Conservationists sue gov’t for records
A conservation group sued the Interior Department on Thursday seeking documents about decisions on endangered species the group alleges were tainted by political pressure from a former high-ranking Interior official.
Julie MacDonald resigned as deputy assistant secretary in May amid questions about alleged interference in dozens of endangered species decisions, including at least one in which she stood to benefit financially.
The Center for Biological Diversity, in court papers, said the Interior Department and the Fish and Wildlife Service have failed to produce records on MacDonald and failed to respond to its requests in a timely fashion.
“This is a lawsuit we’ve been forced to file to receive documents that we’re entitled to that demonstrate the severity of Julie MacDonald’s involvement in overturning endangered species and habitat decisions,” said William Snape, the group’s senior counsel. Snape filed the suit under the Freedom of Information Act.
Government by and for the people seems to have become some quaint old custom like families sitting around listening to radio broadcasts.
* Parents don’t realize kids are fat
A startling number of parents may be in denial about their youngsters’ weight.
A survey found that many Americans whose children are obese do not see them that way.
That is worrisome because obese children run the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol problems and other ailments more commonly found in adults. And overweight children are likely to grow up to be overweight adults.
I sympathize with those parents to a point. They probably don’t want to make their children feel bad about themselves. Maybe its a matter of finding the correct way to discuss the topic that encourages children to eat healthy and get some exercise without instilling low self esteem.
