In the D.C. region, conversations often start with, “What do you do?” WTOP’s series “Working Capital” profiles the people doing the work that makes the region unique While you may think you can’t afford to make a mistake in your job the engravers that work on the local monuments or else it’ll be etched in stone forever “One of the biggest questions I get is, ‘what happens when you mess something up?’ And I always say, ‘we don’t,’” said Cameron Hawkins, a stone engraver with Rugo Stone spend several hours prepping equipment and protectively taping stone before they even began the stonework they continued work on an ever-evolving memorial in Downtown D.C. the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial They added over 300 names to the permanent installation — a process they do every year While the work takes several weeks of sandblasting to add the names the job actually starts months earlier when they begin making masks — a type of stencil that allows them to protect the stone they prepare protective equipment because sand is flying everywhere as they begin etching Hundreds of pounds of sand are loaded into their blaster an air compressor shoots those tiny grains at a high enough speed to chip away at the stone “It’s difficult because as you’re blasting you have to go slow and check and make sure you’re not going too deep or too shallow,” Hawkins said The two have to communicate and work together to make sure their work is uniform and one is not sandblasting letters deeper into the stone than the other “You’ve got to be focused 100% while you’re working,” Cabrera said “I have mentors that have told me something they did in their 20s and that’s really incredible,” Hawkins said Rugo Stone has worked everywhere from the National Air and Space Museum to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the Holocaust Museum even completing some recent restoration work at the Lincoln Memorial When they are able to work on important projects like adding names of fallen officers to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial “It’s an honor for us to do this thing,” Cabrera said “We’re not going to forget these people They give a life for us and keep us safe.” Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area Since joining WTOP Luke Lukert has held just about every job in the newsroom from producer to web writer and now he works as a full-time reporter You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed Italian authorities and medical personnel were quick to respond but it took them a nerve-wracking 20 minutes to extricate the man from his predicament the unidentified traveller was whisked off to the hospital for emergency surgery Dozens of tourists to Rome's Colosseum watched in horror as an American tourist was impaled on the fence surrounding the historical structure.Il Messaggero reported that surgeons used over 80 stitches to close the wound on the man's lower back and he remains in serious condition in the hospital was holidaying with his family and had only been in Rome for a short period One individual was left "extremely seriously injured" after a devastating incident as confirmed by officials who reported that fire brigade and mountain rescue crews were presently at the scene the head honcho of EAV public transport company overseeing the cable car operation It took 20 minutes to free him(Image: Andrei Pungovschi Getty Images)He verified that the carriage plummeted in the Monte Faito mountains a prime location that lures tourists near Naples Devastating photographs depict the ruins of the wrecked cabin following the lethal mishap It's been noted that the gondolas had just kicked off their seasonal service after being shut down for the winter months The calamity struck just past 4:30 pm in local time Castellammare di Stabia's mayor suspects that one of the cables holding up the cabin gave way "The emergency brake downstream worked but clearly not the one on the cabin that was about to reach the top of the hill," he stated to the regional press Reports divulge that sixteen passengers from another cabin which came to a halt mid-flight near the mountain's base were rescued triumphantly Linking the storied town of Castellammare di Stabia with Monte Faito the stricken Monte Faito cable car met with misfortune merely a week after resuming operations for the new season a cable car connecting the northern Lake Maggiore with a neighbouring mountain in Italy tragically crashed to the ground two American tourists were slapped with a hefty fine of $900 for unlawfully sneaking into the Colosseum at night to enjoy a beer within the historic amphitheatre For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters. (KESQ) –  The Texas Public Policy Foundation filed a lawsuit questioning the constitutionality of the Biden Administration of the 624,000-acre Chuckwalla National Monument and plaintiffs claim the declaration was in violation of the Antiquities Act of 1906 allowing presidents to designated national monuments They argue "it was clear at the time that the bill was intended for much smaller areas of land," according to the press release the Texas Public Policy Foundation Attorney Anelise Powers said “The earliest national monuments were between 160-1,000 acres but now presidents are designating millions of acres at a time It is abundantly clear that Congress never intended for the Antiquities Act to be used in this way but that has not prevented the Executive branch from using the Act as a vehicle to acquire extensive control over essentially all public lands Supreme Court have indicated an interest in reviewing the Antiquities Act.” The lawsuit includes two plaintiffs in Daniel Torongo and the BlueRibbon Coalition Torongo's family has been mining in the Chuckwalla territory since 1978 and plans to continue mining in the territory into his retirement the lawsuit says the monument proclamation "burdens" Torongo's mining in the territory by increasing restrictions and regulations to maintain his claim and will keep him from expanding to nearby areas The BlueRibbon Coalition joined Torongo's lawsuit claiming its members are prevented from enjoying the same trails prior to the monument declaration Uncharted trails along with other temporary closures halted BRC member activity The monument designation interferes with "the ability of members of BRC to drive and otherwise explore trails within the national monument." The case defendants include Douglas Burgum the Secretary of the Interior and overseer of management of the Chuckwalla National Monument through the Bureau of Land Management the BLM and the United States Department of the Interior For the full lawsuit go to texaspolicy.com News Channel 3 is working to speak with the BlueRibbon Coalition and members of the Protect Chuckwalla National Monument Stay with us for the latest update on the lawsuit tonight at 5 p.m News Channel 3 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community Guidelines KESQ-TV FCC Public File | KPSP-TV FCC Public File | KDFX-TV FCC Public File | EEO Report | FCC Applications | Do Not Sell My Personal Information Jennifer Tucker has received funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities for research that examines the social and cultural role of modern technology own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment Wesleyan University provides funding as a member of The Conversation US View all partners Donald Trump first came up with his plan for a “National Garden of American Heroes” at the end of his first term before President Joe Biden quietly tabled it upon replacing Trump in the White House Now, with Trump back in the Oval Office – and with the country’s 250th anniversary fast approaching – the project is back. The National Endowment for the Humanities is seeking to commission 250 statues of famous Americans from a predetermined list to be displayed at a location yet to be determined The statue garden coincides with an executive order from March 2025 in which the Trump administration denounced what it saw as historical revisionism that had recast the country’s “unparalleled legacy of advancing liberty it had constructed a story of the nation that portrayed it “as inherently racist or otherwise irredeemably flawed,” which “fosters a sense of national shame.” “We don’t need to overemphasize the negative,” explained Lindsey Halligan a 35-year-old insurance lawyer who is named in the order as one of the people tasked with reforming museums that receive government funds And it comes at a cost: It’s going to be paid for with funds that had been previously allotted to tell stories about people and places that may be less familiar than the proposed figures for Trump’s garden But they’re nonetheless meaningful to countless communities across the nation Trump’s fixation on America’s luminaries is adjacent to the “great man” theory of history In 1840, Scottish philosopher and historian Thomas Carlyle published “On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History,” in which he argued that “The History of the world is but the Biography of great men.” American biologist and eugenicist Frederick Adams Woods embraced the great man theory in his 1913 work, “The Influence of Monarchs: Steps in a New Science of History.” In it he investigated 386 rulers in Western Europe from the 12th century until the French Revolution He proposed a scientific measurement to quantify the relative impact these rulers had on the course of civilization Nonetheless, it continues to have broad appeal. It’s very popular among corporate leaders, for example, many of whom like to portray themselves as visionaries, with their business successes proof of their genius Trump’s garden of heroes reflects his penchant for celebrating wealth, champions and successes, akin to what Walt Disney tried to capture with his Disney World ride Carousel of Progress which highlights American technological advances However, the U.S. already has a national statuary hall Each state has contributed two statues; for example Massachusetts honors Samuel Adams and John Winthrop while Ohio celebrates James Garfield and Thomas Edison Today there are 102 statutes, though just 14 women the roster is fluid – not set in stone – and reflects debates over whom the nation ought to celebrate a former governor and senator from Arkansas with Confederate sympathies We don’t think there’s anything wrong with celebrating and honoring popular figures in American history But we do think there’s an issue when it comes at the expense of other historical and archival projects The New York Times reported that US$34 million for the project would come from funds formerly allocated to the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities, whose budget has been cut by 85% Many of the grants that have been slashed explore, celebrate and preserve history in ways that stand in stark contrast to a statue garden. They involve, as Gal Beckerman writes in the Atlantic about uncovering hidden or overlooked experiences about closely examining texts or adding to the public record.” These and countless similar history projects serve millions of people far from Washington, and they have broad support from lawmakers and citizens of all political stripes In 1938, as forces of fascism gathered in Europe, a Connecticut high school social science teacher said on the threshold of the greatest epoch of its history is citizens who understand the past out of which the nation has grown … Let us look into the souls of the leaders and the common people who have made America great.” In his 2016 campaign, Trump promised to work on behalf of everyday Americans – the “forgotten man and woman.” But the proposed statue garden of famous figures cuts out the common people from America’s story – not just as subjects of history but as its stewards for future generations With funds slashed from organizations dedicated to local history, we wonder how many more stories will go untold Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker There will also be lots of pop-up events to look forward to, including drum circles and a photo booth event with The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Find out about events here.  