United States News
See other United States News Articles
Title: White House says Mount McKinley to be renamed Denali
Source:
[None]
URL Source: http://news.yahoo.com/white-house-s ... -renamed-denali-210234767.html
Published: Aug 30, 2015
Author: JOSH LEDERMAN and MARK THIESSEN
Post Date: 2015-08-30 19:03:15 by Justified
Keywords: None
Views: 945
Comments: 15
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama will change the name of North America's tallest mountain peak from Mount McKinley to Denali, the White House said Sunday, a major symbolic gesture to Alaska Natives on the eve of the president's historic visit to Alaska. By renaming the peak Denali, an Athabascan word meaning "the high one," Obama waded into a sensitive and decades-old conflict between residents of Alaska and Ohio. Alaskans have informally called the mountain Denali for years, but the federal government recognizes its name invoking the 25th president, William McKinley, who was born in Ohio and assassinated early in his second term. "With our own sense of reverence for this place, we are officially renaming the mountain Denali in recognition of the traditions of Alaska Natives and the strong support of the people of Alaska," said Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. The announcement came as Obama prepared to open a three-day visit to Alaska aimed at infusing fresh urgency into his call to action on climate change. To the dismay of some Alaska Republicans, the White House has choreographed the trip to showcase melting glaciers and other cherished natural wonders in Alaska that Obama says are threatened by warmer temperatures. But Obama's visit is also geared toward displaying solidarity with Alaska Natives, who face immense economic challenges and have warned of insufficient help from the federal government. As his first stop after arriving in Anchorage on Monday, Obama planned to hold a listening session with Alaska Natives. The president was also expected to announce new steps to help Alaska Native communities on Wednesday when he becomes the first sitting president to visit the Alaska Arctic. It was unclear whether Ohio leaders or others would mount an effort to block the name change. There was no immediate response to inquiries seeking comment from House Speaker John Boehner and other Ohio lawmakers. At 20,320 feet, the mountain stands as the continent's tallest, and is still growing at a rate of about one millimeter per year, according to the National Park Service. Known for its majestic views, the mountain is dotted with glaciers and covered at the top with snow year-round, with powerful winds that make it difficult for the adventurous few who seek to climb it. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who had pushed legislation for years to change the name, said Alaskans were "honored" to recognize the mountain as Denali — a change in tone for the Alaska Republican, who had spoken out against Obama's energy policies in anticipation of his visit to her state. "I'd like to thank the president for working with us to achieve this significant change to show honor, respect, and gratitude to the Athabascan people of Alaska," Murkowski said in a video message recorded atop the mountain's Ruth Glacier, with cloudy snow-capped peaks behind her. Gov. Bill Walker joined Murkowski and other Alaskans in praising Obama for the change. The state of Alaska has had a standing request to change the name dating back to 1975, when the legislature passed a resolution and then-Gov. Jay Hammond made a request to the federal government. But those efforts and legislation in Congress have been stymied by members of Ohio's congressional delegation. Even when Mount McKinley National Park was renamed Denali National Park in 1980, the federal government retained the use of Mount McKinley to refer to the actual peak. The White House cited Jewell's authority to change the name, and Jewell issued a secretarial order officially changing it to Denali. The Interior Department said the U.S. Board on Geographic Names had been deferring to Congress since 1977, and cited a 1947 law that allows the Interior Department to change names unilaterally when the board fails to act "within a reasonable time." The board shares responsibility with the Interior Department for naming such landmarks. The peak got its officially recognized name in 1898, when a prospector was exploring mountains in central Alaska, the White House said. Upon hearing the news that McKinley, a Republican, had received his party's nomination to be president, the prospector named it after him and the name was formally recognized. Obama won't personally visit the mountain during his tour of Alaska. He'll spend much of the trip in Anchorage, south of the peak, where Obama will speak at a climate change summit on Monday. While in Alaska, Obama also planned to meet with fishermen in Dillingham, hike a glacier in Seward and cross the Arctic Circle to visit the rural town of Kotzebue.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 7.
#3. To: Justified (#0)
It's so good to see that the community organizer in chief is concerned about the critical things facing the world. And it's a two-fer - since McKinley was a republican. And although the Ohio Congressional delegation is PO'ed, there's absolutely NO truth to the rumor they're naming this manure pile in an Ohio field MT. OBAMA
Oh by the way... Giant manure pile dumped at local Democratic headquarters A giant pile of horse manure was dumped at Ohio's Warren County Democratic Headquarters sometime on Monday night or Tuesday morning. Democratic volunteers in southwest Ohio on Tuesday were shocked to find the entrance to their headquarters blocked by a massive pile of horse manure, according to a local report. Warren County Democratic chair Beth Goldenfield told WKRC Cincinnati that her staff was sickened by the prank, which they think occurred sometime after 10 p.m. on Monday. Goldenfield suspected a few local GOP elephants were behind the nasty dung attack. "It's really unfortunate that people can't have respectful disagreements...It's just very disappointing," she told the station. In the days before the pile appeared, dozens of Democratic party signs around Lebanon and other towns were torn down, she said. The building's landlord cleaned up the mess, and the volunteers were not charged, the station reported.
#10. To: CZ82 (#7)
Where did you buy the shit? I need to buy some. I have a nice place to dump it.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestWhite House says Mount McKinley to be renamed Denali
#7. To: Rufus T Firefly (#3)
Replies to Comment # 7.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 7.
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]