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Fact & Fiction and the Bookstore at the University of Montana offer a review of Michael Punke's Last Stand:
George Bird Grinnell, the Battle to Save the Buffalo, and the Birth of the New West.
Continental Divide Trail: Continental Divide Trail Alliance uses volunteer labor to carve out passage through five Western states one section at a time.
Rey says he'll come to Montana to discuss Plum Creek, USFS talks
U.S. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Mark Rey said discussions between the U.S. Forest Service and Plum Creek about road easements were merely discussions to clarify decades-old forest road easements, but after Montana officials expressed concern that they weren't included, Rey said he'd be coming to Montana to meet with state land managers and other county officials to detail the results of those discussions.
Missoulian; 04/17/2008
Outfitters have clients lining up to hunt wolves in Montana
Montana may have a wolf hunt this fall, and some outfitters said they already have a long list of clients who want an opportunity to shoot the large predator, but the debate continues on what effect a hunt will have on the wolf population.
NewWest.net; 04/16/2008
- Idaho wildlife officials are investigating wolf shooting near Stanley
The alpha male of the Morgan Creek Wolf Pack was found shot to death halfway between Stanley and Challis, and Idaho Fish and Game officials said they are treating the shooting as an illegal shooting of a big game animal as the shooter did not report the April 4 kill within the 72 hours mandated by Idaho law.
Idaho Mountain Express (Sun Valley); 04/18/2008
Rural subdivisions, CBM gas operations collide in Colorado counties
Coalbed methane gas drilling operations have increased dramatically over the past five years or so, as has development of rural subdivisions, increasing the conflicts between energy companies and homeowners, some of whom have had their water wells affected by the energy development.
Salt Lake Tribune (AP); 04/14/2008
Exclusive development, rural subdivision clash in Montana
A jury found that the Wilderness Club, an exclusive, gated golf community being built by a Canadian company in northwest Montana, not only ignored the covenants of the neighboring Koocanusa Estates, a rural subdivision, but built the roads and industrial buildings adjacent to the subdivision "with malice," resulting in a $1.3 million jury verdict.
Missoulian; 04/14/2008
Landowner, hunter groups square off on access in Montana
The newly formed United Property Owners of Montana and Montana Public Wildlife are battling about public access to wildlife and over new hunting regulations put in place by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
Great Falls Tribune; 04/14/2008
As home prices dive in Las Vegas, homebuyers get real deals
The credit crisis that cut the legs from under the nation's housing market has created pockets of opportunity in some areas of the nation where jobs are still plentiful, such as Las Vegas, where one real estate agent created a "foreclosure bus" to ferry prospective buyers in comfort around the city to view foreclosed homes.
USA Today; 04/17/2008
Idaho utility board mulls next step in private water company decision
An Idaho district court decision that a private water company operated by a developer should fall under the oversight of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission could have considerable impact in the state, where approximately 4,500 such private water companies exist.
Idaho Statesman; 04/18/2008
Congress continues work on tribal water claims, including 3 in Montana
Congress will consider several pieces of legislation dealing with settlement of American Indian water rights claims, including three from Montana, and state and tribal officials are urging Congress to create a dedicated fund to use to settle the claims.
Billings Gazette; 04/17/2008
U. of Utah returns federal grants for American Indian programs
University of Utah officials said it would cost the university too much to support the $1.1 million grant received in July to train American Indian math and science teachers and the nearly $1 million grant to train teachers in the Four Corners area, so they returned the federal grants, but the director of the university's American Indian Teacher Training Program said the decision suggested a lack of commitment to the program.
Salt Lake Tribune; 04/16/2008
Montana university breaks ground on Native American Center
On Saturday, representatives from all tribes in Montana will be on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Native American Center at the University of Montana in Missoula.
Missoulian; 04/18/2008
Wilderness Society report analyzes forests' carbon-holding power
As a precursor to a future cap-and-trade marketplace for carbon emissions, the Wilderness Society released a report analyzing the carbon-storing capacity of the nation's forests.
Salt Lake Tribune; 04/14/2008
Environmental groups say 430 grizzly bears killed in B.C. in 2007
The number of grizzly bears killed in British Columbia fluctuates from year to year, but the record 430 killed in 2007 has reignited the debate about hunting the big bruins in the Canadian province.