Officials say that SPARK provides positive experiences for the community of visitors and Downtown workers who enjoy Monument Circle – the civic “We are excited to continue providing spaces for residents and visitors to spend time in the heart of our city and explore all that Downtown Indianapolis has to offer,” says said Iris Dillon Administrator of Programming and Public Use for Indy DMD This year’s SPARK season will be located in the northwest quadrant of Monument Circle which will be temporarily closed to road traffic On Wednesdays each week, SPARK will also operate in tandem with the Original Farmers’ Market on the Circle’s southwest quadrant SPARK brought renewed vibrancy to the Circle as a day-to-day space for Downtown residents and visitors to congregate and “spark” connections the park-like environment welcomed over 78 thousand visitors and hosted 251 human-scale program opportunities Nearly 50% of 2023 visitors spent one or more hours at SPARK to enjoy programming SPARK was previously hosted on the southwest quad of the Circle and now shifts to the northwest quad with feedback from civic partners and to accommodate ongoing construction at the base of the Soldiers & Sailors Monument To learn more about SPARK on the Circle, visit www.circlespark.org Copyright 2024 Midwest Parenting Publications | All Right Reserved Snow and Mountain Lifestyle news and entertainment Incredible ski segment shot in Bulgaria as Ole Pavel and Lukas Joas find creative ways to session the Buzludzha Monument, a former communist headquarters in Bulgaria. “Built on Buzludzha Peak by the Bulgarian communist government and inaugurated in 1981, the monument’s futurist architecture stands as a relic of state-constructed communist buildings. Witness the contemporary act of skiing against this historical backdrop, a structure abandoned since the fall of communism in 1989.” After decades of disuse the grounds are riddled with the telltale signs of urban decay but make the prefect venue for a pair of skiers who relish days when they can go undisturbed while exploring unique ways to ski manmade structures. Get the latest snow and mountain lifestyle news and entertainment delivered to your inbox. Francis@unofficialnetworks.com Francis Xavier is a seasoned writer for Unofficial Networks, bringing a lifetime of outdoor experience to his work. Having lived in a ski resort town for years he has a deep connection to mountain culture.... Colorful honeycreepers at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) monitor lizards and Mariana fruit bats in Guam NWR and millions of Laysan and Black-footed albatross in Hawaiʻi - from James Campbell NWR to Midway Atoll NWR.  and their habitats includes honoring their role in our shared history and cultures Traditional knowledge and cultural practices are an integral aspect of the PIRAMO’s conservation efforts; we foster and value ongoing and new collaborations and partnerships with indigenous and local communities and people as well as those of non-governmental organizations state/territorial governments and other federal agencies Refuges help protect a myriad of endangered forest birds and water birds that are found only in Hawai’i; hundreds of the rarest plants and invertebrates; majestic seabirds; and ecosystems found nowhere else in the planet Kīlauea Point NWR and Hanalei NWR on Kauaʻi and Kēalia Pond on Maui protect acrobatic seabirds and endemic endangered water birds while also welcoming the public to participate in conservation Image DetailsTogether these Refuges offer opportunities to half a million people a year to visit or overlook unparalleled Hawaiian vistas of native habitat and wildlife Visitors can experience spectacular wildlife and Native Hawaiian cultural connections at Hakalau Forest and Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuges through specially-guided tours or volunteer programs during certain times of the year  Partners in conservation and community connections are a big part of all PIRAMO Refuges Image DetailsOn the Guam National Wildlife Refuge in the western Pacific visitors and wildlife find some of the island’s last remaining native limestone and coral reefs teeming with life along Ritidian (Litekyan) Beach and historic latte stones and other remnants of Guam’s history are protected across the Refuge Visitors seek out the beauty and tranquility provided and enjoy seeing and learning about wildlife The Guam National Wildlife Refuge is a vital link between Guam’s (Guåhan) cultural and natural heritage and a vibrant place where nature holds promise for future generations Image DetailsThe four Marine National Monuments protect over 1.1 million square miles of public lands and waters and pristine waters represent some of the last frontiers and havens for wildlife in the world with twelve national wildlife refuges at their cores the Marine Monuments comprise the most widespread collection of marine protection under a single nation's jurisdiction The Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument encompasses approximately 490,000 square miles of open ocean making the total area of the Monument nearly five times the size of all the U.S National Parks combined and nearly twice the size of the state of Texas Rose Atoll Marine National Monument in American Samoa provides safe shelter and nesting grounds for threatened and endangered sea turtles and is the largest collection of seabird nesting in American Samoa The Mariana Trench Marine National Monument contains the deepest place on Earth deeper than the height of Mount Everest above sea-level is five times longer than the Grand Canyon; at its depths the Trench contains pools of molten sulfur which is unique on this planet and heretofore only known to exist on Jupiter’s innermost moon Image DetailsLearn More About UsWhat We Do Most units in the Pacific Islands Refuges and Monuments fall under either a Monument or a Refuge Complex  To learn more about what we do in each refuge or monument unit you can directly link to each of the 26 sites below in this outline representing how the Pacific Islands refuges and monument units are structured: Mariana Trench Marine National Monument: Mariana Trench National Wildlife Refuge Mariana Arc of Fire National Wildlife Refuge Guam National Wildlife Refuge (Ritidian Unit) Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument: Johnston Island National Wildlife Refuge Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuge Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge Wake Atoll National Wildlife Refuge Baker Island National Wildlife Refuge Howland Island National Wildlife Refuge Jarvis Island National Wildlife Refuge Rose Atoll Marine National Monument: Rose Atoll National Wildlife Refuge Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument: Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge Island of Kauaʻi: Kauaʻi National Wildlife Refuges Complex: Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge Hulē'ia National Wildlife Refuge Island of Oʻahu: Oʻahu National Wildlife Refuges Complex: Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge Oʻahu Forest National Wildlife Refuge Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge Island of Hawaiʻi: Hawaiʻi (Big) Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex: Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge (Hakalau Forest Unit and Kona Forest Unit)  plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people S.D.— National recognition for Monument Health's Rapid City Hospital for its commitment to patient safety It received an "A" safety grade from The Leapfrog Group The group also looks at the safety systems hospitals have and assigns an "A through F" grade based on their performance Monument Rapid City is the only facility in the state to score an "A" Monument Health Vice President of Quality Safety & Risk Management Jill Tice says "We were notified that for this release of the hospital safety grade we are the only hospital in South Dakota that received that a rating So we're very proud of the work that our caregivers and physicians did to take us to that level." Due to patient volume Monument's Spearfish hospital did not qualify for Leapfrog's rating The program is peer reviewed and updated bi-annually each fall and spring CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Jason Holcomb of Chattanooga Monuments Company was on the show today talking about Mother's Day and about families who have lost a mother recently wanting to get their memorial in place CLOUD — The VFW-Granite City Post 428 will hold a dedication ceremony on Memorial Day for a new tribute to veterans A new Veterans Monument Tablet will be dedicated at 1 p.m For veterans who were unable to have their names placed on the current monument the new tablet will hold an additional 160 names There are application forms and more information at the bar at the VFW released as part of Leapfrog’s Spring 2025 report places Rapid City's hospital among the top 30% of hospitals nationwide to earn the highest safety rating patient-centered care while seeking continuous improvement and setting higher standards for health care excellence within our community,” said Jill Tice Safety and Risk Management for Monument Health The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only national rating focused exclusively on patient safety Grades are assigned twice a year using more than 30 national performance metrics “Achieving an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade reflects enormous dedication to patient safety,” said Leah Binder “I extend my congratulations to Monument Health Rapid City Hospital staff and volunteers for creating a culture where patients come first.” Monument has earned both "C" and "B" grades The "A" continues the hospital's grading upswing “Achieving the gold standard of patient safety for a United States health system doesn’t happen overnight,” he said “I am very proud to work with an organization that truly puts patient safety at the center of what we do.” Jackson County leaders have removed a plaque – installed during the Black Lives Matter movement – that previously covered an inscription on the pedestal of “Sylva Sam,” a Confederate monument The plaque – which read “E pluribus Unum,” a phrase on the Great Seal of the United States that means “out of many one” – had stood for four years as a compromise to prior calls for the Confederate soldier statue to be removed It was removed this month without a public discussion or vote by county elected leaders – which one former commissioner has described as an act “behind closed doors.” Sylva Sam was erected on the steps of the then-Jackson County Courthouse in 1915 Amid calls for the removal of the monument County Commissioners between 2020 and 2021 agreed to add the “E pluribus Unum” plaque covering the original inscription that reads “Our Heroes of the Confederacy.” the Confederate heroe's message – and a Confederate flag on the statue’s base – is back residents weighed in – both on the meaning of the monument and the lack of public disclosure before the compromise plaque was removed Jackson County resident Megan Machnik thanked commissioners for restoring the original monument “This monument has stood as a silent witness to generations of change it may represent different things to different people for many of us it's a part of our heritage an emblem of the history that has shaped our families “Your actions show that we do not erase our history but we strive to understand it so that our children can better know where they come from and who they are.” Local author David Joy spoke against the removal. Joy’s comments from the meeting have gone viral online with over 100,000 views across social media. Author David Joy speaking at the Jackson County Commissioners’ meeting last week about their Confederate monument. #ncpol #rural #confederacy “I think about the black communities in Jackson County I think about people who have descendants here who go back hundreds of years And what every one of you who voted for that is saying is that you revere a moment in time when their ancestors were in bondage Joy in 2023 wrote “Those We Thought We Knew,” which is about the monument and the history of the Mt The church was founded by 11 formerly enslaved people and its building was ultimately moved by Western Carolina University Joy said he thinks about that history in Jackson County when discussing this monument “A church who was forced to dig up their dead and move them to the back side of that mountain to make room for a dormitory,” Joy said people who have served this county as deputies people who have served this county in all kinds of capacities that that's what you celebrate.” Joy and others who were against the removal also spoke about the way in which the plaque was removed Jackson County Manager Kevin King confirmed that the plaque was removed by commissioners earlier this month He said commissioners agreed to the removal over the phone in a series of individual phone calls This might seem like a violation of public meeting law which states that a majority of a public body cannot meet together without it being an open public meeting Assistant Professor of Public Law and Government at the UNC School of Government Rebecca Fisher-Gabbard says it isn’t because commissioners weren’t on the phone together “That is technically not a violation of the open meetings law because that would not constitute a majority of the members of a public body gathering,” Gabbard said Gabbard also cites statute NC GA 100-2.1(a - b) that governs the protection of monuments “That specific statute does not necessarily require a public hearing and or a public vote,” Gabbard said At least one commissioner has said publicly that he didn’t agree with the decision – but without minutes or an official vote Former Jackson County Commissioner Gayle Woody was on the board when the decision to keep the statue and add the plaques was made She says she was “very disheartened” that this decision was made without public input “The thing that hurt me the most was it was done behind closed doors which was the opposite of what our county commissioners did at that time,” Woody said and we still were respectful and we made our decision based on all the different viewpoints.” In light of the Confederate inscription’s return Jackson County resident Teri Cole-Smith proposed more historical context to be added to the monument including the number of people who were enslaved in Jackson County in 1860 “A statue that glorifies the Confederate soldiers as heroes doesn’t just memorialize history That would be done with information that contextualizes there were 268 Black people enslaved as well as six free Black people in 1860 Cole-Smith also read the names of 30 families in the county who were listed as enslavers during the meeting. The census lists: Enloe Some families include multiple members listed A brief history of the ‘compromise’ plaque  the town does not have the power to remove the monument because it is on county property In August 2020, Jackson County Commissioners decided not to remove the monument of a Confederate soldier in downtown Sylva known as Sylva Sam. The decision came after months of protests and the night of the vote was no different Two groups were formed around the issue: Jackson County Unity Coalition which was against the removal; and Reconcile Sylva After nine months of discussion and public protests, the “compromise plaque” stating “E Pluribus Unum” was approved and added to the monument for $14,000 in May 2021 The protests also sparked discussions about weapons at demonstrations and online threats At least one misdemeanor assault charge was filed by a Reconcile member A brief history of the ‘Sylva Sam’ monument  The monument in “commemoration of the deeds of the Confederate soldiers and their wives both living and dead” was originally unveiled in 1915 local businesses and a few people from Atlanta and Tennessee paid for the monument a member of the General Assembly from Jackson County The dedication mentioned that eight companies of Confederate soldiers from Jackson County served in the Civil War This monument was built to honor the 164 soldiers from Jackson County who served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War and all the citizens who helped with the war effort Between 33,000 and 35,000 North Carolinians in the Confederate Army died in battle, of wounds, or of disease between 1861 and 1865, according to the state encyclopedia website The orators for the occasion were Hon. Corsey C. Buchanan and Gen. Julian S. Carr. Carr is well-known as the speaker at the unveiling of “Silent Sam,” the Confederate monument at UNC-Chapel Hill, which was removed in 2019 Carr ultimately did not attend the Sylva unveiling and General Theodore F Here's the Jackson County Journal from 1914-1915 sharing the news about the monument Courtesy of the WCU Special Collections Library Sylva’s monument was rededicated on May 11 1996 to honor Jackson County Veterans of all wars president of Jackson County Historical Association; Clyde Bumgarner Post Commander of the William E Sylva and Chairman of Statue Fund Phillip Haire The monument was also restored for this event and the program lists donations from about 100 families and businesses Newspaper articles from the Sylva Herald in 1996 show the tone of the event the people of Jackson County had worked hard to rebuild their region This statue exemplifies that period in time - 1915 It was a testimony to a separated nation now reunited …,” Joe Rhinehart former president of the Jackson County Historical Association As work continues on the restoration of this courthouse we continue to give thanks that we are a united nation we strive to honor the past but live for the future.” Codie Howard & Nick Smith.  She was preceded in death by her father The family will receive friends at the Ferguson Funeral Home & Monument Company  A funeral service will be held at 8 PM.  If so desired memorial donations may be made to Indiana County Humane Society JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man was killed Friday night when his motorcycle crashed into an SUV on Monument Road, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Police said at about 9 p.m., a motorcycle was traveling north on Monument Road “at what appears to be a high rate of speed.” A Chevrolet Tahoe was making a left turn into the Fort Caroline Lakes subdivision when the motorcycle hit its right rear. The motorcyclist, who was wearing a helmet, was taken to a hospital where he later died. This is the 48th traffic death in Duval County this year and the 12th involving a motorcycle. Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WJXT / WCWJ Closed Captioning / Audio Description WJXT Public File WJXT EEO Report WCWJ Public File WCWJ EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 News4JAX.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group Monument Mountain's Jack Bissaillon takes a cut during Friday's road game at Mount Greylock Drury and McCann Tech pick up wins on the diamond Subscribe today to access this story and all of our stories with 24/7 unlimited access Subscribe now for $3.99/month Subscriber Sign In | Return Home Howard Herman can be reached at  hherman@berkshireeagle.com or 413-496-6253.  The Allied Association opened its season with 88 teams making the trip to Connecticut on Saturday It was a rare Sunday afternoon baseball game on Valentine Road The Julieano sisters both homered and Lenox fended off its toughest challenge of the season with a 5-3 home win over Hoosac Valley on Saturday Olivia Perry had 14 Ks in Drury's win at Wahconah while Lee's Bri Lynch fanned 12 in a win at Mount Everett to highlight Friday's slate holding on in the fourth quarter to beat Wahconah.  Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Local veterans advocate Joe Griffies was among the few who unveiled the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument at Veterans Memorial Park in North Wildwood on Saturday Thomas Corcoran and sister Suzanne Meissler talk about their brother It affects many generations,” Thomas Corcoran said ‘What if?’ We all wonder what kind of person (Charles) would have been had he come back healthy.” New Jersey Gold Star Mothers president Patricia Bye wipes away tears while listening to stories Saturday Mayor Patrick Rosenello speaks before the unveiling of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument at Veterans Memorial Park in North Wildwood on Saturday New Jersey VFW Auxiliary State President Denise Beckler circles the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument at Veterans Memorial Park in North Wildwood on Saturday Past VFW Post 5941 Commander Joseph Orlando leads the Pledge of Allegiance at the unveiling of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument at Veterans Memorial Park in North Wildwood on Saturday VFW Post 5941 Commander Bill Davenport speaks during the unveiling of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument at Veterans Memorial Park in North Wildwood on Saturday Wildwood Catholic High School alumna Macey Bischoff sings the national anthem at the unveiling of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument at Veterans Memorial Park in North Wildwood on Saturday shares her story at the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument at Veterans Memorial Park in North Wildwood on Saturday NORTH WILDWOOD — Thomas Corcoran still remembers the early morning hour of June 3 At the door was a telegram,” Corcoran recalled through tears and after reading the telegram the expression on his face told it all and it’s been branded in my brain for the last 50 years.” Navy Seaman Patrick Corcoran was a member of the Lost 74 a group of sailors who died while serving on the USS Frank E The Corcorans are just one family among countless who are bonded forever through tragedy the city unveiled the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument and reopened Veterans Memorial Park in front of several hundred people The granite memorial is a tribute to all Gold Star families and relatives in the U.S A Gold Star Family is one that has lost a loved one who died serving in the military designed through the Woody Williams Foundation represent the sacrifices of the men and women who served in the military The design was popularized by Hershel “Woody” Williams a Marine who served during the battle of Iwo Jima in the Pacific during World War II Williams created a foundation to raise money