Public Policy Tipoffs Involving Oregon
A weakening Atlantic Ocean current system could accelerate Earth's warming, research suggests
CORVALLIS, Oregon, Aug. 17 -- Oregon State University posted the following news release:
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A weakening Atlantic Ocean current system could accelerate Earth's warming, research suggests
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CORVALLIS, Ore. - A current system in the Atlantic Ocean that shapes regional climates and distributes ocean nutrients also serves as a control knob to help regulate temperatures across the planet, new research has found.
An analysis of past natural oscillations in the strength of the Atlantic Meridiona
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AG Brown issues statement at start of trial against Meta over addictive features that harm kids
OLYMPIA, Washington, Aug. 18 -- Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown issued the following news release:
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AG Brown issues statement at start of trial against Meta over addictive features that harm kids
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Attorney General Nick Brown today issued the following statement as a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general began presenting their case against Meta. The states are alleging that the social media giant knowingly designed and deployed harmful features on Facebook and Instagram
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Alzheimer's Advocacy Groups Call for Expanded Research and Support in National Plan to Combat Dementia
WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 -- In response to a federal agency request for information, the following public comment letter was submitted electronically to the regulations.gov site.
Maria-Theresa Okafor, Ph.D., MCG
Designated Federal Officer
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)
200 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20201
August 14, 2026
Re: Request for Comment on the Update to the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease (HHS-ASPE-2026-0298)
Dear Dr. Okaf
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Attorney General Dan Rayfield Secures Major Court Victory Protecting Gender-Affirming Care Under the Affordable Care Act
SALEM, Oregon, Aug. 17 -- Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Dan Rayfield Secures Major Court Victory Protecting Gender-Affirming Care Under the Affordable Care Act
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Attorney General Dan Rayfield has won a major court victory protecting access to gender-affirming care under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). A federal court struck down a Trump Administration rule that would have excluded coverage of certain types of gender-affirming ca
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Attorney General James Releases Statement on Start of Trial Against Meta
ALBANY, New York, Aug. 18 -- New York Attorney General Letitia James issued the following news release:
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Attorney General James Releases Statement on Start of Trial Against Meta
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August 18, 2026
NEW YORK - New York Attorney General Letitia James today released the following statement marking the first day of a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general's trial against Meta for harming young people with deceptive and addictive social media features:
"Meta has built their business aroun
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BLM Geothermal Lease Sale in Oregon Nets More Than $1 Million
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management issued the following news release:
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BLM Geothermal Lease Sale in Oregon Nets More Than $1 Million
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PORTLAND, Ore. -The Bureau of Land Management accepted winning bids on two parcels in Oregon totaling more than 9,500 acres for $1,155,706 in total receipts for a geothermal lease sale. The parcels are located on the Mount Hood National Forest.
"Geothermal is an abundant resource, especially in the West
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Calls for Comprehensive DOI Policy Reforms to End Perpetual Wilderness Study Areas and Ensure Consistent, Lawful Land Management
WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 -- In response to a federal agency request for information, the following public comment letter was submitted electronically to the regulations.gov site.
Page 1 of 7
August 10, 2026
Frank Schwartz
3239 Highway 71
Cambridge, Idaho 83610
U. S. Department of Interior
BLM-2026-0067
FWS-HQ-NWRS-2026-2575
NPS-2026-0100
Dear Sirs/Madams,
Please see my comments below. Since many of these comments apply to all three DOI elements, I am providing all comments to all
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Court Rejects Administration's Unlawful Restrictions on Health and Housing Grants
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 [Category: Law/Legal] -- The National Women's Law Center posted the following news release:
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Court Rejects Administration's Unlawful Restrictions on Health and Housing Grants
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WASHINGTON -A federal judge has struck down sweeping, unlawful restrictions the Trump-Vance administration imposed on federal grants in a ruling that will restore critical funding for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, LGBTQI+ youth, and people experiencing homelessness.
The ruling is
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Cowan Explores How Senses Shape Worship at International Fellowship of Scholars
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama, Aug. 17 -- Samford University issued the following news release:
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Cowan Explores How Senses Shape Worship at International Fellowship of Scholars
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"Sometimes worship isn't just meant to 'mean.' Instead we're invited to 'be' before God, among one another."
