Paul Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinal
He dresses in the gray uniform of his colleagues, wears the same sidearm, has completed the same training and is sworn to the same oath.
But Ka Yeng Vue is different in one regard.
In fact, no one in the 136-year history of Wisconsin conservation law enforcement can claim the same distinction.
Vue is the first Hmong-American to be hired as a conservation warden by the Department of Natural Resources.
Read the entire story here
SOCIAL CIRCLE, GA – Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Rangers in East Central Georgia now have a new leader. Sergeant Chris Hodge, a 14-year veteran of the Division, has been promoted to the rank of Captain and will be the new supervisor of Region IV, which covers 29 counties from Putnam, Wilkinson and Pulaski counties, west to the Alabama state line. He steps into the vacancy created when Captain Bob Lynn transferred to the coast to supervise Region VII. Captain Hodge's new assignment was effective on November 1st.
“I am convinced that Captain Hodge will excel as our Region IV supervisor,” said DNR Law Enforcement Director Colonel Eddie Henderson. “It’s a challenging and diverse Region that includes the cities of Macon and Columbus, as well as four metro Atlanta counties (Henry, Clayton, Fayette, and Coweta), but with his experience and solid work ethic, Chris is up to the task.”
Hodge has served DNR LE in the Coastal Georgia Region his entire career. Beginning as a Ranger in October of 2001, he worked his way up through the ranks of Ranger First Class and Corporal before moving up to Sergeant in 2010, where he has been until this week’s promotion to Captain.
Capt. Hodge has garnered the support and respect of his southeast Georgia community and his colleagues through leading by example, and his hard work has not gone unnoticed. He was selected as the Region Ranger of the Year in 2004 and as the Division’s State Boating Officer of the Year in 2009. He received the GA DNR Commissioner’s Life Saving Award this year and the Governor’s Award for Heroism in 2013 and 2015.
Hodge serves on the FFA Advisory Board at Camden County High School, is a volunteer for the C. Mo’s Kids organization and was recently elected to serve as an Executive Board Member for the Peace Officers Association of Georgia.
Captain Hodge currently resides in Camden County.
National Geographic's new Wildlife Watch blog is dedicated to shining a light on the illegal wildlife trafficking.
According to National Geographic investigative journalist Bryan Christy, "Much of the world’s media has moved away from investigative journalism and wildlife reporting, but National Geographic is moving more systematically toward them, believing that effective wildlife protection begins with objective storytelling".
See the story, learn more about illegal wildlife trafficking, and the New Wildlife Watch blog here
State of Washington voters looked far beyond the state’s borders Tuesday, embracing a measure to help stem the slaughter of African elephants, lions, sharks and other imperiled species around the world.
Read the story here
The House passed the Global Anti-Poaching Act (H.R. 2494), legislation authored by U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which helps the United States and partner countries combat today’s unprecedented level of poaching and wildlife trafficking.
Read a summary of the Global Anti-Poaching Act (HR2494) here