to place a memorial in West Virginia multiple memorials have been put in place around the country The North Wildwood monument is the second in New Jersey honoring Gold Star families The memorial stands about 7½ feet high and 15 feet long with four upright sections and a silhouette of a saluting soldier cut out from between the two largest pieces titled “Homeland,” depicts a North Wildwood lifeguard boat and stand next to a house on the beach There are pillars for “Family,” “Patriot” and “Sacrifice,” which depict a family by the water the soldiers raising the American flag at Iwo Jima “Becoming a Gold Star Family is the most painful task anyone can image,” Mayor Patrick Rosenello said The plaza where the monument stands includes two granite benches and a granite marker describing the monument Funds to create the monument and renovate the park came through grants The Corcoran family was among the three who spoke and shared their stories and New Jersey VFW Auxiliary State President Denise Beckler “I don’t believe my mother ever got over losing my father,” said Beckler Eventually their mother remarried and their family grew my mother would take just my brother and I out to find the nearest VFW Buddy Poppy drive and she would ask that VFW veteran to explain what that poppy was for and we had to hang it up in our bedroom and keep it there for the year until the next May I believe that was her way of making sure our father stayed in our memory.” Over two dozen other Gold Star Family members shared the names of loved ones who died while deployed closer in age to the ROTC cadets you see here than the VFW members,” Rosenello said five young members of beach patrols on this island perished in the Vietnam War These young men and women and the families we honor sacrificed not only their present but the promise of their future.” who grew up in Philadelphia and now lives in North Wildwood talked about how much their lives would have been different had his brother still been alive It’s about the 73 other sailors and the hundreds of thousands of other families that have experienced the same situation,” Corcoran said originally from Vineland and who is on the board of the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial and Vietnam Era Museum in Holmdel traded to serve his country in Vietnam — a football helmet for a combat helmet a Sunday dinner after church for a can of rations a car ride to the Jersey Shore for a helicopter ride to a mission “We all wonder what kind of person (Charles) would have been had he come back healthy Think about all of your sons and daughters who got the call and didn’t come back Could they have been the governor of New Jersey Some solid citizen that could have made a contribution to our state and to our country what they could have brought to our society.” North Wildwood unveiled the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument and the reopening of Veterans Memorial Park in front of several hundred people Saturday jrusso@pressofac.com Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter Email notifications are only sent once a day Marine Corps veteran Marco Polo Smigliani talks about being honored with the dedication of Marco Polo Smigliani Purple Heart Way in Egg Harbor… Sign up for a digital subscription to The Press of Atlantic City now and take advantage of a great offer Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account North Wildwood unveiled the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument and the reopening of Veterans Memorial Park in front of several hundred people North Wildwood unveiled the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument and reopened Veterans Memorial Park in front of several hundred people The Interior Department would absorb a 30 percent reduction under a preliminary budget proposal released by the White House The Trump administration’s budget proposal for fiscal 2026 would slash the Interior Department’s budget by $5 billion a 30 percent cut from current spending levels according to numbers provided by the White House on Friday The cuts would be achieved in part by transferring some national park sites to states cutting off research grant money to universities and achieving “deep reductions” at national monuments The administration is proposing an $11.7 billion budget for the sprawling department of more than 60,000 employees that tends the nation’s national park system and manages the country’s vast oil and gas reserves under public land and offshore The White House also proposes to add to Interior’s responsibilities such as moving wildfire operations from the Forest Service to the department and shifting the endangered species tasks currently done by NOAA to the Fish and Wildlife Service research and conservation efforts reflect the Trump administration’s focus on downsizing government and bringing its actions more directly under the control of the White House Request a FREE trial to receive unlimited access to A .boston.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the City of Boston funded by a $3 million grant from the Mellon Foundation is bringing temporary monuments and free programming to the city How can our public spaces reflect what is important to us and community members to imagine ways of commemorating the people and events that are important to our communities “Un-monument | Re-monument | De-monument: Transforming Boston” is bringing temporary monuments and free public programming to neighborhoods across Boston This multi-year program will enable artists to promote a far more engaged and active relationship with the city’s landscape and built environment unmonument@boston.gov We’re commissioning artworks from groundbreaking artists and partnering with celebrated local arts organizations The Un-monument initiative includes six curatorial approaches to commissioning temporary monuments across the City Some Un-monument temporary monuments were selected through an open call to artists led by the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture Others are the result of direct commissions by five organizations serving as curatorial partners: we hope to create opportunities for more perspectives to join the conversation Commissioning local organizations also supports Boston’s creative ecosystem and creates a more natural distribution of projects and community participation in this city-wide dialogue learn more about the temporary monument projects we also selected eight research and development projects to support through the Un-monument program we held a series of three conversations at The Embrace that explored the interconnections between monuments We will continue these conversations in the summer of 2025 The Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture, in collaboration with The Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University, City of Boston Parks and Recreation, Embrace Boston, and Friends of the Public Garden held a series of public discussions featuring leading academics Our goal is to invigorate public space by bringing rich conversations into the broader public using The Embrace and the Kings' legacy as inspiration we can create a space for broader expressions of the powerful diversity and complexity of American stories Following the public conversations, we held free dinner receptions facilitated by local artists and cultural leaders in relaxed settings through a collaboration with Downtown Boston Business Improvement District to continue the conversation and deepen public engagement This series will return in the summer of 2025! Keep an eye out on this page, on social media, or via email to learn more when the next series is announced take a look back at the 2024 public conversations This discussion was hosted by Professor Brandon Terry and featured Professor Joshua Bennett and Professor Imani Perry especially since the great age of epic poetry has been a profoundly important technology of communal memory and stories of peoplehood all around the globe Our first event looked to this legacy and its present-day importance with Joshua Bennett one of the country’s most celebrated poet-scholars one of our nation’s most prominent public intellectuals as they engaged in a public conversation about the art and politics of memory Boston’s most talked-about work of public art in decades these two extraordinary thinkers reflected on hard questions about who and what we remember and the ways that art may be able to facilitate a more inclusive and insightful practice of imagination We learned together about the nature of collective and civic memories and the different forms that human beings have experimented with to pass them down through generations This discussion was hosted by Kyera Singleton and featured Professor Kerri Greenidge and Professor Kendra T. Field During this electrifying public conversation at Boston Common Tufts University historians Kerri Greenidge and Kendra T Field delved into the untold histories of the African Diaspora in New England the dynamic director of the Royall House and Slave Quarters this event illuminated the rich and often overlooked narratives that have shaped the region both renowned for their pathbreaking work on abolitionism and the profound impact of slavery in New England introduced innovative public scholarship that challenged and expanded our understanding of the past This engaging panel sparked dialogue and offered fresh perspectives on the enduring legacy of Black history in New England This event provided an opportunity to engage with groundbreaking historians who are redefining our understanding of the region’s history This discussion was hosted by Professor Brandon Terry and featured Professor Michael J. Sandel This compelling and timely public conversation reflected on the pressing challenges facing America’s democratic institutions and traditions today to develop strategies that would encourage continued dialogue among attendees following each talk read some reflections from community members about monuments the Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture assembled an advisory team that provides thought partnership weighs in on community engagement strategies and more throughout the duration of the program The Un-monument Advisory Team is made up of business owners MOAC is broadening its impact through partnerships with the Boston Art Review and the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt).  