A plan to pump groundwater from beneath the desert and send it to thirsty cities in southern California has attracted a rather unusual group of opponents, including a Republican Congressman, a Democratic Senator, conservation groups, a mining company, a labor union and ranchers. Now the latest wrinkle in the debate involves a proposal for steam train excursion trips into the Mohave Desert.

The National Park Service recently announced an extension for proposals to operate the Beanery, the food concession at the historic Kelso Depot in California’s Mojave National Preserve.

Solar energy is one key to sating the United States' energy appetite, but federal officials need to be careful not to overly impact national parks and other public lands when it comes to siting these facilities.

A long simmering dispute over a simple cross erected over Mojave National Preserve will be resolved with a land swap expected to net the National Park Service private land inside the preserve.