continued protection--not reckless development. ELPC intends to fight back and oppose the administration's misguided effort to repeal the Roadless Rule."
Roadless Areas in the Midwest's National Forests:
* The Bay Creek, Burden Falls, Burke Branch, Clear Springs, Eagle Creek, and Ripple Hollow roadless areas in Illinois' Shawnee National Forest (10,666 acres)
* The Mogan Ridge roadless area in Indiana's Hoosier National Forest (8,435 acres)
* The Delirium, Fibre, Government Island, and Round Island roadless areas in Michigan's Hiawatha National Forest (7,846 acres)
* The Bear Swamp roadless area in Michigan's Huron-Manistee National Forest (3,915 acres)
* The Norwich Plains roadless area in Michigan's Ottawa National Forest (4,360 acres)
* The Big Island, Elmwood Island, and Potato Island roadless areas in Minnesota's Chippewa National Forest (77 acres)
* The Baker-Homer-Brule Lakes, Baldpate Lake, Brule Lake-Eagle Mountain, Cabin Creek, Hegman Lakes, Kawishiwi Lake to Sawbill, Little Indian Sioux, Mississippi Creek, Moose Portage, Phantom Lake, South Kawishiwi River, Tait Lake, and Wood Lake roadless areas in Minnesota's Superior National Forest (61,726 acres)
* The Beaver Park roadless area in South Dakota's Black Hills National Forest (5,009 acres)
* And the Chase Creek, East Torch, Flynn Lake, Foursection, Gates Lake, Le Roy Creek, Moose, Pentoga Road, Perch Lake, Round Lake, Shelp Lake, Shoe Lake Islands, Peters Dome, Tea Lake, Thornapple, and Wheeler Lake Islands roadless areas in Wisconsin's Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (68,981 acres)
* * *
Original text here: https://elpc.org/news/trump-administrations-planned-repeal-of-the-roadless-rule-threatens-remaining-midwest-wildlands/
[Category: Environment]
Environment America Research & Policy Center Statement: Proposal Would Strip Protections From 45 Million Acres of National Forest
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -- Environment America Research and Policy Center issued the following statement on Aug. 19, 2026:
* * *
STATEMENT: Proposal would strip protections from 45 million acres of national forest
DENVER -- Some of Americans' favorite places to immerse themselves in nature are facing imminent danger. The U.S. Forest Service (part of the Agriculture Department) filed a proposed rule in the Federal Register on Wednesday that would end protections for nearly 45 million acres of "inventoried roadless areas" from road-building and logging
According to the proposed rule, the Forest Service
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -- Environment America Research and Policy Center issued the following statement on Aug. 19, 2026:
* * *
STATEMENT: Proposal would strip protections from 45 million acres of national forest
DENVER -- Some of Americans' favorite places to immerse themselves in nature are facing imminent danger. The U.S. Forest Service (part of the Agriculture Department) filed a proposed rule in the Federal Register on Wednesday that would end protections for nearly 45 million acres of "inventoried roadless areas" from road-building and logging
According to the proposed rule, the Forest Serviceanticipates that permanent roads could be constructed across 18.2 million acres and temporary roads across another 11.3 million acres of wild forest currently protected from development. Roads and road reconstruction damage wildlife habitat, hinder wildlife movement and can cause water pollution. And, contrary to the stated rationale for rescinding the Roadless Rule, it may increase the likelihood of human-caused wildfires. Fewer than 1% of wildfires in the lower 48 states since 2010 have started in roadless areas of national forests.
The Roadless Rule was enacted in 2001 after 600 public meetings and in response to 1.6 million public comments. The Forest Service to date has held a 21 day comment period and no public meetings.
The public will have until September 21 to comment about the new proposed rule once the government publishes the proposal on Thursday.
People can go to saveroadlessforests.com to leave a comment and let the Forest Service know they want to keep the Roadless Rule intact for generations to come.
In response, Environment America Research & Policy Center advocates issued the following statements:
Ellen Montgomery, Great Outdoors Campaign Director
"As Americans are planning how to spend their time outside in our public lands this fall, the Forest Service is proposing to open our wild forests to logging and new roads. We should be celebrating nature and protecting our remaining intact forests, not removing decades-old protections. We call on all Americans to submit public comments over the next 30 days. To keep America beautiful, let's ask the Forest Service to keep our wild forests wild."
Dyani Lezama, Alaska Environment State Director
"In the Chugach and Tongass National Forests, bears fatten up on berries, fish stay cool in shaded streams, kids learn how to hunt deer, friends backpack long trails, plants filter water and life thrives. That's how it's been for a long time, and that's how it should continue to be. The Roadless Rule has been working as a successful and cost-effective conservation tool. It only makes sense to keep it in place."