The Boston Art Review will expand upon the work in Un-monument through research and students from MassArt will create free and accessible educational and interpretive materials This programming is made possible by a grant from the Mellon Foundation's Monuments Project Our deepest gratitude to the Mellon Foundation and all of our partners for their support of this program An official website of the United States government President Obama signed a proclamation declaring the Sand to Snow National Monument east of Los Angeles in Southern California The 154,000-acre monument extends from Bureau of Land Management lands on the Sonoran desert floor up to over 10,000 feet in the San Gorgonio Wilderness on the San Bernardino National Forest The striking diversity of lands within this monument is breathtaking – they are filled with the stories of ancient peoples critical wildlife corridors and rich biological diversity They also offer a wide variety of recreation opportunities for urban populations living close to the shadows of these majestic mountain peaks – the San Gorgonio Mountain region serves as an important recreational hub for 24 million people living within a two-hour drive of the area These unique and impressive characteristics sparked the President’s use of the Antiquities Act of 1906 to establish the Sand to Snow National Monument The Sand to Snow National Monument will be co-managed by the U.S Forest Service (71,000 acres on the San Bernardino National Forest) and the Bureau of Land Management (83,000 acres of the California Desert District) both agencies manage approximately 101,000 acres as Wilderness The focal point of the Sand to Snow National Monument is the 11,500-foot San Gorgonio Mountain which rises sharply from the Sonoran Desert floor and is the highest peak in California south of the Sierra Nevada This mountain is one of eleven peaks that are over 10,000 feet in elevation in the southeast portion of the San Bernardino Mountains The area has some of the most rugged and steep topography in Southern California with steep slopes culminating in a granite ridge over seven miles long and two miles high The Sand to Snow National Monument is an incredibly diverse protected area with a wide range of ecosystems ranging from lowland Mojave and Colorado deserts Mediterranean chaparral and alpine conifer forests Hundreds of springs rise to the surface at South Fork Meadows the origin of the South Fork of the Santa Ana River The San Gorgonio Wilderness contains large un-fragmented habitat areas with no roads and serves as an important habitat linkage area between the San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountain ranges The area has been important to biological and ecological research as well as studies of climate and land use change and the impact of fire and invasive species management The area has a remarkable species richness that makes it one of the most biodiverse areas in southern California Twelve federally listed threatened and endangered animal species live in this dramatic landscape which is also famous for its oases frequented by over 240 species of birds The area is home to the southern-most stand of Quaking Aspen trees and habitat for the California spotted owl one with relatively undisturbed vegetation that provides excellent wildlife habitat including one of the highest densities of black bear habitats in Southern California.  Several Indian tribes of Southern California considered San Gorgonio Mountain one of their sacred places The Serrano and Cahuilla Indian people lived at the base of San Gorgonio Mountain basket making material and to hunt deer and other animals The San Gorgonio Pass served as a major trade route that led from Arizona to the California coast The Cahuilla Indian people from Palm Springs talked about “the people who came before.” It was said that these ancient ancestors could fly and San Gorgonio Mountain was one of several sacred peaks in Southern California where the ancient ancestors visited whose territory lies 50 miles to the south considered San Gorgonio Mountain sacred and the older brother of Mount San Jacinto; both peaks were considered among the first born of Earth Mother Spanish missionaries built Rancho San Gorgonio the easternmost outpost of the San Gabriel Mission After the Holcomb Valley gold rush of 1860 and campsites remain a part of the landscape today many miners prospected in the southeastern portions of the San Bernardino Mountains Evidence still remains in the form of old cabins and the area began attracting 75,000 to 100,000 people annually to the San Bernardino Mountains for recreation and outdoor enjoyment It was during this time that the movement to protect this unique area began The San Gorgonio Wilderness on the San Bernardino National Forest is the number one visited wilderness in Southern California attracting over 50,000 annual visits to this wild area The Sand to Snow National Monument includes 30 miles of the 2,600-mile Pacific Crest Trail The area is well known in the hiking community for the “Nine Peaks Challenge” a grueling all-day 27-mile hike that gains over 8,300 feet in elevation across nine peaks Cross country skiers enjoy the San Gorgonio Mountains in the winter A series of preserves owned by the Wildlands Conservancy are managed for public access and serve as entry points from the north and extraordinary opportunities for solitude Local communities within the monument area offer rental cabins private organizational camps and restaurants Forest Falls sits at the base of the San Gorgonio Wilderness and hosts two very popular Forest Service trailheads leading into the San Gorgonio Wilderness a large day use area and nearby waterfalls attract many visitors The community of Angelus Oaks also features the popular San Bernardino Peak trailhead More information about Sand to Snow National Monument from the Bureau of Land Management The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management will soon start working on a management plan for the new Sand to Snow National Monument.  Public involvement will be critical to developing a successful plan for this new Monument.  If you would like to be included in the process please contact the San Bernardino National Forest at (909) 382-2600 there is so much to see and do in the Sand to Snow National Monument plan an adventure and explore this new Monument and start creating your own stories in this special place Admiralty Island National Monument Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni—Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument Bears Ears National Monument Utah (co-managed with the Bureau of Land Management) Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument California (co-managed with the Bureau of Land Management) Browns Canyon National Monument Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument Chimney Rock National Monument Giant Sequoia National Monument Misty Fiords National Monument Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Newberry National Volcanic Monument San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Sand to Snow National Monument Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Sáttítla Highlands National Monument, Modoc, Shasta-Trinity, and Klamath national forests, California Sources: USDA Forest Service; U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Carnegie Institution for Science. The fifth consecutive stormy night is under way gathering more whirling energy each evening The forecast on the radio warns that it will reach gale force or beyond By 11pm it is barrelling headlong across the countryside into the estate whistles and howls in all directions around the cottage doors The accompanying eerie howls and groans are unnerving I rise and peer out at younger trees thrashing and swishing around as though trying to make good their escape from the ground On Sunday morning the extent of the devastating tantrum is apparent has come crashing down on the main circular drive near the front of the big house The tree had lorded it over the lawn and lake and frequently on my way past I had admired its changing colour patterns newly planted trees have been uprooted and ripped from their shallow grip But they do not have the pedigree and powerful sense of longevity of their venerable neighbour The fall of an ancient tree is a sad occasion a touchstone that has been a shared source of happiness to a vast universe of organisms linked to a multicellular life of interconnectivity I reflect on the food chains the tree hosted and the fact that over the decades it gave nourishment over 80 feet tall and more than two centuries old was wrenched out of the ground with prodigious force It had been weak for several years and its immense root network had rotted Holes in the trunk were attacked by algae and opportunistic fungi as well as a multitude of leaf-guzzling insects struggles through some chords and performs the last rites cutting parts of the contorted trunk into manageable logs for firewood in local hearths birds descend on it for a Sunday morning breakfast fluttering and leaping about in the branches splintered across its exposed remains They are all atwitter with the loss of a tree that had been both a hospitable host and stalwart friend A blackbird fossicks through thick dark-green foliage and brown leaf litter before turning its attention to scratching noisily at leaves on branches Gnats emerge dancing across the doomed carcass joined by scuttling bark beetles inspecting the wreckage with forensic diligence before enjoying a buffet On one thick branch a column of wood ants is on the march hunkering on the lawn while a second one joins in and living up to their nickname “chatter-pies” they gossip in conspiratorial conversation about the veteran tree’s demise their long black tails wagging 19-to-the-dozen The fall of the beech has left a gap in the tree-wall like a missing tooth but the other trees around the lake are strangely reposeful [ Ireland is waging a war on trees at a time when we need more of themOpens in new window ] The jagged edge of the remaining stump is reminiscent of a sharp rocky outcrop in the mountains It might surprise many that the beech arrived in Ireland relatively recently It keeps its lower branches clad in skirts of leaves that fan down to the ground while other trees concentrate their leaves only on their canopy the beech is one of the groundsman’s favourite trees Word comes through of spectacularly destructive damage in other parts of the grounds In some areas huge branches have fallen to the ground Roofs have been damaged in stone buildings and wooden fences felled the debris created by the cruel hand of nature in the dead of a winter’s night is a depressing spectacle There is a palpable sense of bereavement in the January stillness I reflect on the longevity of Fagus sylvatica about the numerous seen and unseen dramas enacted inside it the vast and complex whirl of life which revolved around it the animals under its protection and about its spirit Nobody could start to imagine what the tree had witnessed during its lifetime The power of the storm has shaken birdlife but it has also released a mysterious energy Planted as a status symbol around the late 18th century it has shed millions of leaves and leaf buds been visited for fodder by hundreds of thousands of termites and lived through tens of thousands of moons and sunsets It withstood the Night of the Big Wind on January 6th For centuries the tree was a feed-station of infinite beauty and complexity while up to 100 species could have benefited from it and an army of other insects derived comfort and shelter from it [ Storm Éowyn’s €500m toll on Irish forestry revealed by satellite imageryOpens in new window ] Mice and squirrels gobbled up its beechmast, the edible nuts of the beech lying on the ground. It provided protein and enriched the lives of a litany of varied species, who flirted with it and perched on its branches for social gatherings. How many crevices, nesting holes and roosts it harboured is anyone’s guess; its bole has been sniffed, its resin tasted, its bark hugged, branches climbed and leaves kissed. The power of the storm has shaken birdlife. Its violent beauty may have wreaked havoc, but it has also released a mysterious energy. Around the grounds multiple wounds to trees are visible, with fractured or bent trunks spanning the width of the driveway. It resembles a silent battlefield. Hefty limbs have snapped, hanging limply with dazzlingly light wood interiors. A towering thin pine tilts at a more dangerous-looking angle than the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The tree may be dead but it is still providing fodder for nutrients, and