 |
Thursday, Oct. 24 9 a.m. edition |
|
|
 |
 |
|
"Water will be to the 21st-century what oil was to the 20th."
Fortune Magazine, quoted in a Christian Science Monitor story about the rising proportion of municipal water supplies controlled by corporations.
|
 |
|
In the Rockies today, we're struck by some stark comparisons of the West's old and new economies. Colorado's Front Range, which prospered greatly and fell dramatically with dot-coms and telecoms, may surge again on the next wave of new technology, the melding of biology and computers. Meanwhile, Utah's Geneva Steel probably won't call back 1,200 workers, after a last-ditch attempt to finance a renovation and a new power plant collapsed amid skepticism it would ever profit. And even as Canadian officials in Ottawa announce brave, new plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the likelihood of cutting a deal to spare Alberta's oil and gas industry is rising with each closed-door meeting. We also note with interest a series of seminars next week, sponsored by the Corporation for the Northern Rockies, on how to make ranching profitable -- what seems almost an oxymoron amid frequent headlines of ranchers beset by low prices, increasing regulation and drought. The seminars, featuring nationally known trainer Dave Pratt, will be next week in Dillon, Livingston and Billings, Mont. For more information, call 406-222-0730. |
Boise tech execs get more stock during company's hard timesColorado senator accused of catering to accounting firms Party chairs wade into fray in Idaho Senate race Northern Rockies tribes offer plan for Indian accounts Rancher wants Wyoming county officials to OK his eradication of wolves |
|
Miss
a day?      |
 |
 Headwaters News is a partner in FocusWest, a project of Idaho Public TV, Wyoming Public TV and KNPB in Reno |
 |
  Headwaters News is a project of the Center for the Rocky Mountain West at the University of Montana. |
Rockies Today
Ottawa may cut a deal with Alberta on greenhouse gas emissions Canada's federal government still hasn't released forecasts of what its version of the Kyoto accords will cost each province, but rumors are rising about a deal with Alberta. An analysis. Edmonton Journal; Oct. 24
A second wave of biotech development is imminent and at least one expert says Colorado's Front Range is poised to be a major player. Denver Post; Oct. 24 Utah steel mill's financing plan falls through The chance of reopening Geneva Steel's mill in Utah and calling back 1,200 workers may have vanished with a $250 million rejection from Deutsche Bank. Salt Lake Tribune; Oct. 24 Montana dam-buying initiative comes down to credibility The question voters will decide when they approve or reject a Montana initiative to study the feasibility of buying back hydroelectric dams is "whom do you trust." A good summary of the issues. Great Falls Tribune; Oct. 24 Arizona governor's budget cuts to fall on students, needy Arizona Gov. Jane Hull would cut $409 million from the state budget next year, mostly from university spending and programs for children and low-income families. Arizona Republic; Oct. 24
Opinion
Utah wisely leases, sells state lands to benefit schools Utah officials have deftly managed school trust lands, mainly by trading and selling them for development, and they generated $7.4 million in interest last year. Deseret News; Oct. 24 Montana candidate's campaign interlude was a strategic move Montana Senate candidate Mike Taylor's departure and re-entry into the race did what his failing campaign couldn't: generate national publicity. Great Falls Tribune; Oct. 24 Idaho sales tax may be only solution to budget deficit Despite gubernatorial candidates' statements, or lack thereof, Idaho lawmakers may have little choice but to enact a sales tax next year to fill its budget gap. Idaho Falls Post Register; Oct. 24 Beyond the region
More communities put their water supplies in corporate hands Experts predict that by 2015, 65 percent of municipal water supplies in the U.S. will be privately owned, raising the specter of a crucial commodity controlled by market forces. Christian Science Monitor; Oct. 24 Losses to forest fires fueled by population growth, panel says Western wildfires are going to be more disastrous, said a panel of experts from California and Nevada, as population growth puts more homes in the path of fires and state budget deficits limit firefighting resources. Boulder Daily Camera (AP); Oct. 24 In depth
Phoenix companies avoid layoffs by sharing employees Phoenix-area businesses have developed an alternative to laying off valuable employees during tough economic times -- they share them with other companies. Phoenix Business Journal; Oct. 24
|
|
|