Daily Roundup: July 16, 2009

Timber! The sale of timber from Alaska's Tongass National Forest was approved by the Obama administration, marking the first logging contract awarded since Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced in May that he would review all sales in roadless national forests. Huffington Post

The Trees Stand: The Department of Interior reversed a Bush-era policy that doubled the amount of logging in western Oregon's old-growth forests. The reinstated logging limits are aimed to protect wildlife such as the endangered spotted owl. New York Times and Associated Press

Friends of Jaws: A group of shark attack victims are lobbying in Washington to support the Shark Conservation Act of 2009, a bill that supporters hope will decrease the incidence of shark "finning." L.A. Unleashed

Going Places: Zac Sunderland, a 17-year-old California native, became the youngest person to sail around the world alone. CNN

Cha-ching: Sarah Palin's op-ed criticizing the Obama administration's energy plan was reportedly the catalyst for a $100,000 day of fundraising at MoveOn.org. MoveOn sent an email blast asking for funds to challenge Palin's "false claims."  Politico, Washington Post, and The Plum Line

--Della Watson