Toronto Globe & Mail; 04/15/2008
Work begins on CO2 capture, sequestration project in Alberta
ARC Resources Ltd. and the Alberta Research Council are working on a project to pump carbon-dioxide emissions from industries located near the Redwater geological reef northeast of Edmonton into the Redwater reef, pushing production of older oil wells on the reef, and then capturing the CO2 underground.
Edmonton Journal; 04/15/2008
Colorado river makes its first appearance on 'most endangered' list
American Rivers' 2008 list of the nation's most endangered rivers contained northern Colorado's Cache la Poudre River, the first time the river has made the list.
Denver Post; 04/17/2008
- N.M. governor vows to protect Gila River
The Gila River is New Mexico's only major river without any major water-development project, and on Thursday, Gov. Bill Richardson vowed to keep it that way and said he would consider proposing statutory protections for the river to block water diversion projects currently under consideration.
Santa Fe New Mexican (AP); 04/18/2008
Schweitzer: Montana land deal a start on bison solution
Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer and Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Suzanne Lewis announced the state's 30-year purchase of grazing rights on the Royal Teton Ranch just north of the park on Thursday, and while the costly deal won't impact many bison, federal and state officials said it's a start.
Bozeman Daily Chronicle; 04/18/2008
Colorado wildfire kills 2 firefighters, consumes 24 homes
Firefighters were able to contain the Ordway wildfire in Colorado Wednesday evening, but not before two firefighters died and the fire had burned 8,900 acres, or about 14 square miles, destroyed 24 homes, including eight within the city limits of Ordway.
Denver Post; 04/17/2008
Rancher's slaughter of N.M. antelope ignites debate over state law
The 1997 Jennings Law allows farmers and ranchers in New Mexico to kill wildlife that present an "immediate threat" to their crops, and a New Mexico wheat farmer said his killing of 39 antelope in March was allowed under that law, but state Game and Fish officials said they'll ask for public comment on the law after video of the rancher shotgunning the animals caused an outcry. You may have to view an ad to read this article.
Albuquerque Journal; 04/18/2008
Denver Water's forward-thinking approach on watershed a good one
Denver Water officials are working with state legislators on a measure that would allow the utility to impose a fee to help restore forest health on the watersheds before catastrophic wildfires occur and send a cascade of ash and sediment down into the state's reservoirs, an idea that deserves consideration by lawmakers.
Denver Post; 04/14/2008
A vote against coal-fired power is a vote against human prosperity
Half of the nation's electricity comes from coal-fired power, and if the environmental groups have their way, no new coal-fired power plants will be built in the nation, and then what will Nevada do for electricity?
Las Vegas Review-Journal; 04/15/2008
Colorado senator should push for protection of Dominguez Escalante
It's been seven years since a proposal to provide additional protection to the Dominguez-Escalante area in western Colorado was first suggested, and now that the three counties are on board and water concerns have been addressed, Sen. Ken Salazar should introduce legislation to create the Dominguez Escalante National Conservation Area, and the remainder of the state's congressional delegation should back him up.
Grand Junction Sentinel; 04/16/2008
Federal Conservation Reserve Program doesn't work
As the prices of corn and wheat climb, farmers who had put their land into the federal Conservation Reserve Program are pulling the acres out and putting them back into production, an occurrence that has raised concerns among some groups, but the program never really worked other than to serve as the backbone of the government's welfare program for farmers. A column by George Wuerthner.
NewWest.net; 04/16/2008
Federal restrictions on lobbying should extend to lawmakers' staffers
While Montana Sen. Max Baucus' voting record supports his statement that his former staffers who have become lobbyists haven't influenced his vote on some far-reaching legislation, the report that some of those former staffers are earning millions of dollars a year now as lobbyists does help undermine public confidence in their elected officials, and Congress should make former staffers wait a while before becoming lobbyists.
Missoulian; 04/17/2008
Presidential hopefuls still on the fence on salmon
Republican presidential contender has expressed his support for maintaining the four dams on the lower Snake River in Washington in the past, but neither Democratic presidential contender has waded into the issue, despite the deep divide in the Pacific Northwest over the issue of endangered salmon, dams and water.
Idaho Statesman; 04/15/2008
Wyoming senator sponsors bill to pay ranchers for cows killed by wolves
U.S. Sen. John Barrasso's Gray Wolf Livestock Mitigation Act would create a federal grant program to match state programs in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming to compensate farmers and ranchers for livestock killed by wolves and grizzly bears, and to help cover the costs of fencing, guard dogs and other protections to ward off the predators.