I feel a warm glow about knowing its secrets. From the skirl of the mistle thrush to the fluting notes of the blackbird, it played host to the calls of countless songbirds, while its branches were a perch for dynasties of wood pigeons. Visited by many, loved by all, it was an ecological megalopolis. How the mighty city has fallen. A Year in the Woods: Montalto through the Seasons by Paul Clements is published by Merrion Press. Paul Clements is a contributor to The Irish Times Facebook pageTwitter feed© 2025 The Irish Times DAC President Joe Biden created a new national monument on the border of Riverside and Imperial County The Chuckwalla National Monument granted sweeping federal protections to over 600,000 acres of high desert to the east of the Salton Sea It was a major victory for the six tribes and dozens of environmental justice groups in Southern California who had campaigned for the monument Now though, those same advocates are worried as the Trump administration reportedly considers removing some of those protections. Last week, The Washington Post reported that the Interior Department is looking at changing the boundaries of at least six national monuments to open up land for mining and oil production A spokesperson for the Interior Department declined to answer questions from KPBS about the monument’s status Indigenous leaders have urged the new administration to respect the sovereignty of tribal nations and to meet with them before making any decisions about the monument’s future. Earlier this month, the heads of four tribal nations, along with the National Congress of American Indians, sent a letter to President Donald Trump and his Interior Secretary “We have stewarded this land and surrounding areas since time immemorial,” they wrote “We ask that you refrain from taking any actions associated with this area without appropriate and robust tribal consultation.” Advocates for the Chuckwalla Monument have been keeping a close eye on the monument’s status since President Trump’s inauguration in January During his first term, the president reduced the size of two national monuments in Utah the federal government has not yet announced any official plans to change the Chuckwalla Monument “We haven’t made any announcements on this and have nothing to share at this time,” Interior Department spokesperson Elizabeth Peace said in a statement Monday Environmental advocates argue the new monument is shielding fragile ecosystems and historic cultural resources They said it is already helping safeguard access to nature especially for the region’s Latino and Indigenous residents and other communities of color Sendy Hernández Orellana Barrows, a co-founder of the Coachella Valley-based environmental nonprofit CactusToCloud Institute, is particularly worried that changes to the monument will hurt the desert’s ability to absorb and store carbon dioxide "I feel like it's priceless compared to what potential people want to speculate about what they could find here," she said tribes are moving forward with planning for the monument’s future The monument's creation was particularly significant for the Quechan Tribe and other tribes who backed the campaign. Biden's announcement was part of a broader push by federal and state authorities to return some control of culturally-significant lands and waters to Indigenous people Donald Medart Jr. supported the campaign for the Chuckwalla Monument last year as a tribal councilmember with the Fort Yuma Quechan Tribe He said tribal leaders’ focus now is to develop a land management plan they can bring to the Interior Department who is now a tribal engagement specialist at Onoo Po Strategies “Looking into these rumors as much as possible Medart said nine culturally-affiliated tribes are in the process of forming a commission to work on those plans Their long-term goal is to reach an agreement with the federal government that would give the tribes equal power to decide how the land is managed Medart said the Quechan Tribe is also prepared if the Trump administration does attempt to scale back the monument “This fight doesn't run on an election cycle,” he said Contacts:Judi Brawer, Wildlands Attorney, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (208) 871-0596 (judi@suwa.org)Grant Stevens, Communications Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (319) 427-0260; grant@suwa.org Salt Lake City, UT – Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) signed the Record of Decision for the final Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the restored Bear Ears National Monument Below is a statement from SUWA Wildlands Attorney Judi Brawer and additional information “The final plan takes important steps towards protecting Bears Ears’ unique natural and cultural landscape while at the same time providing opportunities for respectful appreciation and enjoyment of this remarkable place incorporating significant and meaningful input from Tribal Nations through the Bears Ears Commission,” said Judi Brawer Utah Governor Spencer Cox and other anti-public land adversaries continue their attacks on Bears Ears preferring extraction and destruction over management for the benefit of all Americans SUWA remains deeply committed to continuing our work to protect and defend the Monument for current and future generations.” Bears Ears National Monument is a region of extraordinary natural diversity and cultural significance President Obama used his authority under the Antiquities Act to establish Bears Ears National Monument granting a new layer of protection to some of the most spectacular places in southern Utah the proclamation elevated the voices of Tribal Nations that have ancestral ties to the region Nearly 100,000 archaeological and cultural sites were covered by the proclamation which “synthesizes Tribal perspectives for the management of the Bears Ears living landscape.” original boundaries—plus an additional 12,000 acres added to the Trump-era Indian Creek unit In 2023, BLM began the process of developing a management plan to govern the Bears Ears National Monument; this is a crucial opportunity to ensure that the monument is managed for its unique and extraordinary values. During both the scoping phase and after a draft plan was released SUWA asked its members and supporters to submit comments to BLM calling for a management plan worthy of this remarkable place and will issue a decision in the coming months SUWA and nine other conservation organizations have intervened on behalf of the United States to defend President Biden’s restoration of the Monuments The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is a nonprofit organization with members and supporters from around the country dedicated to protecting America’s redrock wilderness. From offices in Moab, Salt Lake City, and Washington, DC, our team of professionals defends the redrock, organizes support for America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act, and stewards this world-renowned landscape. Learn more at www.suwa.org Our popular “Protect Wild Utah” yard signs (in both English and Spanish) are available for pickup at SUWA’s Salt Lake City office and at many of our local events. To arrange an office pickup time (between 9-5, M-F), please call (801) 486-3161 or email us at info@suwa.org ©2025 Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance Discuss how society chooses to memorialize its history The Trump administration has put its mark on the nation’s cultural sector One focus is on how American history is told and presented in museums and monuments That has roiled many in the academic and art worlds Jeffrey Brown explores the effort to reshape institutions for our series exploring the intersection of art and democracy and our arts and culture coverage journalist Jeffrey Brown notes that a central question of this story is "Who owns American history?" Who do you think should decide how public history such as monuments or museum exhibits are displayed Media literacy: Why do you think the producers of this segment interviewed historian David Blight And why do you think they promise another segment on the same topic featuring Christopher Scalia of the American Enterprise Institute What differing perspectives do you think these two represent (you can use a search engine to help answer this question) discuss public art and history in your own community You might also watch the following video from Student Reporting Labs on the impact of art Fill out this form to share your thoughts on Classroom’s resources. Sign up for News Hour Classroom’s ready-to-go Daily News Lessons delivered to your inbox each week Hear from political commentators discuss Trump's second term and public opinion Hear from Michael Bingham about his work to provide an accessible space for artists with disabilities Learn why there's been fewer low-hazard personal care products available for Black women than the market as a whole About 1 in 3 people with disabilities are enrolled in the program which helps them access health care and live independently in their communities WILLEMSTAD - The annual remembrance ceremony was held yesterday in Willemstad at the Monument of the Fallen at Waaigat honoring military personnel and civilians who lost their lives during World War II as well as victims of more recent conflicts and peacekeeping missions.  The solemn event began at 9:00 AM and was conducted by military personnel from the Dutch Caribbean Defense Command Wreaths were laid on behalf of the armed forces including one by the Commander of Naval Forces in the Caribbean (CZMCARIB) Defense representatives emphasized that the Kingdom of the Netherlands remembers all military personnel who gave their lives for peace and security—also in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.  The memorial is part of the Kingdom’s National Remembrance Day observed annually on May 4 across the Netherlands and the Caribbean islands Thank you!We have emailed you a PDF version of the article you requested You can also addnewsletters@iflscience.comto your safe senders list to ensure you never miss a message from us IFLScience HomeTrump Administration Opens Up Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument To Commercial FishingComplete the form below to listen to the audio version of this article IFLScience needs the contact information you provide to us to contact you about our products and services You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time For information on how to unsubscribe, as well as our privacy practices and commitment to protecting your privacy, check out ourPrivacy Policy IFLScience HomeJoin for Exclusive FacebookemailHolly is a graduate medical biochemist with an enthusiasm for making science interesting, fun and accessible. FacebookemailEditedbyMaddy ChapmanMaddy Chapman FacebookemailMaddy is an editor and writer at IFLScience with a degree in biochemistry from the University of York The marine monument is well-known for its biodiversity Image credit: USFWS/Ryan Hagerty via Flickr (Public Domain) A US national marine monument found in the middle of the Pacific Ocean has recently lost one of its key federal protections after an executive order from President Donald Trump opened up parts of the monument to commercial fishing As a national monument, the area is also subject to a ban on commercial fishing – at least, that was the case until April 17. That’s when Trump issued an executive order removing the ban claiming that the lack of commercial fishing in the area “disadvantages honest United States commercial fishermen and is detrimental for United States territories.” In that vein, Trump made another executive order on the same day declaring the administration’s goal to make the US “the world’s dominant seafood leader” This could see other federally protected marine areas meeting the same fate as the PIHMNM with the order directing the Commerce and Interior departments to “review all existing marine national monuments and provide recommendations to the President of any that should be opened to commercial fishing.” The order issued over the PIHMNM isn’t without limits; commercial fishing will only be allowed within 50 to 200 nautical miles from the coastal boundaries of the monument and can only be carried out by US-flagged vessels or foreign vessels carrying US fishers that have been given a permit Still, the news has been met with concern over the possible impacts on what is currently a well-preserved but nonetheless vulnerable ecosystem “We should be protecting the Pacific’s unmatched ecology and biodiversity for future generations – this order does the opposite.” The executive order states that “appropriately managed commercial fishing would not put the objects of scientific and historic interest that the [national monument] protects at risk.” This latest spate of executive orders also comes hot off the heels of the Trump administration announcing its plans to remove the definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).  