The Daily Populous

Sunday November 21st, 2021 day edition

image for Senate confirms Oregon’s Chuck Sams as first Native American to lead National Park Service

SALEM — The U.S. Senate has unanimously approved the nomination of Charles “Chuck” Sams III as National Park Service director, which will make him the first Native American to lead the agency.

Some conservationists hailed Sams’ confirmation Thursday night as a commitment to equitable partnership with tribes, the original stewards of the land.

The National Park Service oversees more than 131,000 square miles of parks, monuments, battlefields and other landmarks.

Jonathan Jarvis, who was confirmed as park service director in 2009, left the agency in January 2017.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the first Native American Cabinet secretary, said in August, when President Joe Biden nominated Sams, that he brings diverse experience.

His organization works to conserve natural and cultural resources at North America’s largest estuary, Chesapeake Bay, where the National Park Service manages some sites.

Sams lives on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation with wife, Lori Sams, and their four children. »

Russia preparing to attack Ukraine by late January: Ukraine defense intelligence agency chief

Authored by militarytimes.com

Russia has more than 92,000 troops amassed around Ukraine’s borders and is preparing for an attack by the end of January or beginning of February, the head of Ukraine’s defense intelligence agency told Military Times.

The Ukraine military's assessment of a how a potential attack by Russia would play out shows the country ringed by Russian battalion tactical groups, or BTGs.

Budanov said U.S. and Ukraine intelligence assessments about the timing of a Russian attack are very similar. »

5 Georgia officers indicted on murder charges in festivalgoer's death

Authored by nbcnews.com

Five Georgia officers have been indicted on murder charges in the asphyxiation death of a festivalgoer near Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2019, prosecutors said Friday.

They were identified as Henry County police officers Robert Butera and Quinton Phillips, and Hampton police officers Marcus Stroud, Gregory Bowlden and Mason Lewis.

"We are especially grateful that the officers have all been charged with murder and we think the charges fit the crime.". »

US warns "other countries" about threatening Lithuania over Taiwan office

Authored by reuters.com

VILNIUS, Nov 19 (Reuters) - The United States rejects attempts by "other countries" to interfere in Lithuania's relationship with Taiwan, U.S.

Under Secretary of State Uzra Zeya told a news conference in Vilnius on Friday.

China earlier on Friday warned Lithuania it would take "all necessary measures" to safeguard national sovereignty after Lithuania allowed Taiwan to open a de facto embassy. »