
Here's what makes America's newest national park worthy of its upgrade
CNN
West Virginia's New River Gorge, America's newest national park, is rich in natural and human history, and it's also a world-class destination for rafting, mountain biking and rock climbing.
(CNN) — Sometimes all it takes is a little name change to bring attention to an underappreciated park. At least, that's certainly the case with West Virginia's New River Gorge. Hidden within a 5,593-page omnibus spending bill in the final days of 2020 was a provision to reclassify this one-time national river as America's 63rd headliner national park. The designation provides added protections -- and new clout -- to 7,021 acres of Appalachian forest (with another 65,165 acres protected as a preserve). "These mountains are some of the oldest in the world, and despite its name, the New River is ancient," says Lizzie Watts, superintendent of New River Gorge National Park & Preserve.
Janet Mills and her allies are counting on a gender gap to narrow Platner’s wide lead ahead of the June 9 primary to decide who will face incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins. They are betting that the unfiltered style that has brought Platner widespread attention as someone who could help Democrats reach young men will backfire with women.

As a shrinking number of Transportation Security Administration agents work to keep hourslong security lines moving despite not being paid, President Donald Trump stepped into the fray Saturday, announcing he will send Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to airports by Monday if Congress doesn’t agree to a plan to end the partial government shutdown.











