Free Republic

It's wild times in the watershed. The most happy-go-lucky denizen of Bay Area creeks is back, after a hiatus of at least three decades: the river otter. "They look like they're having a wonderful time out there. It's really exciting to see," said Steve Bobzien, a wildlife ecologist for the East Bay Regional Park District. "Plus, it's a really good biological indicator of the health of the ecosystem." From Antioch to Tomales Bay, park visitors have reported otters rolling in mud, gnawing on crayfish, sliding down rocks and generally partying on the creek banks. A Marin group has even created...

World's Forests Rebounding, Study Suggests James Owen for National Geographic News November 13, 2006 Forests are branching out across the planet anew, raising hopes that an end to deforestation may be in sight, a new study claims. The study suggests that deforestation is not as drastic as it once was and that forests are recovering in many countries. The researchers say that over the past 15 years the amount of woodland has increased in 22 of the world's 50 most forested nations. China and the U.S. have achieved the greatest overall forest expansion, the team says, while tree cover has...

Democrats seek balance in South Dennis Camire / Times Washington Bureau Posted on May 28, 2002 WASHINGTON - Democratic political power in the South, shattered by Republican victories in the 1990s, could increase in this year's elections - but not by leaps and bounds. Democrats were written off too quickly in the 11 states of the former Confederacy, and they are moving slowly back into contention, said Wayne Parent, a political scientist at Louisiana State University. Four Southern states have their primaries in the coming month: Alabama and Mississippi on June 4 and South Carolina and Virginia on June 11....