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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Dallas Lakes Renamed After Historic Native Tribes in Unanimous Council Vote
The Dallas City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to rename three West Dallas lakes in honor of historic Native American tribes from North Texas. The new names — Comanche Nahmi Lake, Wichita ita:iʔh Lake, and Lipan Apache Mbátí Lake — combine tribal identities with Native words for 'sister.' The change, which applies to lakes along the Trinity River, was met with praise during public comment. 'You're not only recognizing our heritage, you're bringing visibility to the Native community of Dallas and North Texas,' said Rachel Salinas, a councilwoman for the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas. 'These lakes will benefit families across Dallas for generations to come.' She reminded the council that her tribe is state-recognized and has lived under 'all Six Flags of Texas.' 'We are a historic state recognized tribe of Texas. We have lived under all Six Flags of Texas and have fought alongside Texas in defense of this land. Our contributions are part of Texas history,' Salinas said. Mark Smith, a Cherokee Nation member and former Dallas resident, called the vote more than just bureaucratic business. 'It's how we affirm our identity, history and presence. These lakes are more than bodies of water. They're spaces where communities gather, where urban families experience nature,' he added. 'They're shared public spaces. Giving them meaningful names is a way of making sure that everyone in Dallas feels seen and included in our city story. We often talk about equity, about inclusion. Naming is one of the most visible public ways to demonstrate these values.' While all council members voted in favor of the renaming, Council Member Cara Mendelsohn of District 12 urged city staff to consider public clarity, emergency access, and historical education when finalizing signage. 'I just hope that there'll be some consideration to making sure that it's pronounceable, that there's easy wayfinding and emergency services can find those locations.' Finally, Mendelsohn added that she hopes additional signage will be installed to aid both emergency services and public education on tribal history. 'I would wonder if there isn't a means to put some sort of historic marker to explain the significance and the meaning of what each of these lakes are, and why?' she said. 'I think it has an incredible history for Dallas. I think people would be interested. And so I hope that that greater context will be added, whether that's through a nonprofit or through the city.'
29-05-2025
- Politics
Appeals court revives Native American challenge to $10B SunZia energy transmission project
A federal appeals court has sided with Native American tribes in their fight against the federal government over a $10 billion energy transmission line designed to carry wind-generated electricity from New Mexico to customers as far away as California. The Tohono O'odham Nation — along with the San Carlos Apache Tribe, the Center for Biological Diversity and Archaeology Southwest — sued the U.S. Interior Department and then-Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in 2024. They argued that the agency failed to properly consult with the tribes on a historic property designation for southern Arizona's San Pedro Valley. A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that a lower court erred in dismissing the case last year and ordered the matter to be reconsidered. The panel concluded that a proper consultation would have resulted in the valley being designated as a historic property and that the agency was required to identify historic properties that would be affected and ensure any adverse effects would be avoided, minimized or mitigated before authorizing construction. The Tohono O'odham Nation had vowed when the case was dismissed to pursue all legal avenues for protecting land that it and other tribes consider sacred. Tribal Chairman Verlon Jose reiterated that the tribe will continue to fight for its rights and that Tuesday's ruling marked an important victory in the long-running dispute. 'The Tohono O'odham Nation supports clean, renewable energy — when it is done the right way,' Jose said in a statement. 'With the SunZia project, the federal government failed to work with tribes to protect our cultural resources as required by law." The valley represents a 50-mile (80-kilometer) stretch of the planned 550-mile (885-kilometer) conduit. The route is expected to carry electricity from wind farms in central New Mexico to existing transmission lines in Arizona to serve populated areas as far away as California. The project was among those touted as an important part of former President Joe Biden's goal for a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035. Construction in the San Pedro Valley already is complete, said Matt Dallas, a SunZia spokesperson. 'We are reviewing the opinion, and SunZia remains on track for commercial operation in 2026.' Dallas said. In response to questions about the latest ruling and whether the federal government was in discussions with the tribes, Interior spokeswoman J. Elizabeth Peace said the department doesn't comment on pending litigation. Peace did say the agency 'remains committed to stewarding our natural and cultural resources, honoring tribal trust responsibilities and managing public lands for all Americans.' President Donald Trump in recent weeks has signed a number of executive orders promoting domestic energy production and has cited the need for reliability of the nation's electric grid amid growing demand driven partly by data centers and artificial intelligence.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Appeals court revives Native American challenge to $10B SunZia energy transmission project
A federal appeals court has sided with Native American tribes in their fight against the federal government over a $10 billion energy transmission line designed to carry wind-generated electricity from New Mexico to customers as far away as California. The Tohono O'odham Nation — along with the San Carlos Apache Tribe, the Center for Biological Diversity and Archaeology Southwest — sued the U.S. Interior Department and then-Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in 2024. They argued that the agency failed to properly consult with the tribes on a historic property designation for southern Arizona's San Pedro Valley. A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that a lower court erred in dismissing the case last year and ordered the matter to be reconsidered. The panel concluded that a proper consultation would have resulted in the valley being designated as a historic property and that the agency was required to identify historic properties that would be affected and ensure any adverse effects would be avoided, minimized or mitigated before authorizing construction. The Tohono O'odham Nation had vowed when the case was dismissed to pursue all legal avenues for protecting land that it and other tribes consider sacred. Tribal Chairman Verlon Jose reiterated that the tribe will continue to fight for its rights and that Tuesday's ruling marked an important victory in the long-running dispute. 'The Tohono O'odham Nation supports clean, renewable energy — when it is done the right way,' Jose said in a statement. 'With the SunZia project, the federal government failed to work with tribes to protect our cultural resources as required by law." The valley represents a 50-mile (80-kilometer) stretch of the planned 550-mile (885-kilometer) conduit. The route is expected to carry electricity from wind farms in central New Mexico to existing transmission lines in Arizona to serve populated areas as far away as California. The project was among those touted as an important part of former President Joe Biden's goal for a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035. Construction in the San Pedro Valley already is complete, said Matt Dallas, a SunZia spokesperson. 'We are reviewing the opinion, and SunZia remains on track for commercial operation in 2026.' Dallas said. In response to questions about the latest ruling and whether the federal government was in discussions with the tribes, Interior spokeswoman J. Elizabeth Peace said the department doesn't comment on pending litigation. Peace did say the agency 'remains committed to stewarding our natural and cultural resources, honoring tribal trust responsibilities and managing public lands for all Americans.' President Donald Trump in recent weeks has signed a number of executive orders promoting domestic energy production and has cited the need for reliability of the nation's electric grid amid growing demand driven partly by data centers and artificial intelligence.
