Obamas to visit parks in trip to West

WASHINGTON — The White House is announcing that the first family will travel to national parks in the West next week. President Barack Obama and his family will visit Bozeman, Mont., Yellowstone National Park, Grand Junction, Colo., the Grand Canyon and Phoenix. Spokesman Robert Gibbs says the trip is meant to encourage people to visit the national park system, and it will occur during a “fee-free” weekend for national parks. And, he said Obama also will promote his policies during the trip. The president also is expected to hold town hall style meetings at some of the places as he pushes Congress to pass an overhaul of the health care system. While on his Western swing, Obama is to address the convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, being held in Phoenix. It’s a summertime tradition for presidents.