Latest news with #NationalParksService
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
El Pasoan urges National Park Service to reconsider partial closure of Big Bend National Park
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The Chisos Basin area of Big Bend National Park will be closed off to visitors for approximately two years starting this fall. The National Parks Service will undertake two construction projects in the area of the park to rebuild a decades-old lodge and to replace aged waterlines throughout the popular campground there. A wildlife advocate out of El Paso, however, said the Chisos Basin campground is the highlight of the park and that visitors will be robbed of fully experiencing Big Bend. He is urging the NPS to reconsider their plans and analyze how they can proceed with the construction without closing off the entire Chisos Basin area. 'It's the coolest spot, where the best campground is, the best trails, the most popular area. Even the bears from Mexico came across and moved in there, and they love it up there. It's only about 40 square miles, the area we're talking about, but it's the most scenic area, the most beautiful area. It's one of the reasons why the park became a national park,' said Rick LoBello, chair of the Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition. According to the NPS, visitor access to the basin road, lodging units, basin campground, NPS visitor center, camper store, and surrounding trails will be closed off. They said park managers will assess what areas will be safe to open as major components of the construction project are completed. But LoBello said the Chisos Basin area has seen major construction before that did not require a complete closure of the area. 'They just need to rethink this whole project and say to themselves, 'How can we fix the restaurant? How can we take this $22 million to remake the restaurant and do it without closing off this whole section of the park?'' LoLoBello said. 'NPS has told me that the main reason why they're going to close that whole area off is because of the danger of cars and trucks going back and forth on the road, carrying materials,' he added. 'But we have people going through El Paso carrying these giant windmill pieces, and we have what we call an escort. We just close off the road for a few minutes. Let the materials go through so it doesn't justify closing that whole area of the park just because of a minor small construction project,' LoBello said. Beyond that, LoBello said he's spoken with local business owners in the area who are concerned that the closure will cause them steep financial losses that they may not be able to recover from. 'They say it will take two years, but we all know from construction going on in our own city that two years can become four years. That all depends on how contracts work and everything else,' LoBello said. LoBello has created a blog where he is encouraging El Pasoans and other people to join him in urging the NPS to reconsider their plans to close off the Chisos Basin. He encourages people to contact their elected representatives or call the White House Comment Line, asking them to express their concerns. KTSM reached out to the NPS and U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, who represents the district encompassing Big Bend, for comment. We will update the story if we get a response. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Atlantic
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Atlantic
The People Who Clean the Ears of Lincoln (And Other Statues)
A collection of images of the varied workers and techniques used to maintain some of the world's largest and most prominent statues and monuments. May 28, 2025, 12:20 PM ET National Parks Service worker James Hudson uses a cloth-wrapped pole to clean the ear of the statue at the Lincoln Memorial in 1987. Maintenance workers clean a statue in Central Park, in New York City, in 2016. A municipal worker scrubs a statue of the Soviet state founder Vladimir Lenin in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in 2023. A crew carries out the annual cleaning of the 120-meter-tall Ushiku Daibutsu Great Buddha statue in Ushiku, Japan, in 2022. Nelson's Column, in London's Trafalgar Square, gets a spring cleaning in 1987. Brian Lawless / PA Images / Reuters A statue of the late musician Luke Kelly in Dublin's city center is cleaned after it had been defaced overnight in 2020. The model maker Helga Mueller works to restore a model of the Statue of Liberty, seen behind a model of the U.S. Capitol Building, at Miniwelt (Miniworld) in Lichtenstein, Germany, in 2015. Tiziana Fabi / AFP / Getty The restorer Eleonora Pucci cleans Michelangelo's David using a backpack vacuum and a synthetic-fiber brush at the Galleria dell'Accademia, in Florence, Italy, in 2024. A worker cleans the statue of the spaceflight pioneer Yuri Gagarin before Cosmonauts Day in Moscow in 2023. Harry Todd / Fox Photos / Getty Workmen clean the immense statue of two horses pulling a quadriga atop Wellington Arch, at London's Hyde Park Corner, in 1939. Cleaners spray the 37-meter-tall Merlion statue on the resort island of Sentosa, in Singapore, in 2015. A worker cleans a Buddha statue in preparation for Lunar New Year celebrations at Satya Buddha Temple in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, in 2023. Alan Taylor is a senior editor at The Atlantic.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Expert warns of fatal error to avoid during bear attack
