BEN - April 21, 2011 #354

Special in this Edition: Ruffner Earth Day Running Festival, Conservation Alabama's Legislative Hot List (April 18th), Forever Wild Passes State House of Representatives, Gulf Oil Spill Anniversary, Conecuh County Commission Approves 5100 acre Solid Waste Landfill

Birmingham News Earth Day Commentary by BEN Publisher Pat Byington

http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-commentary/2011/04/viewpoints_for_earth_day_2011.html

Keeping Alabama Forever Wild Series on al.com

Check out the entire "Keeping Alabama Forever Wild" series

http://blog.al.com/keeping-alabama-forever-wild/index.html

Ruffner Earth Day Running Festival - This Saturday - April 23rd

http://shop.ruffnermountain.org/products/Earth-Day-%252d-Festival-of-Trail-Running-%252d-Runner-Registration.html

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Op-eds, Links and Videos

Conservation Alabama's Legislative Hot List (April 18th)

http://www.conservationalabama.org/vertical/Sites/{8E4DA6E2-1A16-43DE-9136-81711C3678F5}/uploads/{210FFAA3-A23F-4432-A4D8-477C8F835C89}.PDF

NBC FactFinder - Northern Beltline Issue (video)

http://www2.alabamas13.com/news/2011/apr/20/birminghams-proposed-northern-beltine-generates-st-ar-1742759/

Praise for Forever Wiild House Passage (Birmingham News)

http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-commentary/2011/04/our_view_house_members_deserve.html

Gulf Oil Spill Interactive Timeline

http://blog.al.com/live/2011/04/the_gulf_oil_spill_an_interact.html

Gulf Oil Spill Editorial & Cartoon (Mobile Register)

http://blog.al.com/jdcrowe/2011/04/bp_oil_spill_anniversary.html

Gulf Oil Spill Editorial (Birmingham News)

http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-commentary/2011/04/our_view_the_impact_of_the_dee.html

News Across Alabama

Forever Wild Passes State House of Representatives

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2011/04/alabama_house_oks_forever_wild.html

Gulf Oil Spill Anniversary

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20110421/D9MNQEEO1.html

Oil Spill One year Later - Orange Beach

http://blog.al.com/live/2011/04/1_year_later_few_signs_of_oil.html

Conecuh County Commission Approves 5100 acre Solid Waste Landfill

http://www.brewtonstandard.com/2011/04/18/conecuh-county-commission-votes-yes/

TVA to Pay State of Alabama $11 Million in Air Pollution Settlement

http://www.annistonstar.com/view/full_story/12793108/article-Alabama-to-receive--11M-in-TVA-settlement?

Governor Declares State Picnic in a Park Day - April 23rd

http://www.outdooralabama.com/news/release.cfm?ID=904

Spring Events/Workshops/Job Announcements & Grants

http://bamanews2.blogspot.com/2011/04/ben-protect-forever-wild-spring.html

Lowe's to Give out Free Trees April 23rd

http://blog.al.com/bargain-mom/2011/04/earth_day_2011_get_a_free_tree.html

Auntie Litter Parade Rescheduled -April 26th

http://www.auntielitter.org/

6th Annual Wehle Outdoor Spring Festival - May 7th

http://www.outdooralabama.com/news/release.cfm?ID=905