the ESA prohibits the “take” of endangered species – that means killing encompassing actions that harm species in a more indirect way like the mining or logging that can cause habitat loss it could be much easier for actions that lead to loss of endangered species’ habitat to go on unchallenged “Without a prohibition on habitat destruction, spotted owls salmon and so many more imperiled animals won’t stand a chance.” psychologyMost People Believe They're Due Good Karma, But Others Deserve Karmic Punishment4 hours ago68link to article policyTrump Administration's Proposed Budget Slashes NASA, NOAA, Health Research22 hours ago740link to article Biofluorescence vs Bioluminescencelink to article T. Rex Leather, Glow-In-The-Dark Gas Clouds, And Musical Sea Lionslink to article © 2025 IFLScience. All Rights Reserved. RSS A Century of Impact is a 192-page hardbound treasure celebrating NPCA’s first 100 years of protecting America’s national parks “Chuckwalla National Monument is a cornerstone in a vast network of protected landscapes across the Southwest Stretching from Joshua Tree to the Grand Canyon to Bears Ears this corridor forms the largest swath of protected lands in the continental U.S.,”–NPCA's President and CEO Theresa Pierno A desert tortoise in the Chuckwalla landscape this remarkable landscape bridges the gap between Joshua Tree National Park and the Colorado River connecting migration corridors and preserving centuries of cultural history this corridor forms the largest swath of protected lands in the continental U.S.,” said Theresa Pierno President and CEO for the National Parks Conservation Association “This designation protects an extraordinary stretch of the California desert preserving a landscape shaped by millennia for those who find inspiration in the timeless beauty of our national parks.” Chuckwalla National Monument is part of the Biden administration’s legacy of landscape conservation By connecting protected lands from Southern California to Utah the monument becomes a keystone in the largest connected and protected landscape in the lower 48 states Data was acquired from the US Protected Areas Database “This 18-million-acre corridor links the Mojave Desert to the Colorado Plateau providing safe migration routes for wildlife like the iconic desert bighorn sheep and ensuring clean water flows through the Colorado River and its tributaries It protects sacred sites central to Tribal nations for countless generations and welcomes millions of visitors each year inspiring exploration and bringing lasting economic strength to surrounding communities,” said Theresa Pierno “NPCA has been proud to work locally and nationally for decades to preserve the extraordinary landscapes in the California desert and beyond.” A proposed Chuckwalla National Monument near Joshua Tree National Park would protect the threatened Mojave Desert tortoise and help many other species thrive Chuckwalla is home to the desert’s most iconic and vulnerable species which relies on roughly 400,000 acres of protected habitat within the boundaries of the new national monument The designation also ensures connectivity for wildlife migration NPCA’s Ruth Hammett California desert program manager has dedicated his career to desert conservation working with local communities to protect the delicate desert landscapes “Growing up as a desert kid shaped me into the California desert advocate I am today and I couldn’t be prouder to see Chuckwalla National Monument become a reality,” said Luke Basulto “This landmark designation expands one largest desert preserves in the world teeming with wildlife like the Mojave Desert Tortoise and bighorn sheep and is home to multiple plant species found nowhere else on the planet.” Beloved destinations like Painted Canyon and the historic Bradshaw Trail will now be permanently protected where extreme heat and pollution pose daily challenges the monument provides equitable access to the beauty and solace of the California desert “For communities in the East Coachella Valley Experiences like this are what build a passion for these special places,” said Luke Basulto “Protecting this landscape isn’t just about today; it’s about creating a legacy of conservation that future generations can experience and connect with The area within Chuckwalla National Monument is sacred to several Tribes These lands hold centuries of cultural and historical significance While the designation of Chuckwalla National Monument is a monumental victory the work to protect the California desert continues Expanding Joshua Tree National Park to restore a key piece that was historically a part of the park area remains a vital next step for a more connected and resilient desert landscape Congress now has an opportunity to ensure that Joshua Tree National Park is made whole once again About the Protect California Deserts Coalition: Protect CA Deserts is a coalition of local and national organizations that are working together on this historic opportunity to designate the Chuckwalla National Monument and expand Joshua Tree National Park This will help ensure access to nature for local residents and visitors and honor the cultural landscape of the Iviatim About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.6 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org “We're ready to work with Congress to keep this funding going tackle more repairs and leave a legacy worthy of these treasured places." - Theresa Pierno These women became part of public lands history as they demonstrated the principles of equality and justice celebrated each May during Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month threatened conservation rules and censored our nation’s history But we think there’s still time to reverse course You are viewing ARCHIVED content published online before January 20, 2025. Please note that this content is NOT UPDATED, and links may not work. Additionally, any previously issued diversity, equity, inclusion or gender-related guidance on this webpage should be considered rescinded. For current information, visit https://www.doi.gov/news/newsroom Date: Tuesday, January 7, 2025Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov Calif. — Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland today applauded President Biden’s designation of the Chuckwalla National Monument in southern California The new national monument spans over 624,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management-managed public lands where the Colorado and Mojave Deserts come together and unique geological features.    The President’s action builds upon decades of efforts from Tribal Nations state and local elected leaders to protect the historic “The stunning canyons and winding paths of the Chuckwalla National Monument represent a true unmatched beauty It was my honor to visit this area to explore and meet with federal Tribal and local leaders to hear about the need to protect and conserve this sacred area,” said Secretary Haaland “President Biden’s action today will protect important spiritual and cultural values tied to the land and wildlife I am so grateful that future generations will have the opportunity to experience what makes this area so unique.”   The national monument’s unique desert landscape is a transitional zone between ecosystems that provides critical connectivity and habitat for numerous rare species and the federally threatened Agassiz’s desert tortoise The Chuckwalla National Monument holds sites of traditional cultural and spiritual significance and locations within the monument are part of the creation stories of multiple Tribal Nations The lands within the new national monument are part of the ancestral homelands of numerous Indigenous communities Quechan and Serrano Nations) and include ancient trail systems that people continue to travel today by foot and through songs passed down across generations The area contains an abundance of artifacts including ceramics Many of the region's native plants were gathered for food In May 2024, Secretary Haaland visited southern California and met with federal Tribal and local officials and community members to discuss their vision to conserve the ecological historical and natural integrity of the lands for present and future generations Acting Deputy Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis and BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning held a public meeting in Indio CA to hear from the community about the proposal to designate a national monument and meet shared clean energy goals.   “The establishment of Chuckwalla National Monument demonstrates that we can balance conservation and drive toward a clean energy future that serves everyone,” said Acting Deputy Secretary Daniel-Davis “The renewable energy industry was a valuable partner in our work to build consensus and collaboration around the proposed monument To meet the climate crisis with the urgency it requires we must continue to find ways to protect sacred lands plants and wildlife while pursuing a clean energy agenda.”    The Chuckwalla National Monument is consistent with the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) a landscape-level plan that identified areas suitable for renewable energy development as well as lands that should be safeguarded for their biological The monument boundaries do not include areas identified in the DRECP as most suitable for solar development Relics of California’s mining history from the mid-1800s are present throughout the greater Chuckwalla region's mountain ranges including old mining shafts and the Bradshaw Trail which was designated as a National Backcountry Byway in 1992 The region also played a vital role in the nation’s defeat of the Axis powers in World War II.  