Conservationists appealed to the Ninth Circuit after a judge cleared Ioneer's Rhyolite Ridge lithium project, saying it threatens Tiehm's buckwheat.

A planned prescribed burn in Jeff Valley may send visible smoke across Palomar Mountain; officials ask residents not to report the smoke and to check air-quality updates.

Piedmont reopens its rebuilt two‑pool complex this Saturday with expanded lap lanes, a rooftop pavilion and $5 drop‑in visits through April 30. The nearly $35M project replaces the old 1964 pool and emphasizes electrified systems and community programming.

The Michigan DNR is recommending a statewide one‑buck limit on antlered deer with a possible start date of March 1, 2027 pending NRC approval. Regulators will take more public comment ahead of a potential May vote.

Barred owls at Point Defiance Park have been swooping at hikers and runners this spring. Experts say it’s nesting behavior and offer practical safety tips.

Florissant voters approved a charter amendment Tuesday that requires voter approval for sales or swaps of city parkland, a response to a disputed Koch Park land swap.

Parks & Rec says it will prioritize mowing, hand‑weeding and mulching while phasing out routine herbicide sprays after reporting showed heavy pesticide use in city parks. Officials pledged new buffers, training and more seasonal crews.

A licensed trapper removed an alligator outside the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections office in Tampa on Tuesday; no injuries were reported.

A city commission reduced a NORD employee’s suspension to five days and ordered backpay, raising fresh questions about staffing, inspections and safety at neighborhood playgrounds.

Mecklenburg County paid about $10 million for two parcels that add roughly 30 acres to Idlewild Road Park in Matthews, setting up a proposed skatepark and new trail links.

Two elk wandered into Jefferson County’s Mountain Precinct in Evergreen during National Wildlife Week, and the sheriff’s office used the moment to remind residents not to feed wildlife.

City health officials have raised water‑quality and safety questions about the East River +POOL pilot, prompting extra testing and changes to the timeline. Regulators want more proof before swimmers can dive in.

Seattle’s Japanese Garden will close for five weeks this summer for a $2.8M Ishigaki wall rebuild and accessible pathways. A 15th‑generation master stonemason will lead the stonework with American artisans.