Zyanya Figueroa, Environment Arizona Conservation Associate
"Every living thing in Arizona needs its forests. At-risk species including jaguars and monarch butterflies need their habitats in Prescott, Kaibab and Coronado Forests to prosper. Arizonans need undisturbed access to Coconino, Apache-Sitgreaves and Tonto Forests to hike, hunt and enjoy nature. We shouldn't be building roads through Arizona's 1.1 million acres of national forests. That does a disservice to those who rely on this nature and all of the Americans who enjoy it."
Laura Deehan, Environment California Director
From the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Northern California to the Angeles National Forest in the Southland, more than four million acres of California's wild forests could soon be open to industrial logging, mining and road-building. Decades ago, Californians came together to protect these pristine watersheds, wildlife habitats and deep, quiet spaces. Now, we must speak up again to safeguard these forests for the mountain lions, wild trout and California condors that depend on them.
Jennette Gayer, Environment Georgia Director
"If we get rid of the Roadless Rule, the Forest Service will prioritize logging over beloved hiking trails, including the Appalachian Trail and the Benton MacKaye Trail, along with favorite campsites and fishing holes. This misguided policy decision would strip Georgia's 63,000 acres of roadless forests of their protections. We urge Georgians to support the Roadless Rule and these wild and special parts of Georgia.
Calvin Floyd, Environment Michigan Conservation Advocate
"Spread across the Huron-Manistee, the Hiawatha and the Ottawa National Forests on both peninsulas, Michigan's roadless forests protect some of the last mature and old- growth trees in the Midwest. These forests filter headwater streams that flow into the Great Lakes, which hold 20% of the world's fresh surface water. They also provide critical habitat for wild animals such as bobcats, martens and deer, and offer some of the best outdoor recreation in the state. If we lose our roadless forests, we lose part of our heritage as Michiganders."
Katelynn Rolfes, Environment Minnesota Advocate
"The roadless areas of the Superior National Forest and the Chippewa National Forest are some of the last wild forests we have in Minnesota. The 62,000 roadless acres of Minnesota's national forests boast moose, lynx, beavers, loons and many more beloved species. We shouldn't sell off these old-growth forests. They are priceless and should remain intact for Minnesotans to enjoy for generations to come."
Emily Kowalski, Environment Illinois Research & Education Center's Associate Director
"Illinois' Shawnee National Forest contains vast forests and wilderness filled with impressive rock formations, lakes and rivers, and a diverse range of plants and animals. Home to the white-tailed deer, timber rattlesnakes, birds like the northern bobwhite and hundreds of other species of wildlife, the Shawnee provides space for wildlife to flourish. The wild nature of the Shawnee is too precious to not protect."
Emily Mason, Environment North Carolina Advocate
"One thing that brings so many North Carolinians together is a love for our beautiful, world-renowned national forests, which are home to iconic wildlife such as black bears and Eastern hellbender salamanders. With increasing development in our state, these cherished, last-remaining untouched places are becoming even more rare. Now, the U.S. Forest Service is proposing to build roads through our national forests and open them up to logging, which would threaten the tranquility of these unparalleled places. Let's keep our national forests wild by letting the Forest Service know we don't want to open them up to development and logging."
Adam Nordell, Environment Maine Advocate
"Maine's White Mountains National Forest is now vulnerable to losing protections currently provided by the Roadless Rule. The inventoried roadless areas in the Whites contain a wildly diverse mountain landscape that provides a breeding habitat for Maine's rarest nesting bird, the golden eagle. Its cold mountain streams are home to the spring salamander, a rare species whose populations have shrunk or disappeared elsewhere in the state due to deforestation and stream degradation. Allowing construction and logging in our designated roadless lands would be a terribly short-sighted decision with far reaching impacts to wildlife and all those who enjoy it.
Justin Boyles, Environment Oregon Conservation Advocate
To be surrounded by wildlife and to experience complete solitude is something Oregonians should be able to share for generations to come. It's absurd to think that some of the wildest, roadless places in Oregon -- near the Salmon-Huckleberry, Eagle Cap, Sky Lakes and other wilderness areas -- could be destroyed for short-term economic gain. Oregon does not need to trade our clean water, wildlife habitat and wild places for more roads into our backcountry. We need to protect the forests and give future generations the opportunity to experience Oregon's wildest places.