To prepare U.S the Department of the Army established the Desert Training Center in California and Nevada including a significant part of the Chuckwalla Valley including a hill from which Major General George Patton was known to observe tank maneuvers The designation is subject to valid existing rights and does not preclude the maintenance or upgrade of utility pipeline and telecommunications facilities including wildlife water developments and water district facilities The designation does not preclude the construction of new such facilities consistent with the proper care and management of the objects of historic or scientific interest and with relevant provisions in the proclamation To help inform the BLM’s management of the national monument the presidential proclamation calls for the establishment of an advisory committee with representation from local governments renewable energy and electric utility industry The proclamation also calls for meaningful engagement with Tribal Nations including seeking opportunities for co-stewardship of the national monument Senators Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler and Congressman Raul Ruiz introduced legislation that proposed to establish a national monument in the region President Biden designated the Chuckwalla National Monument using his authority under the Antiquities Act The Antiquities Act was first used by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 to designate Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming 18 presidents from both parties including recent Presidents Trump have used this authority to protect unique natural and historic features on federal lands in America Trump’s directive to accelerate domestic critical mineral production the Department of the Interior is taking steps to streamline permitting processes and improve federal accountability by working with Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council to add critical minerals infrastructure projects to the FAST-41 program Border Patrol and Bureau of Land Management personnel at the Santa Teresa Station where the Department of the Interior is transferring federal land along the U.S.-Mexico border to the Department of the Army to advance President Donald J Trump's directive to secure the southern border The Department of the Interior will no longer require the Bureau of Land Management to prepare an environmental impact statement for approximately 3,244 oil and gas leases in seven Western states This page was not helpful because the content: The Mellon Foundation awarded the University of Missouri-Kansas City $4 million to create the Kansas City Monuments Coalition to help fund 16 preservation and commemorative organizations across Kansas City so visitors can enjoy historic sites for years to come the city of Kansas City itself plus classic points-of-interest local residents will recognize from childhood field trips such as Fort Osage National Historic Site Missouri Town and the Wornall-Majors House Museums Others are relatively unknown exhibits that can host the field trips of tomorrow The grant was awarded as part of the Mellon Foundation’s Monuments Projects to the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, thanks to the work of Diane Mutti Burke, Ph.D., Sandra Enríquez, Ph.D. and David Trowbridge, Ph.D. from the history department, as well as Michael Sprague, coordinator for the Center for Digital and Public Humanities Mutti Burke explained the Mellon Foundation is expansive in how it defines monuments digital content and artistic and cultural programming,” she said The grant will support the historical and preservation projects of the 16 community organizations as well as public programming in partnership with the Kansas City Public Library Examples include refreshing the Luis Quintanilla mural in Haag Hall on campus out to updates on exhibits at the Fort Osage National Historic Site The UMKC team is excited about what support from Mellon will mean for local historical organizations “Our team has established relationships with our community partners and over the years we have talked about their needs and ideas,” Trowbridge said “The most exciting part of the grant is getting them financial support and collaborating with them as they do this important work.” The UMKC team founded the Kansas City Monuments Coalition to ensure the funding go as far as possible and to as many community organizations as possible “We felt if we could all work together and have ongoing conversations we could learn from one another” Mutti Burke said we can be greater than the sum of our parts.” “This transformative grant from the Mellon Foundation emphasizes the importance of inclusive storytelling and historical preservation” said Sumeet Dua vice chancellor for research and economic development at UMKC “The exceptional work of our UMKC faculty has been instrumental in securing this opportunity showcasing their dedication to engaging with the community and reshaping how history is represented and understood.” The work of the Kansas City Monuments Coalition will further advance the UMKC mission as a public urban research university by bridging the work of faculty Enríquez explained community engagement has been a cornerstone of the history department and Center for Digital and Public Humanities and that support from the Mellon Foundation will bolster this commitment to collaborative historical interpretation “The work of the UMKC team and our community partners is a thrilling opportunity to leverage our strengths and collectively build a historical landscape that better reflects the experiences of everyone who calls Kansas City home,” Enríquez said “The Monuments Project is an unprecedented multi-year commitment by the Mellon Foundation that is aimed at transforming the nation’s commemorative landscape to ensure our collective histories are more completely and accurately represented,” according to the foundation “The Monuments Project supports efforts to express elevate and preserve the stories of those who have often been denied historical recognition and explores how we might foster a more complete telling of who we are as a nation.” Learn more about School of Graduate Studies Learn more about School of Humanities and Social Sciences UMKC is an equal opportunity employer We use cookies to provide and improve our services It's an event we're particularly fond of: on the first Sunday of the month, museums open their doors to us free of charge. Each time, we take the opportunity to fill up on culture and rediscover Paris from another angle. The next date to mark in your diary is Sunday, June 1, 2025 a not-to-be-missed opportunity to discover all the latest cultural news from the museums Depending on the season, more or fewer museums and monuments take part in these open days. To find out which sites are currently open free of charge, there's only one solution: the Sortiraparis guide We take a look at the establishments offering free admission on the first Sunday of the month Please note: more and more of the region's museums and monuments are limiting the number of visitors And to gain access to the best-known cultural sites to be sure of getting a seat on the big day Cité de la Céramique [Read more] The Shoah Memorial: a place of remembrance in ParisThe Shoah Memorial in Paris opens its doors to us free of charge, inviting us to remember and understand the history of the Jews of France, especially during the Second World War. [Read more] Refer your establishment, click herePromote your event, click here millions of people have spoken out in defense of America’s national monuments Americans do not agree with stripping away their federal protections." –NPCA's President and CEO Theresa Pierno  Devils Tower in Wyoming was the first national monument created through the 1906 Antiquities Act WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued the Secretarial Order “Unleashing American Energy,” which calls for a 15-day internal review of oil including national monuments designated under the Antiquities Act The Antiquities Act is a conservation law that has been used by both Republican and Democratic presidents to safeguard public lands since it was established in 1906 This Secretarial Order is a dangerous step towards dismantling protections for national monuments in favor of unrestrained and speculative fossil fuel and mining development even though many of these areas have been protected for over a century the very first national monument designated by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 could face renewed risk of industrial fossil fuel development Millions of acres of public land are already leased to oil and gas companies for fossil fuel extraction with over 12 million acres currently under active oil and gas drilling out of 24 million acres under lease has identified key monuments at risk of losing federal protections with devastating and lasting impacts Monuments include Devils Tower National Monument Read our list of at-risk monuments here. President and CEO for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA): Americans do not agree with stripping away their federal protections President Teddy Roosevelt had a vision for America that included national parks and monuments that would preserve our natural and cultural heritage for future generations he established Devils Tower as our country’s first national monument under the Antiquities Act ensuring future generations could experience its beauty This Secretarial Order threatens that vision “This Secretarial Order aims to dismantle over a century of protections threatening to open up monuments from Devils Tower to Bears Ears with a dangerous blanket order designed to prioritize industrial energy development at all costs If we lose these places to oil and gas development we forfeit a century-old legacy that we will not pass on to our grandchildren “The Antiquities Act has united presidents from both parties in protecting our iconic landscapes To dismantle that legacy is to risk losing the history that defines us We are calling on the Interior Secretary to take all national monuments off the table Protecting our national monuments isn’t just about protecting a landscape; it’s about honoring the generations before us and ensuring our conservation vision endures.” "Erasing letters or webpages does not change the history or the contributions of our transgender community members at Stonewall or anywhere else." -- NPCA's Timothy Leonard New York, NY – In response to the Park Service removing references to transgender contributions at Stonewall National Monument the National Parks Conservation Association responded with the following statement Northeast Program Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association “The National Park Service exists to not only protect and preserve our most cherished places but to educate its millions of annual national park visitors about the inclusive, full history of America. Erasing letters or webpages does not change the history or the contributions of our transgender community members at Stonewall or anywhere else History was made here and civil rights were earned because of Stonewall And we’re committed to ensuring more people know that story and how it continues to influence America today Stonewall inspires and our parks must continue to include diverse stories that welcome and represent the people that shaped our nation.” “The spirit of Stonewall means to be visible and fight back against oppression You cannot erase the history of Stonewall by erasing a letter You cannot erase trans people by erasing a letter vindictive action is an attempt to not only erase trans people from public view including all of us in the LGBT community who fought back that historic night and have continued to fight for 55 years we will continue to be visible and persevere and I urge all in our community to remember this day as the beginning of the second Stonewall rebellion.”