Budget deal may allow wolf hunts in Montana, Idaho

http://travel.usatoday.com/destinations/dispatches/post/2011/04/wolves-hunting-tourism-montana-idaho-budget-yellowstone-national-park/155666/1?loc=interstitialskip

The wolf issue is at it again. The measure to remove wolves off the federal Endangered Species list, which would open the doors to commercial hunting this fall, is being supported by Idaho Republican Rep. Mike Simpson and Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester. Wolves were near extinction before they were put onto this list. Yes, they might have made a comeback, but taking them off the list can send them back into the same fate because everyone will begin to hunt them like crazy. They would not be allowed though to hunt wolves within Yellostone Park territory. The other side however, is more concerned with livestock attacks. They want to protect the livestock and also receive all the money they would get by issueing hunting lisences. Last week, the Idaho legislature approved a bill declaring the state's estimated 800 wolves a "disaster emergency" - akin to a flood or wildfire - and giving the governor broad powers to eliminate them. Personally, I hope this budget does not remove them off the endangered species list because I would hate to see what the declining population of the wolves would do to the rest of the world.

City Council bill wants to ban parking violations stickers, says fines are enough

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_localnyc/city-council-bill-wants-to-ban-parking-violations-stickers-says-fines-are-enough

I find this article absolutely hysterical. These people are against neon shame stickers that are slapped on cars parked on the wrong side of the street. People complain they are VERY difficult to remove and they cannot see out their windows with it on. The city started using the stickers in the mid 1980s to motivate New Yorkers to move for street sweepers. Now a Brooklyn city councilman is going after these stickers. Council is considering a bill on Tuesday that force agents to void Muni-Meter tickets if the driver arrives with a paid receipt while the ticket is being written. I don't think these councilmen could be spending their time on anything else right now....really.