$75 million for Blue Ridge Parkway

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - A Capitol Hill hearing presses the case for buying up land near the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and Virginia.

Senators on a budget subcommittee on national parks will hear on Wednesday from Conservation Trust for North Carolina Executive Director Reid Wilson.

Wilson is among those urging Congress to authorize spending $75 million over five years to buy land and conservation rights next to the parkway to protect the views of forests, streams and farms enjoyed by nearly 20 million people a year.

North Carolina Sens. Kay Hagan and Richard Burr say the legislation will help preserve the parkway for future generations.

The 470-mile parkway is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.