Casper Star-Tribune; 04/18/2008
Colorado senator, congressmen push for Roan Plateau protections
Legislation proposed by Colorado U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar and U.S. Reps. Mark Udall and John Salazar would require that energy development on the state's Roan Plateau be done in phases and would expand lands designated as critical habitat.
Denver Rocky Mountain News; 04/18/2008
Hunters, anglers team up to lobby for responsible energy development
A coalition of hunting, fishing and wildlife groups have formed the Sportsmen United for Responsible Energy Development, which released its 10-point Sportsmen's Bill of Rights, which demands continued access to public lands, giving hunters and anglers a say in energy development on public lands, and management of those lands to benefit multiple use.
Billings Gazette; 04/17/2008
Montana, Wyoming senators press BuRec on water systems
At an Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on Thursday, Robert Johnson, commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, said that it would take about $3.2 billion to rehabilitate his agency's assets across the West, with the St. Mary Diversion & Conveyance Works in north-central Montana a good example where a lack of funding has stalled efforts to fix a system in dire need of repair.
Casper Star-Tribune; 04/18/2008
Arizona's practice of deporting inmates touted as example by ICE officials
Arizona's practice of releasing non-violent, illegal immigrants incarcerated in state prisons and handing them over to federal immigration officials for deportation is one that other states should adopt, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.
Arizona Republic; 04/15/2008
Arizona bill would ban anti-Western lessons, race-based student groups
Arizona Rep. Russell Pearce has submitted legislation that would ban teachings that run counter to democracy or Western civilization in any publicly funding schools in the state, and would ban student groups formed in whole or in part on ethnic backgrounds, such as the Black Business Students Association at Arizona State University or Native Americans United at Northern Arizona University, from operating on campus.
Arizona Republic; 04/17/2008
Governor, lawmakers craft fix for Arizona's $1.2 billion budget shortfall
A bipartisan group of lawmakers and Gov. Janet Napolitano crafted a deal to deal with Arizona's projected $1.2 billion budget shortfall for fiscal year 2008, and began immediately to work on a budget fix for fiscal year 2009.
Arizona Republic; 04/18/2008
Colorado lawmakers want task force on wildland-urban wildfire risk
The number of homes in Colorado built where wildlands and urban areas meet is expected to increase from the 300,000 such homes in 2000 to more than 700,000 in 2030, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers want a group to study ways to deal with the risk of wildfire in those neighborhoods.
Denver Post; 04/17/2008
Colorado panel advances in-situ uranium mining bill
The Colorado Senate Local Affairs committee voted unanimously to send a bill that would require in situ uranium mining operations to prove that they can return groundwater to pre-mining conditions or in line with existing state standards.
Fort Collins Coloradoan; 04/18/2008
Delta, Northwest agree to merge
The pilots at Northwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines are still not on board their companies' decision to join forces, but concerns about rising fuel prices and the hopes that a merger would result in huge savings for the airlines, prompted management to override pilots' concerns and agree to a $3.1 billion merger.
New York Times; 04/15/2008
Groups want to add power to Montana dam's purpose
When the Gibson Dam was built across Montana's Sun River in the 1920's, it was designed to accommodate a hydroelectric power plant, and now a Washington-state utility and a Montana irrigation district have begun the process to get federal approval to put a hydroelectric plant on the dam.
Great Falls Tribune; 04/12/2008
Utility to add gas turbine to meet needs of growing Colorado cities
Fort Collins' electricity demands tripled in 2007, and the demands for power in that Colorado city, along with Longmont, Loveland and Estes Park, the three other cities served by Platte River Power Authority is expected to increase by 25 to 39 percent over the next decade, forcing the PRPA to add a fifth natural-gas turbine to its Rawhide plant to meet the demand for power.
Fort Collins Coloradoan; 04/14/2008
Canada waves new set of enticements to lure ethanol plant from Idaho
Canada-based Iogen Corp. has been considering building a cellulosic ethanol plant in eastern Idaho near Shelley for the past couple of years, but last month the Canadian government approved a $500 million package of incentives for such plants in that nation, Idaho now has competition for the next-generation biofuels plant.
Twin Falls Times-News (Idaho Falls Post-Register); 04/15/2008
Colorado maps best places for solar, wind energy plants
Colorado's San Luis alley and the plains southeast of Pueblo are the best two places in the state for solar energy plants, according to a new map released by the Governor's Energy Office, and there are eight regions with good wind-power potential in the state, all of which are east of the Continental Divide. You can view a pdf of the map by going here, and clicking on: "Connecting Colorado’s Renewable Resources to the Markets."
