Arizona

Arizona to keep national parks open if shutdown occurs

Published

8 months ago

September 28, 2023

Arizona to keep national parks open if shutdown occurs

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona and Utah will keep the iconic national parks in those states open if a shutdown of the federal government threatens access to Arizona’s orange-striped Grand Canyon and the sheer red cliffs of Utah’s Zion Valley.

Most importantly for state budgets, visitors can keep spending their money near the parks.

A cutoff could come Sunday. The economic impact of the national parks is so important that Arizona’s Democratic governor and Utah’s Republican governor have decided to invest state funds in keeping Grand Canyon, Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef and Canyonlands national parks open.

For Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, it’s a simple question of economics.

The nonprofit National Parks Conservation Association says that every $1 invested in the National Park Service annually supports more than $15 in economic activity.

The association says that every day of a shutdown could mean national parks collectively losing nearly 1 million visitors, and gateway communities losing as much as $70 million.

Hobbs and Cox say their states will pay to keep those parks operating on a basic level, cushioning tourism-dependent communities.

“We expect to be reimbursed, just as federal employees receive back pay during a shutdown, and we have communicated this to the Department of Interior,” Cox said this week.

Hobbs has said Arizona Lottery funds would help keep the Grand Canyon park open.

Utah paid some $7,500 daily during the last part of December 2018 to keep Zion, Bryce Canyon and Arches running during a shutdown back then. The nonprofit Zion Forever Project committed $16,000 to pay a skeleton crew and keep bathrooms and the visitor center open at Zion, which continued drawing several thousand visitors daily.

Arizona state funds won’t cover all normal operating costs during a shutdown, but they will still let people visit, said Joelle Baird, public affairs specialist for Grand Canyon National Park.

The National Park Conservation Association noted that keeping parks open during a shutdown without sufficient staff and other resources can be be disastrous.

“We witnessed unnecessary and avoidable damage, including overflowing trash and human waste, vandalism, looting and illegal use of off-road vehicles,” the organization said about some sites during the 2018-2019 shutdown.

Conditions at Joshua Tree National Park were described as especially bad, with overflowing trash and portable toilets and unsupervised visitors driving off road and toppling incalculable numbers of the distinctive plants.

Arizona paid about $64,000 a week during the shutdown that stretched 35 days from late 2018 to early 2019 to cover restroom cleaning, trash removal and snow plowing at Grand Canyon. People with permits to hike in the backcountry or raft on the Colorado River could still go, but no new permits were issued during that period.

National park employees who were not furloughed had to work without pay, their lost wages repaid after a budget resolution was reached. Those expected to work in another potential shutdown include members of Grand Canyon National Park’s emergency services, which has teams trained in medical services, search and rescue and firefighting.

Joëlle Baird, the park’s public affairs specialist, said Arizona state funding “kept most everything business as usual” during the shutdown five years ago.

“Hotels, restaurants, pretty much everything was open,” she said.

John Garder, Senior Director of Budget & Appropriations for the nonprofit National Parks Conservation Association, said funding the parks is a federal responsibility that states shouldn’t have to assume.

“We understand states’ interest in opening our parks when the government shuts down as they are proven economic engines, generating more than $50.3 billion and supporting more than 378,400 jobs annually.” said Garder. “But ultimately, it is Congress’ responsibility to keep them funded and open.”

The association said the shutdown could affect more than 400 sites in 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam and American Samoa.

In Washington state, home to Mount Rainier and Olympic national parks, Gov. Jay Inslee has no plans to provide more funding or staff to national parks if there’s a shutdown.

Inslee’s office said much of the governor’s discretionary spending was needed this year for cleanup and recovery after wildfires in Spokane County.

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte’s office didn’t say if the state would spend money to keep Glacier or Yellowstone national parks open. But his staff said the Republican governor’s budget team is working with state agencies “to prepare for a possible shutdown in the event Congress can’t get its act together and keep the federal government up and running for the American people.”

Most of Yellowstone is in Wyoming but three of the five entrances are in Montana.

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon awaiting more information from the Department of Interior and the White House to better understand the state’s options, said spokesman Michael Pearlman.

“The Governor has also been in contact with the Superintendents of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks,” said Pearlman, adding that Gordon, a Republican, recognizes that park closures “could have significant economic repercussions to Wyoming families that live and work in our gateway communities.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration said this week it doesn’t plan to keep national parks open if the federal government shuts down, saying the parks are not within state jurisdiction. The Democratic governor and state lawmakers had to make difficult budgetary decisions this year as the state faced a nearly $32 billion shortfall after several years of budget surpluses.

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Arizona

Cardinals Confident in Paris Johnson’s Position Change

Published

1 hour ago

May 21, 2024

Press Room

Cardinals Confident in Paris Johnson’s Position Change

ARIZONA — Change is coming to the Arizona Cardinals.

After debate all offseason of where tackles Paris Johnson Jr. and Jonah Williams would play moving into 2024, we finally have an answer.

“Jonah [Williams] is going to go right. Paris [Johnson] is going to go left. We’ll see how that looks,” Gannon told reporters yesterday as OTA’s began.

“I think it’s going to be good – Paris obviously playing both – Jonah playing both. We’ll start there and see how it goes. … That’s what they’re both comfortable with right now. We’ll see how it looks.”

Gannon said he ultimately has “veto” power over the move, citing things can be flipped back at any point.

Johnson – the No. 6 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft – spent his rookie season at right tackle after playing left tackle at Ohio State the year prior.

Many believe left tackle is Johnson’s natural position, and with D.J. Humphries now out of the picture, he can anchor Murray’s blindside for years to come.

Even if it means switching sides from BFF and Cardinals right guard Will Hernandez.