San Francisco Chronicle
29-05-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Appeals court revives Native American challenge to $10B SunZia energy transmission project
A federal appeals court has sided with Native American tribes in their fight against the federal government over a $10 billion energy transmission line designed to carry wind-generated electricity from New Mexico to customers as far away as California. The Tohono O'odham Nation — along with the San Carlos Apache Tribe, the Center for Biological Diversity and Archaeology Southwest — sued the U.S. Interior Department and then-Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in 2024. They argued that the agency failed to properly consult with the tribes on a historic property designation for southern Arizona's San Pedro Valley. A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that a lower court erred in dismissing the case last year and ordered the matter to be reconsidered. The panel concluded that a proper consultation would have resulted in the valley being designated as a historic property and that the agency was required to identify historic properties that would be affected and ensure any adverse effects would be avoided, minimized or mitigated before authorizing construction. The Tohono O'odham Nation had vowed when the case was dismissed to pursue all legal avenues for protecting land that it and other tribes consider sacred. Tribal Chairman Verlon Jose reiterated that the tribe will continue to fight for its rights and that Tuesday's ruling marked an important victory in the long-running dispute. 'The Tohono O'odham Nation supports clean, renewable energy — when it is done the right way,' Jose said in a statement. 'With the SunZia project, the federal government failed to work with tribes to protect our cultural resources as required by law." The valley represents a 50-mile (80-kilometer) stretch of the planned 550-mile (885-kilometer) conduit. The route is expected to carry electricity from wind farms in central New Mexico to existing transmission lines in Arizona to serve populated areas as far away as California. The project was among those touted as an important part of former President Joe Biden's goal for a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035. 'We are reviewing the opinion, and SunZia remains on track for commercial operation in 2026.' Dallas said. In response to questions about the latest ruling and whether the federal government was in discussions with the tribes, Interior spokeswoman J. Elizabeth Peace said the department doesn't comment on pending litigation. Peace did say the agency 'remains committed to stewarding our natural and cultural resources, honoring tribal trust responsibilities and managing public lands for all Americans.' President Donald Trump in recent weeks has signed a number of executive orders promoting domestic energy production and has cited the need for reliability of the nation's electric grid amid growing demand driven partly by data centers and artificial intelligence.
Winnipeg Free Press
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Appeals court revives Native American challenge to $10B SunZia energy transmission project
A federal appeals court has sided with Native American tribes in their fight against the federal government over a $10 billion energy transmission line designed to carry wind-generated electricity from New Mexico to customers as far away as California. The Tohono O'odham Nation — along with the San Carlos Apache Tribe, the Center for Biological Diversity and Archaeology Southwest — sued the U.S. Interior Department and then-Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in 2024. They argued that the agency failed to properly consult with the tribes on a historic property designation for southern Arizona's San Pedro Valley. A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that a lower court erred in dismissing the case last year and ordered the matter to be reconsidered. The panel concluded that a proper consultation would have resulted in the valley being designated as a historic property and that the agency was required to identify historic properties that would be affected and ensure any adverse effects would be avoided, minimized or mitigated before authorizing construction. The Tohono O'odham Nation had vowed when the case was dismissed to pursue all legal avenues for protecting land that it and other tribes consider sacred. Tribal Chairman Verlon Jose reiterated that the tribe will continue to fight for its rights and that Tuesday's ruling marked an important victory in the long-running dispute. 'The Tohono O'odham Nation supports clean, renewable energy — when it is done the right way,' Jose said in a statement. 'With the SunZia project, the federal government failed to work with tribes to protect our cultural resources as required by law.' The valley represents a 50-mile (80-kilometer) stretch of the planned 550-mile (885-kilometer) conduit. The route is expected to carry electricity from wind farms in central New Mexico to existing transmission lines in Arizona to serve populated areas as far away as California. The project was among those touted as an important part of former President Joe Biden's goal for a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035. Construction in the San Pedro Valley already is complete, said Matt Dallas, a SunZia spokesperson. 'We are reviewing the opinion, and SunZia remains on track for commercial operation in 2026.' Dallas said. In response to questions about the latest ruling and whether the federal government was in discussions with the tribes, Interior spokeswoman J. Elizabeth Peace said the department doesn't comment on pending litigation. Peace did say the agency 'remains committed to stewarding our natural and cultural resources, honoring tribal trust responsibilities and managing public lands for all Americans.' President Donald Trump in recent weeks has signed a number of executive orders promoting domestic energy production and has cited the need for reliability of the nation's electric grid amid growing demand driven partly by data centers and artificial intelligence.