Stephanie Wein, PennEnvironment Conservation Advocate
Allegheny National Forest is home to some of Pennsylvania's most threatened and endangered species, from rare wildflowers to the majestic northern goshawk to our state amphibian, the Eastern hellbender. With the vast majority of Allegheny National Forest's half million acres already open for logging, drilling and other extractive uses, it's critical that our precious roadless areas are protected. Roadless areas protect the scenic views of Hearts Content and fishing and hiking along Minister Creek. Protecting these areas is far more important than building a new road or gaining a few extra wood products. Let's keep our wild forests wild.
Luke Metzger, Environment Texas Executive Director
"Less than 5% of Texas is protected as public land, which makes the wild, roadless places we have all the more precious. Once a road is cut through an undeveloped forest, logging, mining and more road development inevitably follow. The Forest Service should protect these rare wild places, not open them up to industry."
* * *
Original text here: https://environmentamerica.org/center/media-center/statement-proposal-would-strip-protections-from-45-million-acres-of-national-forest/
[Category: Environment]
CAIR-MI Voices Concern Over KKK Propaganda Scattered in Dearborn Heights and Melvindale
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on Aug. 19, 2026:
* * *
CAIR-MI Voices Concern Over KKK Propaganda Scattered in Dearborn Heights and Melvindale
The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), a chapter of the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today voices serious concern over KKK propaganda found scattered in Dearborn Heights and Melvindale after yesterday's anti-Muslim rally in Dearborn lead by white nationalist Jake Lang.
Dearborn Heights and Melvindale residents have
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on Aug. 19, 2026:
* * *
CAIR-MI Voices Concern Over KKK Propaganda Scattered in Dearborn Heights and Melvindale
The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), a chapter of the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today voices serious concern over KKK propaganda found scattered in Dearborn Heights and Melvindale after yesterday's anti-Muslim rally in Dearborn lead by white nationalist Jake Lang.
Dearborn Heights and Melvindale residents havereported the presence of KKK flyers and business cards scattered across both municipalities after yesterday's anti-Muslim rally at the Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn, Michigan. The rally led by white nationalist agitator Jake Lang also had anti-Muslim attendees wearing swastika arm-bans and waving a Nazi flag. Pro-KKK messages were reportedly spotted at yesterday's rally as well.
SEE: KKK flyers found in Dearborn Heights and Melvindale after anti-Muslim protest (WXYZ Detroit 7) (https://www.wxyz.com/news/region/wayne-county/kkk-flyers-found-in-dearborn-heights-and-melvindale-after-anti-muslim-protest)
SEE: Jake Lang's Dearborn 'crusaders march' draws protests, Nazis (Straight Arrow News) (https://san.com/cc/jake-langs-dearborn-crusaders-march-draws-protests-nazis/)
"We are deeply concerned over the escalation of white supremacist activity in Southeast Michigan in conjunction with Jake Lang and his acolytes repeated anti-Muslim agitations in our area," said CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid. "We encourage anyone who has information about those behind the distribution of these KKK hate materials to immediately call their local police department."
Walid also noted that Dearborn Heights and Melvindale have significant populations of Arab American Muslims as well as several mosques.
He said Washington, D.C.-based CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
* * *
CAIR's mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-mi-voices-concern-over-kkk-propaganda-scattered-in-dearborn-heights-and-melvindale/
[Category: Sociological]
CAIR-MI Files Lawsuit Against City of Oak Park on Behalf of Muslim Employee Subjected to Hostile Work Environment
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on Aug. 19, 2026:
* * *
CAIR-MI Files Lawsuit Against City of Oak Park on Behalf of Muslim Employee Subjected to Hostile Work Environment
The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), a local chapter of the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today filed a lawsuit against the City of Oak Park, a supervisor, and two coworkers on behalf of Tammara Saloum, a Muslim woman of Iraqi descent who was allegedly subjected to severe harassment and
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on Aug. 19, 2026:
* * *
CAIR-MI Files Lawsuit Against City of Oak Park on Behalf of Muslim Employee Subjected to Hostile Work Environment
The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), a local chapter of the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today filed a lawsuit against the City of Oak Park, a supervisor, and two coworkers on behalf of Tammara Saloum, a Muslim woman of Iraqi descent who was allegedly subjected to severe harassment anddiscrimination during her employment as a records clerk.
The lawsuit, filed in the Oakland County Circuit Court, alleges that Ms. Saloum was subjected to a hostile work environment that included degrading and discriminatory statements concerning her religious practices and Muslims generally, sexual harassment, and the improper disclosure of highly sensitive personal information.