A horrifying bear attack has left a woman critically injured just miles from a European city, but not many people are aware of what they should do if they encounter a bear A terrifying bear attack has taken place just a few miles from a European city, leaving a woman critically injured and fighting for her life. The attack took place in Skofljica, which is just six miles south of Slovenia's capital city, Ljubljana. Residents have been warned to stay away from the area and remain cautious. The brown bear attacked the woman before retreating back into the forest. Bear populations have grown so much in Slovenia that the government has even approved a bear cull to curb numbers. In the area, the number of bears has risen to about 1000, and 206 of these are set to be culled, despite opposition from animal rights groups. More often than humans are the victims of terrifying bear attacks in Slovenia, it is farm animals who find themselves at the mercy of the bears, with over 100 killed by either bears or wolves in 2019, compared to two reported bear attacks on humans in 2022. Whilst bear attacks might be relatively rare, if you are planning to visit a country or region with a sizeable bear population, it is important to be aware of the right way to deal with encountering one—just one wrong move could be the difference between life and death. Experts from the National Parks Service (NPS) in the United States have warned that you should take a totally different approach depending on the type of bear you find yourself face-to-face with. Brown bears, like the one that attacked the woman in Slovenia, are overall much larger than black bears, and if one attacks you, you should play dead, and not fight back. Fighting back could make the attack far more severe, so the experts recommend instead that you keep as still and silent as possible. READ MORE: Skofljica bear attack leaves woman critical after horror near Llubljana in Slovenia In information provided via their website, the experts urged: "Cover your head and neck with your hands and arms. Lay flat on your stomach, and spread your legs apart. Keep your pack on, it will help protect you during an attack. Stay still and don't make any noise—you're trying to convince the bear that you aren't a threat to it or its cubs. Do not get up right away because the bear may still be in the area. Wait several minutes until you are sure that the bear is gone." However, if the attack doesn't stop, the NPS explains that you will have no choice but to "fight back with everything you've got." If a black bear attacks you, on the other hand, it is recommended that you fight back, using branches or rocks nearby, or by kicking and punching the black bear directly in the face. Surprising a bear can be seriously dangerous, particularly if they have cubs that they will want to protect. If you stumble across a bear, you should not be aggressive in any way - do not make eye contact, as this could be seen as confrontational to the bear, but instead, calmly and slowly walk backwards away from it. You should make sure to speak and wave your arms so that the bear can understand you are a human and likely not a threat to it. You should also absolutely ignore any impulse you have to run away or climb a tree, no matter how strong, because both of these could cause the bear's predatory instincts to be activated, and there is no way you will be able to outrun or climb away from a bear. Sometimes, both black and brown bears will charge at humans, but there are two different kinds: aggressive charges and bluff charges. A bluff charge is what it sounds like - the bear is trying to scare you, and it's more likely you will encounter a bluff charge than an aggressive one. If it is bluffing, it will puff up, making itself as big as possible, and you will notice that its ears and head will be reaching up and forward. It will come toward you in big leaps on its front paws, before stopping just before you or suddenly veering away in another direction. You should hold your ground if this occurs, but once it's over, wave your arms, speak calmly, and back away, but do not take your eyes off the bear. If a bear starts huffing, whilst pounding their front paws on the ground, it may be about to aggressively charge at you, particularly if it is also clacking its teeth. Its ears will be pointing back, and its head will be down, all of which are signs that the bear is seriously stressed out and preparing to attack you. Terrifyingly, bears will sometimes stalk you, planning to attack. This is because they are in predatory mode. They are not stressed or defensive but completely ready to attack, and if this occurs, you will have to be prepared to fight, no matter what. Bear spray is an important tool to keep in your arsenal if you're visiting an area with a bear population, whether you're going for a hike, picnic, or camping. If a bear attacks you or stalks you, make sure you have it at the ready.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Public comment window closing soon for Castillo de San Marcos project
Time to share your thoughts on a project to raise the seawalls at the Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine. The National Parks Service is providing one final opportunity for the public to weigh in. Raising and rehabilitating the seawalls is a multi-million-dollar project designed to reduce flooding and make the fort and surrounding areas more resilient. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< 'We continue to be excited about this project and look forward to increasing resiliency from storm events and flooding to the Fort and St. Augustine,' Gordie Wilson, Superintendent of Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, said in a news release. 'This project will replace critical centuries-old infrastructure in a thoughtful and sensitive way. The priority is historic preservation and flooding protection of the Fort and the surrounding communities.' From June 9 to July 9, the public can review the plan and give feedback by clicking here. The Castillo de San Marcos has been standing for more than 350 years. It was built by the Spanish to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route. Now, it's a popular National Park and tourist attraction on St. Augustine's bayfront. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Tom's Guide