That conviction was reinforced this summer for Nelson Cowan, director of Samford University's Center for Worship and the Arts, during a weeklong Fellowship of Scholars at Mount Angel Abbey in Oregon. The gatherin
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Doubling down to serve veterans: DAV Community Impact Day 2026
ERLANGER, Kentucky, Aug. 18 [Category: National Defense] -- Disabled American Veterans issued the following news:
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Doubling down to serve veterans: DAV Community Impact Day 2026
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April 4 marked the third annual DAV Community Impact Day. Participation doubled from last year, with more than 2,000 people taking the pledge to commit at least an hour of their time volunteering for veterans.
Thank you to everyone who participated and made DAV Community Impact Day a success, and thank you to
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Earthjustice Responds to Trump Administration Attack on Roadless Rule
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Aug. 19 -- Earthjustice issued the following news release on Aug. 18, 2026:
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Earthjustice Responds to Trump Administration Attack on Roadless Rule
Despite widespread opposition, Forest Service seeks to lift protections across 45 million acres of national forestlands
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The U.S. Forest Service took another step today toward rescinding the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, a bedrock conservation measure enacted 25 years ago to prevent industrial logging and roadb
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Federal Court Declares New Jersey's Cannabis Labor Peace Agreement Mandate Preempted by Federal Law: What Every Licensed Operator Needs to Know
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Aug. 18 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Foley Hoag, a law firm, posted the following news:
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Federal Court Declares New Jersey's Cannabis Labor Peace Agreement Mandate Preempted by Federal Law: What Every Licensed Operator Needs to Know
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On August 10, 2026, the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey entered final judgment in Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. v. New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission, No. 25-cv-16397 (D.N.J.), declaring that the labor pea
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Federal Court Rejects Trump-Vance Administration's Unlawful Restrictions on Health and Housing Grants
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 -- Democracy Forward, an organization that says it advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy and public education and regulatory engagement, issued the following news release:
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Federal Court Rejects Trump-Vance Administration's Unlawful Restrictions on Health and Housing Grants
Providence, R.I. -- A federal judge today rejected the sweeping and unlawful restrictions the Trump-Vance administration imposed on federal grants administered by the U.
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Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics: Recommendation to Add Conservation Potential Factor to BLM Manual for Balanced Wilderness Land Use Planning
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- In response to a federal agency request for information, the following public comment letter was submitted electronically to the regulations.gov site.
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P.O. Box 11615, Eugene, OR 97440 Tel: (541) 484-2692 Email: kevin@fseee.org
August 14, 2026
Submitted via https://www.regulations.gov, Docket No. BLM-2026-0068
Director (630) Bureau of Land Management U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C Street NW, Room 5646 Washington, DC 20240 Attention: Considering Lands with W
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Introducing the 2026 Alumni Award Winners
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Aug. 17 -- Trinity University posted the following news:
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Introducing the 2026 Alumni Award Winners
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Trinity will celebrate its 2026 Alumni Award winners on Friday, October 16, during Alumni Weekend. This year's award winners are Christopher "Kit" Goldsbury Jr. '66 (Distinguished Alumni Award), Butch Newman '65 (Spirit of Trinity Award), Bria Woods '16 (Outstanding Young Alumni Award), Octavio Solis '80, M'83 (Tower Award), Ashley M. McMullen '10, M.D. (Tower Award)
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Latest Temple News From the Church of Jesus Christ
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Aug. 18 -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints issued the following news wrap-up entitled "Latest Temple News From the Church of Jesus Christ":
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The Latest Temple News From the Church of Jesus Christ
This page summarizes recent news about the many houses of the Lord being built around the world by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
August 16
* President Oaks Dedicates the Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple
* Elder David A. Bednar Dedicates Cle
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League of Women Voters: DOJ Prevented From Unlawfully Accessing Minnesotans' Voter Data
WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 -- The League of Women Voters issued the following news release on Aug. 17, 2026:
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DOJ Prevented from Unlawfully Accessing Minnesotans' Voter Data
SAINT PAUL, MN - Today, the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota became the twenty-third court to dismiss the Justice Department's lawsuit demanding unlawful disclosure of private voter information.
