Crater Lake National Park

Kevin Heatley said he could no longer be party to the dismantling of the federal government, and he expressed concern for the mental health of workers who are working long hours to keep the park operating.

Heatley joins us to tell us more about his time at the helm of Oregon’s only national park and his hopes for federal government employees in the Trump administration.

Since he started at Crater Lake in January, Kevin Heatley has seen Crater Lake’s permanent workforce cut in half, and onboarding seasonal staff was delayed by a month. "Things are not OK," he said.

As the summer winds to a close, and snow appears on the horizon, the hospitality company ExplorUS is wrapping up its first full season at Crater Lake National Park. The company took over after the National Park Service kicked out the last vendor.

The entrance has been closed due to the Middle Fork Fire which has burned over 5,000 acres in the northwest corner of the park.

According to the National Park Service, the closure will give firefighters access to prepare wildfire control lines along North Entrance Road.

Marking the 205th birthday of prolific frontier photographer Peter Britt.

The federal agency’s decision comes after ongoing problems with basic health and safety standards.

The Crater Lake newt only exists in the rich, blue waters of the Oregon national park. Its population has been declining in recent years, mostly due to growing numbers of signal crayfish.

With an explosive history that dates back roughly 7,700 years, Crater Lake is a natural wonder.