There's good news in the effort to bring the California condor back from the brink of extinction: Biologists at Pinnacles National Monument have verified the first successful hatching of a condor egg in the park in over 100 years.

Barring a major snowstorm, crews at Yellowstone National Park should have some of the park's roads open Friday. While the North and West entrance roads should be clear of snow, more work is necessary for the East and South entrances to be opened.

For the first time in its history the National Park Service is going to have a full-time assistant director for American Indian Relations. Gerard Baker, a 30-year Park Service veteran who most recently has been superintendent of Mount Rushmore National Memorial, will take that role on April 24. A full-blood Mandan-Hidatsa Indian, Mr. Baker relishes the opportunity to improve relations between the Park Service and Native American tribes.