At this point in the 2012 political season the economy is front and center in both campaigns, but all the rhetoric has included little mention of outdoor recreation as part of the equation. Two new reports suggest that's a major oversight. Can public lands, including national parks, benefit from the attention?

A rare nēnē goose, one 21 years old and which has been somewhat of a prolific breeder, has been run over and killed at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

In a global round-up of park news, the State Parliament of New South Wales, Australia, a bill was passed last Friday after acrimonious, alarmist back and forth from all political quarters, to permit hunting in national parks.

Passing through central Utah any time soon? If so, the apricot harvest is just about to get under way at Capitol Reef National Park.