Western public lands are not only an iconic slice of America's national identity, but also a valuable economic driver if properly protected and managed, according to a group of more than 100 economists and academics who want President Obama to set aside more public lands as national parks, monuments, and wilderness areas.

The combination of time off from work or school and an appealing destination will entice some Americans to spend at least part of the upcoming holidays in a park. For some it's an annual tradition; for others it's a special, one-time trip. Does a visit to a national park figure into your holiday plans?

As an agency, the National Park Service is moving in the wrong direction in the annual "Best Places To Work" directory of federal agencies.

A request by the Restore Hetch Hetchy organization that the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission hold a public hearing on the question of restoring the Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park has been denied.