SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Endangered salmon blocked for nearly a century from hundreds of miles of the Klamath River in Oregon and California are expected to return en masse under unusual agreements signed Wednesday to tear down four hydroelectric dams.
U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, who signed the agreements with the governors of both states, said the plan would bring about one of the largest river restoration projects in the history of the U.S.
The landmark agreements also protect farmers and ranchers from rising power and water prices as the various interests work to end long-running water wars in the drought-stricken Klamath River basin.
The dams now block fish from migrating to their historic spawning grounds and also degrade water quality.
IOWA CITY, Iowa – New digital evidence reveals how a lottery insider manipulated drawings to enrich himself and his associates, Iowa investigators said Wednesday as they charged his brother with securing jackpots in Oklahoma and Colorado worth $1.2 million cash.
Tommy Tipton, a former justice of the peace and reserve police officer in Texas, turned himself in Wednesday to face a charge of ongoing criminal conduct.
Authorities allege he conspired with his older brother, Eddie Tipton, the former security director of the Multi-State Lottery Association who was convicted last year of fixing a $16.5 million Hot Lotto jackpot.
He’s also awaiting trial on charges linking him to lottery prizes in several other states.
MOSCOW – The National Guard being formed in Russia will be given broad powers to suppress riots, according to a presidential decree released Wednesday.
Analysts said President Vladimir Putin’s decision to create the National Guard could reflect Kremlin fears of possible anti-government protests or even a coup attempt amid an economic downturn. The Russian economy last year was dragged into recession by plummeting oil prices and Western economic sanctions over the crisis in Ukraine.
Putin’s popularity has remained high, but living standards have dropped sharply and the prospect of unrest looms. Parliamentary elections set for September will test the Kremlin’s ability to maintain a tight grip.
Associated Press
