National Parks Weigh Silence versus Cell Service

AP

Open lands struggle to cover visitors

While National Parks are staying closed because of the coronavirus, the ongoing debate surrounding connectivity issues has been raised, with hopes of resolving them once the parks are able to reopen.

For some time, parks have been grappling with the best way to expand service while preserving the serenity of the outdoors. The coronavirus has shown a need for better internet as those living within the park, such as in Yosemite Village, are required to work from home.

Current infrastructure is unable to support the summertime spike in visitors. Connectivity is also a safety measure for those who find themselves lost in the national parks.

Federal law requires parks to consider permits to expand internet, cellphone and radio service. Eighty-three percent of visitors said in a 2016 survey that using electronic devices was at least slightly important to their stay at the Grand Canyon, which receives more than 6 million visitors a year. Visitors rely on cellphones and other devices for directions, reservations and more.

Some still advocate for keeping the backcountry free of cellphone service. They say that cellular companies are only concerned with increasing profits and expanding coverage.

Court Rules Against Citizenship Proof for Voters

A federal appeals court panel ruled on Wednesday, April 29 that the state of Kansas cannot require citizens to show proof of citizenship when they register to vote. This comes as a blow to Republican efforts in multiple states that have been pursuing restrictive voting laws in an effort to combat voter fraud.

The appeals court held up a federal judge’s injunction from two years ago that stopped Kansas from enforcing the citizenship requirement from 2013. The court found that the law violated the constitution’s Equal Protection Clause and National Voter Registration Act.

Kansas’s law was unique from other states as it required people to show a physical document such as a birth certificate or passport when registering to vote. This means that it will not immediately affect other states’ law.

The law was championed by former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach who has been a leading source for President Donald Trump’s unsubstantiated claim that millions of immigrants living the US illegally may have voted in the 2016 election.

Many experts say that voter fraud is extremely rare and critics believe the Republican-led efforts are meant to suppress turnout from groups that historically have favored Democrats including racial minorities and college students.

It was found that at most 67 non-citizens registered or attempted to register in Kansas in the last 19 years. By calculations of state experts, the estimated number of suspended applications that belonged to non-citizens was “statistically indistinguishable from zero.”

Smallest Businesses get Moved to Head of Relief Loan Line

For eight hours on Wednesday, the smallest companies seeking coronavirus relief loans were moved to the head of the line. This comes after the Small Business Administration said that for an eight-hour window, it would only accept loans from small lenders.  

Concerns have been raised about the nation’s smallest businesses being able to get loans from small banks submitting just a few hundred applications. In comparison the bigger national banks are submitting hundreds of thousands of loan requests.  However, some argue that big banks are also submitting loan applications for small businesses.

In the first round of funding, people were angry that well-financed companies like Shake Shack and the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers had been given priority over small businesses. Many of these large businesses have since said that they would return the money. Loans above $2 million will also be audited to ensure that the business actually needs the money.

The loans, a part of the $2 trillion coronavirus relief package, are intended to help businesses retain or rehire workers.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.