The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages 245 million acres of public land, or about one-tenth of the country’s land, so its decisions and policies can have major impacts. And since many of its rules can easily shift as the administrations in charge change, public land policy is subject to sharp swings between conservation and extraction. The birth, life, and death of the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule is a prime example. What Is This Rule? The Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, known as the Public Lands rule for short, was established in June 2024 under the Biden Administration. It…

The best thing that can happen to gun control laws is that they just die in the legislature. While anti-gunners obviously disagree, the reality is that any lawmaker can introduce any bit of insanity they want, and if they can convince enough of their colleagues that it’s a good idea, it becomes a law that has to then be challenged in court, taking years to be eventually tossed, and creating headaches for everyone impacted. In Hawaii, a notoriously anti-gun state, a number of bills just met the only noble end for them as the legislature…

Video game pricing has become more and more relevant as time has gone on, as it seems like every other year, the dollar value of big-budget releases creeps up another few digits. Gaming can be a costly investment in a lot of cases, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of amazing games out there that players can pick up, just by skipping their morning coffee. Hovering under the $5 range, and even cheaper during sales, these games deliver a range of different experiences, some story-related, others more looping in nature, to give players the most bang for their buck.…

After an outbreak of hantavirus killed three people on a cruise ship in recent weeks, Google searches for the disease have increased by more than 1,000% in some states. In general, the virus is rare and difficult to contract for most people. But that didn’t stop the disease from spreading to as many as 17 American passengers aboard the cruise ship. They arrived back in the U.S. on Monday, and will now be monitored at the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. However, backpackers — and anybody who spends time in wooded areas — are actually at a…

An Ohio judge has cleared a woman who was facing murder charges in the death of her ex-girlfriend, ruling that the shooting was a justifiable use of force allowed under state law.  There was never any question that 26-year-old Marshee Luther shot and killed 29-year-old Taralynn Bowers last August. The dispute between prosecutors and Luther’s defense team was whether or not Luther had a reasonable belief that her life was in danger when she drew her gun and pulled the trigger. In fact, the prosecutors came awfully close to admitting that Luther’s life was in danger that…

Myths and misconceptions surround the burial benefits offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Many people don’t know these benefits exist at all, while others assume that the VA will pay for all of the costs of their burial if they’re buried in a veterans cemetery. The reality is that most veterans will be eligible for an allowance from the VA, but it probably won’t cover as much as you might expect. Understanding what the VA provides, and under which circumstances, can help you plan with precision and avoid surprises later. The VA’s burial benefits generally come in two categories:…

One of the most useful and often overlooked pieces of camping kit is the humble sleeping bag liner. These simple layers go inside a sleeping bag to add extra warmth on the coldest nights. They can be used on their own for warm-weather camping or sleeping indoors. They help keep your bag cleaner. Heck, some of them even claim to help your muscles recover after a long day on the trail. Sleeping bag liners are rad. And yet, they are among the most neglected elements of a sleep system. If you don’t already own one, you probably don’t know what…

Texas is a pro-gun state, but it’s kind of a miracle. With so many large urban centers, it’s fortunate that they can’t quite drown out the rest of the state’s more sensible voters on issues like guns. San Antonio, for example, is a big city, and it’s a city that seems to think that handguns shouldn’t be allowed in city hall. They had signs up and everything.The astute among you will notice the use of the past tense there. That’s for a reason.A noticeable change at San Antonio City Hall is raising questions after the…

RPGs are known for their gameplay variety. How that variety manifests through mechanical differences in combat or in unique dialogue options changes from game to game, but the appeal of the strength build is everlasting. While some games allow players to take on a more nimble role to dodge attacks or don the wizard’s cap, the simple power and presence of a strong hand is satisfying in its own right. In the right circumstances, a high strength stat turns the player into both an immovable object and an unstoppable force, capable of trading blows with bosses and breaking the guard…

One American has officially tested “mildly positive” for Hantavirus. The United States Department of Health and Human Services claimed that it was one of the 17 Americans being repatriated from a hantavirus-struck cruise ship had tested mildly positive. Seven cases of the Andes hantavirus have now been confirmed among passengers on board the cruise ship, MV Hondius, the World Health Organization said. Symptoms of Hantavirus can include fever, extreme fatigue, muscle aches, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and shortness of breath, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Another potentially serious disease caused by hantaviruses is hemorrhagic fever…

It’s not even peak summer season yet, and national parks are already swamped. At some parks, bumper-to-bumper traffic to get in can stretch for miles, and many drive-in campsites are already booked up for months. If you’re dreaming of camping in national parks this summer, heading into the backcountry might be your best bet. It’s also the best way to escape the crowds. There are plenty of great weekend and overnight trips that allow visitors to explore the wilderness and camp in solitude, without requiring long miles or complicated logistics. Ranging from 8 to 45 miles, these seven trails are…

My view of technology is complicated, in part because while so much of it is awesome and beneficial, other advances seem to take something away from what it means to be human. One bit of tech I’ve been stoked about for a while is 3D printing. The idea that I can, from the comfort of my home, make so many things with the push of a few buttons, things that will benefit my household, amuse my family, and possibly start a manufacturing venture, is just amazing. And the fact that I can use it to…