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BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — U.S. Interior Department officials are seeking to bolster their case for easing restrictions on energy development, mining and grazing in seven Western states. A federal judge in Idaho blocked the Trump administration plans last year over concerns that they could harm greater sage grouse, a ground-dwelling bird. Assistant Interior Secretary Casey Hammond says a new set of environmental studies published Friday clarifies the steps the government will take to conserve sage grouse habitat. The Interior Department opened a 45-day public comment period on the studies that cover millions of acres of public lands in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and California.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — U.S. officials have dropped plans to sell energy leases in a popular Utah recreational area that's renowned for its mountain biking trails. The reversal by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management comes after local businesses, officials and Gov. Gary Herbert raised concerns about potential effects to the Slickrock Trail near Moab. The two lease parcels would have covered about two-thirds of the trail and been barely a mile from Arches National Park. Under President Donald Trump, the amount of acreage leased for oil and gas development in Western states has been sharply increasing. The land agency said Friday that local officials and businesses raised legitimate issues, including effects on water supplies.
POLACCA, Ariz. (AP) — Navajo and Hopi families in northeastern Arizona that have long relied on coal to heat their homes are looking to other sources after last year's closure of a coal mine. The Kayenta Mine shut down after decades of supplying the Navajo Generating Station. The Navajo and Hopi tribes shared in the coal royalties. Tribal members also had access to the coal, regularly loading the long-burning fossil fuel into pickup trucks or buying it from roadside vendors. Now they're having to travel farther for coal, switching to firewood or even burning household items to stay warm.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A University of Utah football player accused of raping a 17-year-old girl is facing additional charges after prosecutors say he also raped two women. The Salt Lake Tribune reports that 20-year-old wide receiver Terrell Perriman is now charged with eight felonies, including three counts of rape. Perriman initially faced a single count of rape and a charge of aggravated kidnapping on suspicion of assaulting a teen girl he met on Instagram. Prosecutors added to the charges Friday, saying he raped two women in Salt Lake County. A defense attorney says Perriman didn't rape the teen. He didn't respond to a message about the additional charges. The football team dismissed Perriman on Friday.
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