[naviga:h3]Slain soldier’s family booed[/naviga:h3]

STOCKTON, Calif. — The father of a California soldier recently killed in Afghanistan says he felt disrespected and hurt by passengers who booed him and his family when they were on a flight to meet his son’s remains.

Stewart Perry, his wife and daughter were on an American Airlines flight last week from Sacramento to Philadelphia with a transfer in Phoenix to receive the remains of his son, Sgt. John Perry, of Stockton, Calif., when the flight was delayed.

Perry, an ex-Marine who lives in Stockton, said the flight to Phoenix was 45 minutes late and the crew, fearing the Gold Star family could miss their connecting flight, made an announcement for passengers to remain seated to let a “special military family” deplane first.

Perry said several passengers in first class booed, complaining that it was “baloney” and that they paid first-class fares. He said he doesn’t know if the passengers from Sacramento knew there was a Gold Star family on board or whether people sitting in the coach section complained.

“It was just disgusting behavior from people in first class; it was terrible to see,” Perry said. 

Perry, 30, and another American soldier died of injuries inflicted by an improvised explosive device Nov. 12 inside Bagram Airfield.

[naviga:h3]Canyon monument compromise sought[/naviga:h3]

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Six hunting and fishing groups are pushing for a compromise in the event the Obama administration designates a national monument around Grand Canyon National Park, a heated issue in the Southwest.

They want a stretch of Forest Service land north of the Grand Canyon removed from a potential monument designation, allowing them to continue to hunt and fish on the land.

Their proposal drew mixed reactions from monument supporters and opponents. U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Tucson, introduced the monument legislation in October 2015.

The designation would ban new uranium mines in the area, allow current grazing and protect old growth trees, wildlife corridors and sacred tribal sites.

Arizona Wildlife Federation president Brad Powell said there could be movement on the legislation before Inauguration Day.