The Trump administration has sued 30 states and Washington, DC, for unredacted voter lists containing p
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Merkley, Wyden Announce More Than $15 Million in Federal Grants to Support Oregon Wood Product Industry, Rural Economies, Jobs
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release:
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Merkley, Wyden Announce More Than $15 Million in Federal Grants to Support Oregon Wood Product Industry, Rural Economies, Jobs
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Washington, D.C. - Today, Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is investing $15,091,037 in 20 wood innovations projects in Oregon that support active management of national forests and grasslands, promote wood and energy in
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Merkley, Wyden Secure Federal Funding to Expand Pollinator Habitat Along Oregon Highways
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release:
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Merkley, Wyden Secure Federal Funding to Expand Pollinator Habitat Along Oregon Highways
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Washington, D.C. -Today, Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced $150,000 in federal funds for the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to create and restore pollinator habitats along Oregon highways.The funding, which is the maximum award under the Federal Highway Administration's Pol
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Merkley, Wyden Secure Federal Funding to Expand Pollinator Habitat Along Oregon Highways
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release:
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Merkley, Wyden Secure Federal Funding to Expand Pollinator Habitat Along Oregon Highways
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Washington, D.C. -Today, Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced $150,000 in federal funds for the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to create and restore pollinator habitats along Oregon highways. The funding, which is the maximum award under the Federal Highway Administration's Polli
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Meta Faces Trial as AG Labrador Fights for Idaho Kids
BOISE, Idaho, Aug. 18 -- Idaho Attorney General Raul R. Labrador issued the following news release:
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Meta Faces Trial as AG Labrador Fights for Idaho Kids
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BOISE, ID -Ahead of opening statements, Attorney General Raul Labrador today issued the following statement as a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general began presenting their case against Meta, alleging the social media giant knowingly designed and deployed harmful features on Facebook and Instagram that drive compulsive use of t
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Montana State researchers reconstruct environmental history of Yellowstone's geyser basins
BOZEMAN, Montana, Aug. 17 -- Montana State University issued the following news:
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Montana State researchers reconstruct environmental history of Yellowstone's geyser basins
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BOZEMAN - A study led by a Montana State University research professor reveals how climate and hydrothermal activity have shaped the vegetation, wildfire and aquatic ecosystem history of the Yellowstone Plateau over the past 15,000 years.
The results of the National Science Foundation-funded project were published
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News Alert: Mercy Corps Ready to Respond as Flores Earthquake Toll Rises
PORTLAND, Oregon, Aug. 18 [Category: Sociological] -- The Mercy Corps posted the following news release:
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News Alert: Mercy Corps Ready to Respond as Flores Earthquake Toll Rises
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JAKARTA -Three days after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Flores, in Indonesia, 70 people have been killed and 305 injured, according to the Indonesian government. Nearly 20,000 people have been displaced. Almost 8,000 homes and 744 public facilities and infrastructure sites have been damaged across seven r
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Oregon Cattlemen Support Proposed Revisions to Grizzly Bear Management Rules
WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 -- In response to a federal agency request for information, the following public comment letter was submitted electronically to the regulations.gov site.
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Oregon Cattlemen's Association
1320 Capitol Street NE, Suite #150
Salem, OR 97301
ocapresident@orcattle.com
541-891-2295
Submitted via Federal Register [Docket No. FWS-R6-ES-2024-0186 FXES1111090FEDR-267-FF09E21000] RIN 1018-B114
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Re: Comments in Support of Proposed Revisions t
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Oregon Reverses Statewide Decline in New Housing with Two Years of Growth
SALEM, Oregon, Aug. 17 -- Gov. Tina Kotek, D-Oregon, issued the following news release:
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Oregon Reverses Statewide Decline in New Housing with Two Years of Growth
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Salem, OR - Today, Governor Tina Kotek announced that her administration's efforts to reduce red tape and support new housing production have resulted in two years of steady growth in new housing starts. Oregon is now in its second year of increased housing starts, even as the United States continues to see declining product
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Oregon's Education Equation: Personnel costs are at mercy of outside forces
SALEM, Oregon, Aug. 18 [Category: Education] -- The Oregon School Boards Association posted the following news:
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Oregon's Education Equation: Personnel costs are at mercy of outside forces
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School districts' personnel costs reflect dozens of interlocking business decisions that ultimately are felt in the classroom. (File photo by Jake Arnold, OSBA)
Schools are a people business.
"We need the people to work with the kids, so that is the majority of the cost in any district," said Tric
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PCTA Urges Preservation of Current Wilderness Management Policies Amid Proposed BLM Revisions
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- In response to a federal agency request for information, the following public comment letter was submitted electronically to the regulations.gov site.
