Free Republic

Discussing recent events in Iraq are, from left, LCPI Michael Hopkins, Congressman Bill Jenkins, CPI Matt Stout, Sgt. John James and LCPI Josh Morris. Iraq is a different kind of place than it once was. New soccer fields for Iraqi children. Clean water delivered throughout the countryside. Restored power lines. Women walking their children to schools where attendance continues to rise. Sewer and water lines installed. Successful elections. An interim constitution signed. Hugs of grateful children. Smiles of free Iraqi citizens. New life flowing back into a country that was under the regime of an evil empire for far...

<p>WASHINGTON (AP) --President Bush is abandoning a plan that could have further reduced wetlands protections even though his administration has said their occasional use by farmers, migratory birds or endangered species isn't reason enough to stop developers from filling them in.</p>

ANGELS CAMP -- Mother Lode environmental groups Tuesday called for closer scrutiny of chemical pesticide usage by Sierra Pacific Industries after a report showed the logging giant applied more than 21/2 tons of herbicide last year on its Calaveras and Tuolumne county properties. The Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center published results of a study that showed Sierra Pacific applied 5,139 pounds and more than 2,800 gallons of herbicides in the two counties during 2001. The company owns about 148,000 acres of land in the two counties. The Twain Harte-based group said it obtained the herbicide information from agricultural commissioners...

Adelman, activists, cities say group misusing law to reap financial gains The tactics of a Sonoma County environmental watchdog group and its attorney are under fire from several North Coast cities and leading environmentalists, who charge the group is misusing environmental laws. River Watch, created in 1996 by Santa Rosa attorney Jack Silver, uses provisions of the federal Clean Water Act to sue cities and others accused of environmental pollution. The law allows Silver and River Watch to collect attorney's and other fees if they prevail in court or persuade those being sued to reach out-of-court settlements. Using the law,...