According to the complaint, a city employee allegedly accessed Ms. Saloum's confidential information through official databases available to that employee solely by virtue of their employment with the City and subsequently disclosed that information to others in the workplace. The lawsuit further alleges that, despite the city having notice of the discriminatory and harassing conduct, it failed to take meaningful corrective action.
READ THE LAWSUIT (https://www.cair.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/TS-Complaint-8.19.26.pdf).
"Every employee has the fundamental right to a workplace free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation," said Jad Salamey, CAIR-MI Immigration and Civil Rights Attorney. "Ms. Saloum repeatedly reported the abuse she endured, and the city failed to take any meaningful action to protect her or stop the misconduct. This lawsuit seeks to hold the City accountable for its failure to uphold its legal obligations and to ensure that no other employee suffers this kind of mistreatment."
"There is something deeply painful about dedicating your career built around safety and protection, only to discover that you do not feel safe or protected within it yourself. My experience in Oak Park made me reconsider not only my career choices, but my trust in the system I had believed in. I entered this profession believing doing the right thing mattered. I left questioning whether I still belonged in it," said Tammara Saloum.
"Public employees should never have to choose between their livelihood and their right to be treated with dignity and respect," said Amy V. Doukoure, CAIR-MI Lead Staff Attorney "When an employee is allegedly subjected to religious hostility, sexual harassment, and the disclosure of deeply private information--and the employer has notice yet fails to take meaningful corrective action--the harm extends beyond one individual. Public institutions must be held accountable for ensuring that discrimination and harassment are not permitted to become part of the workplace culture."
Washington, D.C., based CAIR offers a booklet, called "An Employer's Guide to Islamic Religious Practices," to help employers gain a better understanding of Islam and Muslims in the workplace.
* * *
CAIR-MI's mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-mi-files-lawsuit-against-city-of-oak-park-on-behalf-of-muslim-employee-subjected-to-hostile-work-environment/
[Category: Sociological]
Americans for Tax Reform Issues Commentary: New Hampshire Thinks Big With Tiny Homes
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -- Americans for Tax Reform posted the following commentary by Kiran Subramanian:
* * *
New Hampshire Thinks Big with Tiny Homes
Maricopa County Home & Garden Show Tiny Home Feature by Csmith997 is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license
-
Want to live in a teepee? Then come on over to New Hampshire, where Governor Kelly Ayotte recently signed into law a legal framework for innovative housing options, including tiny houses, tiny houses on wheels (THOWs), and yurts. Under HB 1681, Granite Staters will have the undeniable right to
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -- Americans for Tax Reform posted the following commentary by Kiran Subramanian:
* * *
New Hampshire Thinks Big with Tiny Homes
Maricopa County Home & Garden Show Tiny Home Feature by Csmith997 is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license
-
Want to live in a teepee? Then come on over to New Hampshire, where Governor Kelly Ayotte recently signed into law a legal framework for innovative housing options, including tiny houses, tiny houses on wheels (THOWs), and yurts. Under HB 1681, Granite Staters will have the undeniable right tobuild and live in these creative housing structures on their own land.
Per the legislation, a tiny home is defined as a detached building intended for permanent habitation that is less than 600 square feet and complies with state building codes. THOWs follow similar rules: they must be built on a trailer chassis and cannot be a recreational vehicle. An example of a style of tiny home now permitted by New Hampshire law is a yurt, defined as a round, freestanding dwelling inspired by traditional nomadic dwellings. HB 1681 also allows these creative dwellings to be used as accessory dwelling units (ADUs), meaning they can be built on the same land as a primary unit.
The immediate benefit of HB 1681 is that it expands the range of housing options available in New Hampshire. By providing a legal structure for tiny homes, tiny homes on wheels, and yurts, residents have more flexibility in choosing smaller, lower-cost places to live. Over time, it could also help bring more traditional homes onto the market.
Having a legal framework to build these new kinds of housing makes it easier to get these projects off the ground. Integrating tiny homes and other alternative housing models into existing regulations for inspections, wastewater treatment, and permitting provides greater certainty for homebuilders' operations. This makes it easier to build because financiers have more clarity regarding what regulations they need to follow, allowing for lenders to better structure mortgages and loans for these housing options.
Current laws create a framework that prices many consumers out of the market. Under local zoning laws in many New Hampshire municipalities, it becomes nearly impossible to build anything other than large single-family homes. Based on an analysis of 247 jurisdictions, 62% of zoning for 1-family housing requires a minimum lot size of at least 80,000 square feet, nearly 2 acres of land. That is nearly 2 NFL football fields without the endzones.