2150 River Plaza Drive, Suite 155 Sacramento, CA 95833 916-285-1846 (Main Office) www.pcta.org August 10, 2026
To: Acting Assistant Director, National Conservation Lands and Community Partnerships, Carla M. Bock
U.S. Secretary of Interior Doug Burgum
U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management
This letter sub
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Physician-Lawmaker Maxine Dexter Celebrates $125 Million Investment in University of Oregon to Expand Children's Mental Health Workforce
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- Rep. Maxine Dexter, D-Oregon, issued the following news release:
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Physician-Lawmaker Maxine Dexter Celebrates $125 Million Investment in University of Oregon to Expand Children's Mental Health Workforce
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PORTLAND, OR. - Today, U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03), celebrated a $125 million private investment to expand the University of Oregon's Ballmer Institute for Children's Behavioral Health, the nation's first undergraduate program focused on child behaviora
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Rep. Salinas Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Fund Mental Health Support for First Responders
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, issued the following news release:
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Rep. Salinas Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Fund Mental Health Support for First Responders
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Lake Oswego, OR - Yesterday, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) introduced the Lifeline for First Responders Act at a press conference hosted by Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVF&R) at Station 39. The bipartisan bill, which is co-led by Reps. Gabe Evans (CO-08), Sharice Davids (KS-03), and Thomas K
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Save the Yellowstone Grizzly: USFWS Proposed 4(d) Rule for Threatened Grizzly Bears Faces Criticism Over Management Flexibility and Habitat Protections
WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 -- In response to a federal agency request for information, the following public comment letter was submitted electronically to the regulations.gov site.
Ferguson & Coppes PLLC Office: 425 E. Spruce Street, Missoula Mail: P.O. Box 8359 Missoula, MT 59807 Phone: 406.532.2664; Fax: 406.532.2663 Email: emily@montanawaterlaw.com Website: www.montanawaterlaw.com
August 17, 2026
Submitted electronically via www.regulations.gov (Docket No. FWS-R6-ES-2024-0186
Brian R. Nesvick U.
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Southern Oregon University Digital Cinema on Prestigious List for Third Consecutive Year
ASHLAND, Oregon, Aug. 18 -- Southern Oregon University issued the following news:
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SOU Digital Cinema on prestigious list for third consecutive year
Southern Oregon University's Digital Cinema program has been included on MovieMaker Magazine's annual list of the "30 Best Film Schools in the U.S. and Canada" for the third consecutive year.
SOU Digital Cinema is the only program from Oregon, Washington or Idaho to be included in MovieMaker's review. The Digital Cinema major - part of SOU'
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Sportsmen's Alliance Praises Proposed Changes to Grizzly Bear Protections to Support Recovery and State Management
WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 -- In response to a federal agency request for information, the following public comment letter was submitted electronically to the regulations.gov site.
Sportsmen's Alliance
801 Kingsmill Parkway
Columbus, OH 43229
sportsmensalliance.org
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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 17 August, 2026
C/O Hilary Cooley, Grizzly Bear Recovery Coordinator 5275 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
Re: Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation's Comments on FWS' Request for Comments on R
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Trump Moves to Kill Roadless Rule in Biggest Assault on Forest Protections in U.S. History
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 [Category: Biology] -- The Center for Biological Diversity posted the following news release:
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Trump Moves to Kill Roadless Rule in Biggest Assault on Forest Protections in U.S. History
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WASHINGTON-The Trump administration today proposed scrapping the country's most significant tool for protecting national forests, a move that would open nearly 45 million acres of wild, unfragmented forest across 37 states to road construction, logging and other development.
"Trump
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WildEarth Guardians: Killing the Roadless Rule Will Harm Wildlife, Water, and Old Growth Trees
SANTA FE, New Mexico, Aug. 19 -- WildEarth Guardians issued the following news release on Aug. 18, 2026:
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Killing the Roadless Rule will Harm Wildlife, Water, and Old Growth Trees
Decision ignores more than 95% of public comments supporting Roadless protections
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Today the Trump administration announced its intention to entirely remove Roadless Area Conservation Rule protections ("Roadless Rule") across 45 million acres of roadless National Forest lands. This decision will harm wildlif
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Wyden, Merkley Demand Federal Agencies Stop Sharing Medicaid Data With ICE
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release:
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Wyden, Merkley Demand Federal Agencies Stop Sharing Medicaid Data With ICE
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Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today demanded that the federal departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Homeland Security (DHS) as well as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) immediately stop unlawfully transferring Medicaid data to DHS and the U.S. Immigration and Custom
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Wyden, Merkley Demand Federal Agencies Stop Sharing Medicaid Data With ICE
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release:
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Wyden, Merkley Demand Federal Agencies Stop Sharing Medicaid Data With ICE
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Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today demanded that the federal departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Homeland Security (DHS) as well as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) immediately stop unlawfully transferring Medicaid data to DHS and the U.S. Immigration and Customs E
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