AUSTIN, Texas The agency that runs the state's juvenile prison system said it will release 226 inmates after a review found their sentences were improperly extended. Firefighters appeared to be gaining control Saturday over a wildfire that has threatened homes and other structures in two northern Arizona forests. Jay Kimbrough, who is heading an investigation into allegations of physical and sexual abuse at the agency's facilities, formed a panel to review the records of nearly all inmates...

Crews say it's important to learn how to operate this system because with forest fires, access to water can be difficult. The Division of Forestry also supplied the departments with special bunker gear and some new equipment. Firefighters learned how to use a special type of pump system that takes water out of a pond or lake. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Story by Liz Kravitz Email . Bio Mercer County--Instructors from the Division of Forestry...

With the long Memorial Day weekend just days away, the threat of wildfires has eased in all but the far northwest corner of the state. Forest Service Special Agent Bill Gibson said the cause of the fire remains under investigation, but it s believed that a tree limb falling on a power line caused sparks that ignited the fire. Then the weather changed, bringing some heavy snows, particularly in southern Wisconsin, where reported fires have been unprecedentedly low this spring, Anderson...

Baucus said the Forest Service frequently exhausts its firefighting budget each year, and has to take money from other programs to deal with the red ink. Meanwhile, Baucus noted that the timber industry which employs about 7,000 people in Montana has taken many hits. Baucus noted that sugar-based ethanol powers about half of the cars in Brazil, adding that corn-based ethanol is not doing as well in the United States. Forest Service s annual nationwide firefighting budget is exhausted. The...

Blount International inc., which makes construction tools and industrial equipment, said Thursday that international sales growth is expected to partly offset weakness in the North American timber markets in fiscal 2007. The company said it expects North American market conditions to improve in the second half of the fiscal year. Fiscal year operating income is expected to range between $85 million and $90 million, as operating margins improve through operating leverage, warehouse...

Officials said the potential for a forest fire to get out of hand is high and the fire alert will remain in effect until enough rain is received to eliminate the problem. Rain received the past few days was not enough to eliminate the problem and the chance of rain through the weekend and next week is extremely small, forestry officials said. The permits are normally issued to everyone who meets the requirements of the permit law. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten,...

UN meeting in Bonn moves world closer to action on climate change 18 May 2007 Parties to United Nations-backed agreements on climate change today concluded a preparatory session on stemming the emission of greenhouse gasses and mitigating their effects ahead of a major world conference on the issue in December in Bali, Indonesia. UN meeting in Bonn moves world closer to action on climate change 18 May 2007 Parties to United Nations-backed agreements on climate change today concluded a...

So far, only 1 percent of global transport fuel comes from biofuels, yet already biofuels cause steep rises in grain and vegetable oil prices, threatening the food security of poor people and spurring agricultural expansion into forests and grasslands, on which we depend for a stable climate. So far, only 1 percent of global transport fuel comes from biofuels, yet already biofuels cause steep rises in grain and vegetable oil prices, threatening the food security of poor people and spurring...

In 2004, police were given the power to issue 80 fixed-penalty fines instead of an arrest for first-time offences and thefts of goods worth less than 200. In the consultation document, 'Forests for Life', one proposal is for richer countries to face new obligations to buy sustainable timber and biofuels. Sunday May 20, 2007 The Observer Sales packs could spark gazumping New sales packs for homes will increase the risk of gazumping - the problem they were aimed at solving, says the...