Superintendent of Oregon's Crater Lake National Park resigns, citing staffing cuts
Kevin Heatley resigned Friday from the position he had held since January, Portland TV station KGW reported . He told the outlet the decision was difficult but that policies undertaken by the Trump administration had impacted the ability of the National Park Service to function.
'I did not want to be empowering the current administration to cause that kind of impact on the people that I'm responsible for,' Heatley said. 'And I also did not want to participate in the dismantlement — effectively a dismantlement — of the National Park Service.'
'We're being told, for instance, when people leave, they only want to replace 25% of those permanent positions,' he said. 'You can't run an organization like that.'
A message seeking comment was sent Wednesday to the agency's communications office.
Heatley said a seasonal increase in staffing of about 60 to 65 workers to help with summer crowds isn't sufficient to preserve park infrastructure or sustain its longterm needs. A number of the park's eight ranger positions — full-time positions tasked with maintaining park roads, buildings and trails — are unfilled, he said.
Heatley's previous experience includes planning and management roles with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. He said he felt conflicted staying in a role where he saw the system as being undermined.
Crater Lake National Park is home to the deepest lake in the U.S. and the deepest lake in the world formed by volcanic activity.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Looking ahead to the race for Rhode Island attorney general
The campaign to replace term-limited Attorney General Peter Neronha will be one of the most-watched races in the state next year. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
I Asked ChatGPT How Trump's Tax Cuts Could Impact My Family Budget — Here's the Breakdown
President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which he signed on July 4, will impact millions of households, from their student loan repayments to their access to Medicaid and other social safety net programs. I, however, was most concerned with how the legislation's sweeping changes to U.S. tax law might impact my obligations to the IRS. Since my tax attorney charges by the quarter-hour for phone calls, I went with the next-best thing — ChatGPT. I asked the AI platform how Trump's tax cuts could impact my family budget. Here's what it told me. Find Out: Read Next: Many Households — Including Mine — Will Save Money The AI platform began with a bulleted list of benefits that will help many families lower their tax bill. It relied on sources such as the Bipartisan Policy Center and the Tax Policy Center to generate the section, which it titled, 'What You'll Likely Save.' This is its word-for-word synopsis of the potential savings for my family and others. Extended 2017 TCJA benefits — no major tax increases that were scheduled to take effect in 2026. Higher standard deduction — receives a $2,000 extra (married) or $1,000 (single) until 2028 on top of inflation adjustment. (CTC) — boosted to $2,500 per child through 2028, then reverts to $2,000. New tax benefits — exemption from federal tax on tips and overtime income (under $160K), a $40K state-and-local-tax (SALT) cap and a one-time $1K 'Trump account' per child. Learn More: Have a Little, Get a Little; Have a Lot, Get a Lot Next, my unofficial AI accountant used a Tax Policy Center analysis and a CBS News report to surmise that most families would see at least some benefit, with an average household tax bill reduction of $2,900 in 2026. However, it generated the following bulleted list, cited here verbatim, which showed that the 'haves' stand to gain more than the 'have-nots.' Bottom quintile households (≤ $35K income): ~$150 saved (~0.8% of income) Top quintile (≥ $217K income): ~$12,540 saved (~2.5%). Middle-income families fall in between, likely saving several hundred to a few thousand dollars annually. Taxes Aren't the Only Thing That Impact Family Budgets The platform then outlined how what it called the 'offsetting effects' of the tax cuts could shake up my family's — or anyone's — finances. This, too, is in ChatGPT's own words. Cuts to Medicaid, food stamps (SNAP) — billions in savings, but may reduce public benefits your family relies on. Reduced social safety nets — tougher work requirements; lower-income families could see net income decline despite tax cuts. Growing deficit — adds $3-$5 trillion to federal debt over 10 years, increasing future borrowing costs and potential for inflation/higher interest rates. Which Provisions Impact Which Families the Most? It included the following table to break down how different aspects of the legislation will impact different income groups. Income Level Estimated Annual Savings Key New Provisions Watch-Outs Low Income ~$150 Child Tax Credit, tip/overtime exemption Less SNAP/Medicaid Middle Income (~$50K-$100K) $500-$1,500 Standard SALT deduction bump, CTC, SALT cap Social cuts, inflation High Income (>$200K) $5K-$12K+ All above, plus SALT/ deduction benefits Future tax, interest pressure Make Your Situation as Big and Beautiful as Possible It concluded with a numbered list titled 'How To Maximize Benefits,' which outlined steps that my family and others can take to get the most out of the new changes. Use enhanced standard deduction — reduces taxable income directly. Claim full child tax credit if eligible — $2,500 per child. Take advantage of tip/overtime deductions — especially if you receive a lot of tips or extra hours. Monitor public benefits changes — if your household receives Medicaid or SNAP, check whether new work requirements or eligibility changes impact your budget. More From GOBankingRates Mark Cuban Warns of 'Red Rural Recession' -- 4 States That Could Get Hit Hard 10 Genius Things Warren Buffett Says To Do With Your Money 6 Big Shakeups Coming to Social Security in 2025 This article originally appeared on I Asked ChatGPT How Trump's Tax Cuts Could Impact My Family Budget — Here's the Breakdown
Fox News
11 hours ago
- Fox News
'Not surprised at all': Rep. Laurel Libby blasts education official's 'woke agenda'
Rep. Laurel Libby, R-Maine, shares her reaction to the state's Education Department Commissioner Pender Makin suggesting schools can defy President Donald Trump's executive order protecting women's sports.
