Don't be too alarmed if you see smoke wafting above the Wawona area of Yosemite National Park later this week. Park officials are planning a prescribed burn in that part of the park to reduce a buildup of fuels.

There are calls for both Oregon Caves National Monument in Oregon and Ocmulgee National Monument in Georgia to increase in acreage.

Homesteaders flooding the American heartland in the 1860s couldn't have imagined electric power, much less lasers. A May 20-25 celebration of the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Homestead Act will feature a laser light show and much more at Homestead National Monument of America.

There are at times unintended consequences of good deeds in national parks. For instance, efforts to reduce traffic by using shuttle buses can actually create a noisier environment, according to studies at Rocky Mountain National Park and elsewhere in the park system.