Natural Resources

"The Interior Department’s new strategic plan calls for selling and swapping away the federal estate. "

"The U.S. government received more than $12 billion in revenue from Venezuela’s natural resource exports in the first nine months of this year, according to a confidential report by the global financial services firm KPMG."

"Senator Lisa Murkowski plans to become the ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee in the next Congress, an aide said Monday." "The Alaska Republican could elevate energy and environment measures as a leader on the powerful committee."

"Idaho officials paid hunters thousands of dollars for killing a dozen newborn wolf pups this spring, including what appears to be at least one full litter killed in or near its den, according to state records shared with the Guardian and Public Domain." "Wildlife advocates incensed as documents show state paid out $2,000 per kill in effort to shrink state’s wolf population."

"The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Trump administration to continue construction of a wall along the southern border in the Big Bend region of southwest Texas, including within a national park. The decision by the court, which was unsigned, allows the administration to resume its efforts to erect barriers and put up surveillance equipment along a 500-mile stretch of the U.S. border with Mexico as a lower court battle over the project’s legality continues. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson noted a dissent."

"The sprawling bill, which has divided Democrats, would overhaul major environmental laws to streamline the permitting process."

"Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who is heavily invested in the AI industry, is leading the charge to allow tech companies to build data centers on the public lands he oversees."

"The “blue tsunami” on Tuesday that will give Democrats control of Congress also helped to push through ballot measures around the country to strengthen environmental protections. Voters approved referendums to ensure supplies of clean water and clean power, to support nature conservation and to armor communities against the threats of climate change-fueled wildfires. And they voted, over and over, to block data centers, too."

"As Democrats flipped state and federal seats, farm runoff and cancer concerns infiltrated nearly every race."

"The lapse in upkeep comes at a time of reduced staffing and as Trump pursues projects in the nation’s capital, including overhauling East Potomac Golf Links."