Daily Brew: Parks and Rec - comparing costs in state parks

How much does it cost to go to a state park? + Pro-Trump group targets Jon Tester over Ronny Jackson allegations   How much does it cost to go to a state park? The 10,336 state parks in the U.S. make up an area larger than Connecticut, Delaware, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Rhode Island combined. Park entrance fees vary from state to state and, sometimes, between different parks within a state. Excluding the ten states where parks are free, the average fee to enter a state park is $5.48. The states with the highest fee ($10) are California and Washington. The average cost to purchase an annual pass is $59.76. Kansas has the highest annual pass fee ($202.50), while Idaho has the lowest ($10). This information is part of a new Ballotpedia series detailing the costs of various government services and consumer products in each of the states. We've already covered birth certificate and driver's license costs by state, and new reports will be published on a monthly basis. Learn more         Pro-Trump group targets Jon Tester over Ronny Jackson allegations The pro-Trump super PAC America First Action released a television ad criticizing U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) for making public professional misconduct allegations against Ronny Jackson, President Trump’s now-withdrawn nominee for Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Tester is one of 10 Senate Democrats defending a seat in a state that Trump won in 2016. The ad claims that Tester spread false information about Jackson and that he betrayed Trump and the country’s veterans. The allegations were first released by the Democratic staff of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, where Tester serves as ranking member. Tester will face the winner of a four-way Republican primary between State Auditor Matt Rosendale, former Judge Russ Fagg, businessman Troy Downing, and state Sen. Al Olszewski in the general election. Learn more→ Monthly update: Trump administration review of regulatory actions In April, the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) reviewed 32 significant regulatory actions issued by federal agencies. OIRA approved one of these rules with no changes and approved the intent of 29 rules while recommending changes to their content. Two rules were withdrawn from the review process by the issuing agencies. As part of its review process, OIRA examines the rulemaking agency's analysis of the costs and benefits of its rule. It also attempts to ensure that executive agency policies reflect the priorities of the president. As of May 1, 2018, OIRA’s website listed 58 regulatory actions under review. The office has reviewed a total of 92 significant rules this year. Learn more→ Follow on Twitter   Friend on Facebook