Anheuser-Busch InBev raises $2.7 billion from selling theme parks to Blackstone GroupOctober 7th, 2009 AB-InBev sells off theme parksBRUSSELS — Anheuser-Busch InBev says it will sell its U.S. theme parks to the Blackstone Group for $2.7 billion.
Environmentalists say climate change threatens 25 national parksOctober 5th, 2009 Environmentalists say climate change hurts parksNEW YORK — The Natural Resources Defense Council and the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization say 25 national parks are threatened by climate change. A report called "National Parks in Peril: The Threats of Climate Disruption" say the changes in landscapes and ecosystems are harming plants, trees and wildlife, but also threaten human activity in the parks and manmade structures.
Expedia launches Web site for national park tripsOctober 5th, 2009 Expedia launches Web site for national park tripsBELLEVUE, Wash. — Expedia is partnering with the National Park Foundation on a new Web site to help travelers planning trips to national parks.
Panel says US should expand national parks, spend more to preserve them for future generationsSeptember 24th, 2009 Panel says spend more on national parksWASHINGTON — An independent panel says the U.S. should invest more money in its national parks to preserve them for future generations.
Conde Nast Traveler celebrates 'America's Best Idea' with a list of 10 national parksSeptember 14th, 2009 Conde Nast Traveler recommends 10 national parksNEW YORK — Conde Nast Traveler is marking Ken Burns' new PBS series about the national parks, "America's Best Idea," with a look at 10 national parks and recommendations for how to see them. The magazine looks at five parks in its September issue and another five online at www.cntraveler.com/nationalparks.
Snoopy ousts SpongeBob as Cedar Fair replaces Nickelodeon with Peanuts in its theme parksSeptember 3rd, 2009 SpongeBob out, Snoopy in at Cedar Fair theme parksSANDSUKY, Ohio — Move over, SpongeBob and Dora. Make way for Snoopy.
Orissa seeks central forces to guard national parksAugust 18th, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - Orissa Tuesday demanded deployment of central paramilitary forces in the national sanctuaries and parks in the state, in view of the growing Maoist menace. "The red extremism is growing in national parks and Sanctuaries in the state.
Upside of downturn: National Park Service reports increase in visits to national parksAugust 17th, 2009 Park Service says visits to national parks are upWASHINGTON — It could be the upside of the economic downturn: The Obama administration says visits to national parks are up nearly 4 percent this year. The National Park Service said Monday that 127.7 million visits were made to national parks in the first six months of the year, an increase of about 4.5 million over the same period in 2008.
Fees to be waived this weekend at national parks including Yellowstone, Grand TetonAugust 11th, 2009 Free weekend at Grand Teton, Yellowstone parksMOOSE, Wyo. — People will be able to view the geysers of Yellowstone and vistas of Grand Teton free of charge one more time this weekend.
Obama, family to travel to national parksAugust 7th, 2009 Obama to travel out WestWASHINGTON — The White House is announcing that the first family will travel to national parks in the West next week. President Barack Obama and his family will visit Bozeman, Mont., Yellowstone National Park, Grand Junction, Colo., the Grand Canyon and Phoenix.
Yellowstone sees record number of visitors in July; officials credit park's affordabilityAugust 6th, 2009 Yellowstone numbers hit all-time high in JulyYELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. — Yellowstone National Park officials are crediting relatively low gas prices and the park's affordability after an all-time record number of people visited in July.
Polluted rain, snow raises concerns for sensitive landscapes in 16 national parksJuly 20th, 2009 Trend worsening for pollutant in 16 national parksSALT LAKE CITY — A pollutant that can slowly trigger changes in the lives of plants and animals is increasingly being found in 16 National Park Service sites, mostly in the Western United States. Air quality data obtained by The Associated Press shows significant worsening trends for ammonium in several flagship parks, including Yellowstone, Mount Rainier and Utah's Canyonlands.
Wildlife declining in Kenya's national parks at same rate as outside areasJuly 8th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study has indicated that long-term declines of elephants, giraffe, impala and other animals in Kenya are occurring at the same rates within the country's national parks as outside of these protected areas. "This is the first time we've taken a good look at a national park system in one country, relative to all of the wildlife populations across the whole country, and we found that wildlife populations inside and outside of the parks are declining at much the same rate," said David Western, an adjunct professor of biology at UC San Diego, who headed the study.
National Park Service will waive fees for 3 weekends this summerJune 2nd, 2009 National parks plan 3 free summer weekendsWASHINGTON — The National Park Service is looking to stimulate summer vacations at national parks. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced Tuesday that entrance fees at 147 national parks and monuments — including the Grand Canyon and Yosemite — will be waived on three weekends this summer.
Senate backs amendment to allow loaded guns in national parksMay 13th, 2009 Senate backs allowing guns in national parksWASHINGTON — The Senate has approved a measure that would allow people to carry loaded guns in national parks and wildlife refuges. Republican Sen.