skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Monday, February 10, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Vance questions authority of US judges to challenge Trump; UAW contract negotiations at VW focus on higher wages, health care, retirement; Report highlights how Georgia can unlock rural infrastructure, broadband; Leftover fish parts could help keep industrial fishing waste low.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The head of the new White House Faith Office draws scrutiny, Trump moves to fire the Federal Elections Commission chair, and a North Carolina judge won't toss tens of thousands of ballots in a state Supreme Court race.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Medical debt, which tops $90 billion has an outsized impact on rural communities, a new photography book shares the story of 5,000 schools built for Black students between 1912 and 1937, and anti-hunger advocates champion SNAP.

Conservationists want free national park access for newest U.S. citizens

play audio
Play

Wednesday, June 26, 2024   

Conservation groups are asking federal agencies to give newly naturalized U.S. citizens a free America the Beautiful National Parks pass.

Javier Pineda, founder of Oso Outdoors in Summit County, said each year thousands of immigrants work hard and spend a lot of time and money to take the oath of allegiance. He believes the pass, which gets you into more than 2,000 federal recreation sites, will instill pride in public lands.

"If people are naturalized and they have an America the Beautiful pass included in that packet, not only they are going to feel more welcomed to be adopted to this new homeland," Pineda contended. "They are going to be encouraged naturally to access some of these national parks."

Pineda pointed out the move would also help remove at least one barrier -- cost -- which immigrants, communities of color and low-income people disproportionately face accessing public lands. He urged people to sign an online petition.

Communities of color in the U.S. are three times more likely to live without access to natural areas compared to white communities. Latinos make up 44% of Summit County's population but Pineda noted it is not what you typically see in the mountains. In an effort to get more Latinos out on the area's spectacular trails, Pineda's group is offering a summer mountain biking program.

"In a place like Summit County, you know, biking is another great activity that we all enjoy," Pineda explained. "And a great, great way to explore our national parks and public lands."

Oso Outdoors' winter program helps introduce newcomers to Summit County's biggest outdoor draws, skiing and snowboarding. And the group is working with the National Forest Service to add more bilingual signage to make it easier for Spanish-speaking people to navigate trail maps.

"I always tell people you don't have to hike a mountain to be considered outdoorsy," Pineda emphasized. "Just spending time outside of our homes, in parks and public lands, it's a great way just to connect with people. We all need opportunities to access these places and we also need to conserve them together."


get more stories like this via email

more stories
Salmonella, campylobacter, listeria and E. coli are among the leading bacterial causes of foodborne illnesses resulting in hospitalizations and death. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Foodborne illnesses from meat and poultry products kill thousands of people a year and a new report from the Government Accountability Office offers w…


Environment

play sound

About 20% of fish caught in the wild are not used to feed people across the world but a recent study found the unused portions of fish prepared for th…

Environment

play sound

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaborat…


Social Issues

play sound

The United Auto Workers union is negotiating its first union contract with Volkswagen at its Chattanooga plant, covering more than 4,000 members…

As of last October, 775,000 Washington state students have access to school meals. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Legislation in Olympia would make school meals free for every student. Senate Bill 5352 would ensure every student has access to free breakfast and …

Environment

play sound

By Grey Moran for Sentient.Broadcast version by Trimmel Gomes for Mississippi News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabora…

Social Issues

play sound

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and the Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services are working together to find homes for foster-care childre…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021