“We’ve made eye contact a couple of times where we kind of just look at each other… and we kind of just snap back into it,” Hernandez joked after Monday’s practice.

“But at the end of the day, we all are here to do what’s best for the team. Nobody here is thinking about themselves or where they want to play. So we’re all good with whatever the coaches want to do. Either way, I know he’s gonna thrive out there on the left side, and he’s gonna do a hell of a job. I’m excited to see it.”

Center Hjalte Froholdt agreed.

“All I know is Paris has taken responsibility on being the left tackle and kind of the guy on the left side. He looks smooth, looks natural. He’s played there before,” said Froholdt.

“He’s at a different level too. I think for him heading into year two compared to rookie year where it’s like, ‘OK, now I’m taking an extra step. I want to be even better than what I was’. He’s like, ‘I know what is expected of me. The game, the tempo and everything’. So it’s really cool to see where Paris is at even with a little caveat of switching positions.”

The switch also signals Williams will stay at right tackle for a second straight year after making the switch for the Cincinnati Bengals last season. Williams requested a trade after Cincinnati signed left tackle Orlando Brown (which kicked Williams to the other side).

Williams eventually rescinded the request and played at RT in 2023 for the Bengals, a position he also played at for Alabama at the beginning of his college career. Williams inked a two-year, $30 million deal with the Cardinals this offseason.

Hernandez isn’t worried about developing a rapport with his new running mate on the right side.

“It’ll be easy. These guys aren’t bringing in just regular Joe’s – Jonah’s a dog. I really like him,” Hernandez said.

“Same thing [happened] with Paris. We’re clicking quick. He’s also a vet. He knows what it is and how it’s supposed to look and what you’re supposed to do. I really like it. I like his mindset. And I think we’re gonna do big things get on the right side.”

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Arizona

Wildcat fire in Arizona grows to more than 14,000 acres – KYMA

Published

8 hours ago

May 21, 2024

Press Room

Wildcat fire in Arizona grows to more than 14,000 acres – KYMA

MARICOPA COUNTY, Ariz. (CNN, KYMA/KECY) – A 14,000 acre wildfire, named the Wildcat Fire, was 0% contained on Monday.

It sparked in the Tonto National Forest on Saturday, and high winds stopped firefighters efforts from the air.

One gate is closed for travel as a major fire burns through short grass and brush within Tonto National Forest.

“I mean, it was concerning, I guess the first night that we saw it just because we could see it right over the top of this house right here,” said Lucas Raymond, an Arizona resident.

Clearing the lot

Raymond and his family live in nearby Rio Verde. They’re ready to go in case the fire makes an unexpected turn.

They protected their home by clearing the lot around their neighborhood.

“Yeah, I mean, we have a three year old so I mean, we, we stay mobile as much as we possibly can, but we definitely have a plan if we need to get out of here. We can get out of here,” Raymond spoke.

Other residents nearby taking the risks in stride.

Hopeful

Hoping the weather and the universe will corporative, Nina Devries moved here just about a year ago and she’s feeling hopeful.

“We have hoses around the building. Several of them and they are connected so we would pick them up and try to keep things dry. But, basically just say positive and know that it’s going to be taken care of,” Devries expressed.

Those strong winds with around 40 mile per hour gusts forcing crews to ground their air units for a few hours.

On Monday, they’ll send them back up once the weather gets better, and around 300 fire personnel are battling the blaze right now and a lot of work lies ahead to contain this fire.

Good news

But there’s good news, humidity is up and temperatures are down.

There was also a little rain for the neighbors on Monday. It’s anything that will keep their homes fire free.

“Oh, it would be devastating. People love this area out here. I mean, the the residents out here fight for, fight for it out here. It’s not the easiest place to live,” Raymond added.

On Sunday afternoon, officials confirmed another wildfire, named the Basin Fire. It is burning southeast of the Wildcat Fire, but forward progress for this fire has reportedly been stopped.

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Baseball: Dodgers' potent offense helps Yamamoto get win over Arizona

Published

15 hours ago

May 21, 2024

Press Room

Baseball: Dodgers' potent offense helps Yamamoto get win over Arizona

Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw 6-1/3 innings of two-run ball and Freddie Freeman delivered a grand slam among three home runs for the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 6-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday.

With plenty of backing from the powerful Dodger lineup, Yamamoto (5-1) struck out eight while allowing seven hits and one walk in another solid start for the National League West leaders, who extended their winning streak to four.

The Japanese right-hander surrendered a 1-0 lead when Joc Pederson hit a line-drive single with two out and two on in the top of the third at Dodger Stadium.

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks in a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on May 20, 2024. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Los Angeles quickly turned things around, however, racking up six runs against right-hander Slade Cecconi (1-4) in the home half of the inning.

Enrique Hernandez tied it with his solo homer and Shohei Ohtani drew a walk to load the bases before Freeman put the Dodgers up 5-1 with his fifth long bomb of the season. Will Smith extended the lead with a solo blast.

Yamamoto exited after giving up an RBI single to Kevin Newman in the seventh, while Ohtani finished 1-for-3 with a run scored.

“I allowed the first run but was able to reset myself (mentally),” Yamamoto said.

The three-time MVP of Japan’s Pacific League threw an MLB career-high 100 pitches, including 69 strikes.

“My number of good pitches increased as the second half of the game progressed,” he said. “I felt like I was throwing with a good tempo.”

Related coverage:

Baseball: Yamamoto gets 4th win after longest MLB start

Baseball: Shohei Ohtani’s walk-off single lifts Dodgers past Reds

Baseball: Cubs’ Shota Imanaga gets 5th win with gem against Mets

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