Not only does New Hampshire require an unnecessarily large amount of land for homes, but if you wanted to build another piece of smaller housing on that large parcel, it is nearly impossible. For example, 85% of land zoned for 1-family housing imposes some level of regulation on accessory dwelling units, such as public hearings, occupancy restrictions, or outright bans. The result is that these laws effectively force homebuilders to build large homes on large plots of land.
By making smaller homes difficult to build, current rules also prevent many residents from downsizing, which keeps larger homes off the market for younger families who need them. With legislation like HB 1681 that frees the housing market and encourages supply of more efficient alternatives, people like empty nesters, divorcees, and retirees who no longer need large homes can effectively downsize and profit while simultaneously saving thousands in property taxes. As they leave their traditional single-family homes, young families and those initially blocked out of the housing market can access more options than before. HB 1681 provides a much-needed increase in supply, which can lead to a more efficient allocation of scarce resources and, in turn, drive housing costs down.
New Hampshire's housing market is not going to be solved instantly by HB 1681. Some people may not want to live in a tiny home or yurt. But those who want should at least have the option, and HB 1681 delivers the freedom to do so.
While HB 1681 serves as an excellent start, rulemaking will likely be needed to address concerns about how these housing units will be taxed, especially regarding the mobility of THOWs. Additionally, future work might deliver on Senate Bill 84's proposed maximum lot size for residential units in municipalities - one of many creative reforms that would curb excessive local regulations that choke construction. Furthermore, reviving HB 685 from the prior legislative session, which would have permitted all manufactured homes, would help increase the housing supply for Granite Staters. For now, however, ATR commends Majority Leader Jason Osborne, Senate President Sharon Carson, Rep. Joe Sweeney and Governor Ayotte for working to deliver more housing and more freedom to Granite Staters by adopting a legal framework for yurts, tiny homes, and tiny homes on wheels
* * *
Original text here: https://atr.org/new-hampshire-thinks-big-with-tiny-homes/
[Category: Political]
ATR and Digital Liberty Urge Congress to Oppose New Broadband Taxes
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -- Americans for Tax Reform posted the following news:
* * *
ATR and Digital Liberty Urge Congress to Oppose New Broadband Taxes
Americans for Tax Reform led a coalition of 27 center-right groups in a letter to members of Congress urging them to reject any proposals that would impose new taxes on broadband service, including by bringing broadband into the Universal Service Fund contribution base.
The letter notes that American consumers are already dealing with the effects of inflation and do not need higher monthly internet bills. It explains that the Universal Service
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -- Americans for Tax Reform posted the following news:
* * *
ATR and Digital Liberty Urge Congress to Oppose New Broadband Taxes
Americans for Tax Reform led a coalition of 27 center-right groups in a letter to members of Congress urging them to reject any proposals that would impose new taxes on broadband service, including by bringing broadband into the Universal Service Fund contribution base.
The letter notes that American consumers are already dealing with the effects of inflation and do not need higher monthly internet bills. It explains that the Universal ServiceFund has long relied on mandatory fees assessed on traditional wireless and wireline services. As more consumers have shifted to alternative services that fall outside that contribution base, the revenue pool has shrunk while the rate on remaining customers has climbed dramatically. In some cases, nearly 40 percent of a customer's phone bill now consists of USF fees.
The organizations also highlight that the program has expanded well beyond its original purpose of supporting basic connectivity for rural and low-income households. Over the years, USF has been stretched to cover broadband deployment and technology for schools and libraries. With more than 130 federal broadband programs already operating across 15 different agencies, the letter argues there is little justification for using the Universal Service Fund to duplicate existing efforts.
In response to the looming funding shortfall, some lawmakers have proposed expanding the contribution base to broadband providers. ATR and Digital Liberty warn that this approach would simply transfer higher costs onto consumers. The letter cites a 2022 statement from then-FCC Commissioner (now Chairman) Brendan Carr, who cautioned that assessing broadband internet access service could raise monthly bills by as much as $17.96 -- nearly $200 per year. Carr concluded at the time that "the squeeze is not worth the juice when it comes to replacing the existing telecommunications assessment with one on broadband."
Rather than raise taxes on broadband, the letter calls on Congress to reform eligibility rules for the program and to retire the broadband subsidies, if not the entire program. The current structure outdated and poorly suited to today's communications landscape. Passing the ballooning costs of an unreformed system onto broadband customers is not a solution.
* * *
INFODOC: https://atr.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Oppose-Broadband-Taxes-to-Bail-Out-USF.pdf
* * *
Original text here: https://atr.org/atr-and-digital-liberty-urge-congress-to-oppose-new-broadband-taxes/
[Category: Political]
