** Nebraska governor hops on the 30x30 disinformation train
------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, June 10, 2021
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, Gage Skidmore ([link removed])

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts is on a tour of his state to amplify a far-right disinformation campaign against land conservation. The Daily Beast reports ([link removed]) that Ricketts is falsely portraying the Biden administration's "America the Beautiful ([link removed]) " campaign as a program that will seize lands from private owners.

Ricketts met with antigovernment extremist Trent Loos in late May to discuss Loos's opposition to the administration's 30x30 plan. 30x30 creates a framework for using locally-driven efforts ([link removed]) to conserve 30 percent of America's land and waters by the end of the decade.

Loos falsely told The Daily Beast ([link removed]) that the 30x30 plan called for placing more than 60 percent of land under federal control, and claimed that “The natural state of the United States before Lewis and Clark was a horrific place.”

Ricketts and Loos are using talking points from the group American Stewards of Liberty, which spreads disinformation about 30x30 ([link removed]) to draft county resolutions opposing land protection. American Stewards is the subject of an IRS complaint ([link removed]) by the watchdog group Accountable.US, alleging it is abusing its nonprofit status to lobby against 30x30.


** Colorado natural resources head joins The Landscape
------------------------------------------------------------

The latest episode of CWP's podcast ([link removed]) , The Landscape, features a conversation with Dan Gibbs ([link removed]) , executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. Dan talks about his role overseeing everything from forests to wildlife to oil and gas production, as well as his experience as a wildland firefighter ([link removed]) .
Quick hits


** With no functioning headquarters, rebuilding Bureau of Land Management is a Herculean task
------------------------------------------------------------

The New Republic ([link removed]) | Mountain West News Bureau ([link removed])


** Five takeaways from the BLM nominee confirmation hearing
------------------------------------------------------------

E&E News ([link removed]) | Colorado Newsline ([link removed])


** New Mexico lawmakers praise federal pause on oil and gas leases
------------------------------------------------------------

Albuquerque Journal ([link removed]) | Associated Press ([link removed])


** Utah delegation asks to meet with Biden before he restores Bears Ears & Grand Staircase
------------------------------------------------------------

Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed]) | Associated Press ([link removed]) | Deseret News ([link removed])


** Biden's nominee to oversee Indigenous affairs has widespread support
------------------------------------------------------------

Associated Press ([link removed])


** Colorado home to first wolf litter since the 1940s
------------------------------------------------------------

KDVR ([link removed])


** Wyoming tries to save coal with new facility to make stuff out of coal
------------------------------------------------------------

Wyoming Public Media ([link removed])


** Yellowstone unveils 'T.E.D.D.Y.' driverless electric shuttles for summer testing
------------------------------------------------------------

Missoulian ([link removed]) | Billings Gazette ([link removed]) | Buckrail ([link removed])
Quote of the day
As the state’s appropriators, we have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that we are appropriately charging for the benefit of extracting resources from our public lands so that New Mexicans receive a fair and true market value for these resources.”
—Letter from 24 New Mexico lawmakers ([link removed])
to President Biden and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland
Picture this


** @BeringLandNPS ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
The fox in this portrait is attentive, looking squarely back at the viewer. In fact, it almost challenges the viewer with an inquisitive gaze. It begs the question, “What DOES the fox say?” or at minimum, what does it contemplate?

📷 NPS / Savannah Glasscock

============================================================
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Medium ([link removed])
** Instagram ([link removed])
Copyright © 2021 Center for Western Priorities, All rights reserved.
You've signed up to receive Look West updates.

Center for Western Priorities
1999 Broadway
Suite 520
Denver, CO 80202
USA
** View this on the web ([link removed])

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])