Durango Herald; 04/17/2008
Oil, gas producers in Canada find new, lucrative market for sulfur
The price of sulfur, a waste byproduct of oil and natural gas processing, has increased 13-fold in 13 months, from less than $50 a ton in March 2007, to more than $650 a ton now.
Vancouver Sun; 04/18/2008
Companies race to find new ways to capture, store sun's power
The difficulty of solar power is how to capture the energy for use on demand at night or on cloudy days, and now companies are working on solar thermal methods that capture the sun's heat, use it to boil water and convert it into steam which is then used to power a turbine and create electricity, just like solar power is now used, but solar thermal plants can store the heat to be used on demand.
New York Times; 04/15/2008
Canada takes the lead, labels polycarbonate building block 'dangerous'
Bisphenol A, or BPA, one of the most widely used synthetic chemical in the world, is basically a building block for polycarbonate, the shatter-proof, translucent plastic used for water bottles, the resin lining on most tin cans, sports helmets and compact discs, and on Monday, Health Canada officially labeled the chemical as dangerous, because it leaches into the water and food from containers, and mimics the female hormone estrogen.
Toronto Globe & Mail; 04/15/2008
Critics call president's greenhouse gas emissions plan 'irrelevant'
President Bush said Wednesday that the nation was on track to meet the 2002 goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 18 percent relative to economic growth by 2012, and announced a new goal of stopping an increase of greenhouse gas emissions by 2025, and challenged other countries, including China and India, to meet that goal as well, and said the goal would be met by advancing technology rather than heavy-handed legislation, a dig at the Democratic-controlled Senate which is considering legislation that caps emissions.
New York Times; 04/17/2008
Enviro groups, mining co. reach accord on Washington state gold mine
The original plan to pull the estimated one million ounces of gold out of Buckhorn Mountain in Washington state involved the creation of a huge open-pit mine, which was successfully protested by groups and residents, and now that Kinross Gold Corp. has agreed to spend an additional $4 million to monitor water, underground mining is expected to begin later this year.
Spokesman-Review (Spokane); 04/18/2008
Influx of wealthy newcomers changes Montana's landscape
Over the past 16 years, wealthy newcomers have flocked to Montana's Gallatin County, bringing a host of changes, both positive and negative to the county. First in a series.
Bozeman Daily Chronicle; 04/13/2008
Subdivisions crowd out agriculture in Montana's Gallatin County
Between 1997 and 2002, nearly 80,000 acres of farmland in Montana's Gallatin County were taken out of production to clear the way for housing developments, and one Montana rancher who sold his property in that county said he was glad to have the water disputes and congested roads in the county where he ranched for more than five decades in his rearview mirror. Another in a series about change in the Gallatin County
Bozeman Daily Chronicle; 04/17/2008
Amenity economy is hard at work in Montana
The economy in western Montana has evolved from agriculture and extractive industries, to a service economy, that not only includes the much-maligned fast food restaurant and motel jobs, but also the expertise of engineers, architects, accountants and fishing guides. Another in a series.
Bozeman Daily Chronicle; 04/18/2008
Montana landowner rounds up the rich in conservation subdivision
Roger Lang's plan for his model conservation subdivision on the Sun Ranch in Montana's Madison Valley is to allow 10 carefully selected homesites on the property, using conservation easements to prohibit any further development on the land and providing recreational access to the lands for homeowners, and if the Sun Ranch Settlement succeeds, he hopes to replicate the concept on more ranches in the future. Another in a series.
Bozeman Daily Chronicle; 04/18/2008
Many in Montana's Gallatin County struggle to keep afloat
Wealthy, part-time residents are both a boon and a hindrance in Gallatin County, providing nonprofits access to new sources of funding and expertise, but those residents also drive up the cost of housing and other expenses in Montana's Gallatin County, where the overall cost of living is 4 percent above the national average, and average wages are 30 percent below that standard. Another in a series.
Bozeman Daily Chronicle; 04/15/2008
How Blixseth made his way to the Yellowstone Club
In 1992, Tim Blixseth and his partners picked up the pieces of a failed effort of The Nature Conservancy and CNN founder Ted Turner to buy 16,000 acres of Plum Creek Timber Co. in Montana, most contained within the Gallatin National Forest, and bought the land for $27.5 million, setting in motion a series of land sales and swaps that culminated in what would become the Yellowstone Club.
Bozeman Daily Chronicle; 04/15/2008
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