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
5 biggest Netflix movies and shows I can't wait to watch in summer 2025
It's not technically summer yet, but I feel like most of us are already in that sun-soaked mindset. And Netflix seems to agree, because the streamer's summer 2025 lineup is already rolling out, and there's a lot to get excited about. Unfortunately, a few of the most-anticipated titles didn't make the cut this season as we're still waiting on 'Stranger Things' season 5, 'Nobody Wants This' season 2, and the next Benoit Blanc mystery in 'Knives Out 3.' But honestly, the fresh releases taking their place might just make up for it. Netflix is still churning out content at lightning speed, so I'm trying not to get too hyped. Still, with the next (and final chapter) of 'Squid Game,' a new romantic drama starring Sofia Carson, and the return of Wednesday Addams, all dropping in the next few weeks, summer 2025 is already off to a strong start. So, here are the five biggest Netflix movies and shows I can't wait to watch this summer. 'Squid Game' season 3 is easily one of my most anticipated Netflix releases this year. After that intense season 2 finale, I've been counting the days, and now the end is in sight. Lee Jung-jae returns as Gi-hun, but this time, he's playing to destroy the game for good. The final season follows him as he spirals after the loss of his best friend and becomes obsessed with taking down the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), who manipulated everything from within. The latest trailer sets the tone fast: a crying baby, a hallway shaped like a knife, Gi-hun chained in a gift-wrapped box, and a gumball machine spitting out red and blue spheres for the next twisted round. With returning director Hwang Dong-hyuk stating he wanted to introduce games that could 'really show the lowest bottom of human beings,' this could be 'Squid Game' at its most brutal and brilliant. Stream season 3 on Netflix starting June 27 When Netflix first released its summer lineup there was one movie that caught my attention, which was the dark thriller 'Brick.' 'Brick' stars Matthias Schweighöfer and Ruby O. Fee as Tim and Olivia, a couple who awaken to find their apartment building encased by a mysterious, impenetrable brick wall that appeared overnight. As they realize that all the residents are similarly trapped, the group must collaborate to uncover the origin of the wall and find a way out before it's too late Reading the premise gave me instant 'The Platform' and '10 Cloverfield Lane' vibes, two of my favorite claustrophobic thrillers that are tense, eerie, and packed with psychological suspense. Naturally, this one shot straight to my watchlist. Stream it on Netflix starting July 10 Netflix has a knack for some pretty engaging mysteries. Over the years, they've built up an impressive collection of standout thriller shows, and 'Untamed' looks like it could be the next big hit. The story centers on Kyle Turner (Eric Bana), a special agent in a high-level unit of the National Parks Service. When a murder rocks Yosemite — a national park that draws millions of visitors annually — Kyle is pulled into the investigation. Alongside Lily Santiago's rookie park ranger, Naya Vasquez, and Sam Neill's Paul Souter, the show seems to dig into the hidden, darker secrets tied not only to the case but also to Kyle's own past. Set against a wild backdrop that fans of 'Yellowstone' will feel right at home with, 'Untamed looks' like it could have all the suspense and drama to keep us hooked. Fingers crossed it delivers everything it promises! Stream it on Netflix starting July 17 I'm a total sucker for romance movies, especially the ones loaded with tension and that perfect sprinkle of longing, so it's safe to say 'My Oxford Year' is already at the top of my comfort-watch list. Adapted from Julia Whelan's beloved novel, the story follows an ambitious American student whose dream year at Oxford gets complicated when she crosses paths with a charming local. With Sofia Carson and Corey Mylchreest leading the cast, even the first-look images have me totally hooked. I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to romance movies. If the characters are relatable, the chemistry feels real and the story stirs up those warm, fuzzy emotions, I'm all in. Based on the plot and the cast of 'My Oxford Year,' I'm optimistic it'll be a charming watch even if it doesn't quite reach high quality status. Stream it on Netflix starting August 1 'Wednesday' season 2 is almost here and I'm excited to delve in again. After that first season exploded into a full-blown cultural phenomenon (from TikTok dance trends to endless fan theories about what's next), I'm more than ready to head back to Nevermore Academy. Jenna Ortega returns as Wednesday Addams, and this time, she's reportedly leaning even harder into the horror elements. The creators have teased a darker, bloodier season that shifts away from romance and dives deeper into the mysteries and monsters that made the first outing so fun. The new cast includes big names like Steve Buscemi and Billie Piper, and Ortega herself is now a producer, which suggests she's had real influence over the character's evolution. Add in a fresh mystery, old adversaries, and some seriously creepy glimpses from the teaser trailer, and it's safe to say season 2 might outdo the first. Stream part 1 on Netflix starting August 6, with part 2 arriving on September 3
