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Friday, April 18 9 a.m. edition |
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"I have said I do not want to raise taxes on cigarettes; I am not going to raise taxes on cigarettes. But this session is not all about me."
Montana Gov. Judy Martz, indicating she may consider a tax increase rather than cut services for the elderly and disabled.
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In the Rockies today, another Canadian province looks to China to boost its home industries. Officials announced the B.C. government will be 50-50 partners with the forest industry in a $12 million project to build a subdivision of wood-framed "dream homes" on the outskirts of Shanghai. Brick and cement are the materials of choice in 99 percent of Chinese buildings, and a lack of wood supposedly is hampering the Chinese trend toward single-family homes. The project will show Chinese officials and consumers the benefits of a variety of wood building materials, including cabinets, window sashes and molding. Yesterday, a coalition of Alberta companies announced it was joining a $10 million joint venture to drill coalbed methane deposits in northern China, both to tap that nation's resources and to gain new knowledge that would help develop Alberta's methane industry. |
Wyoming county's plan to control growth isn't legal, AG says Arizona universities to get new buildings, less funding Power plants pressure Navajo farmers to yield water Idaho House passes controversial bill to resolve schools' suit Northern Colorado irrigators get break from Senate |
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 Headwaters News is a partner in FocusWest, a project of Idaho Public TV, Wyoming Public TV and KNPB in Reno |
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  Headwaters News is a project of the Center for the Rocky Mountain West at the University of Montana. |
Rockies today
B.C. government to build Chinese community of wood-framed houses B.C. officials said they will back a $12 million plan to build a "dream home" community near Shanghai, China, to boost demand for wood-framed houses and B.C. wood products. Vancouver Sun; April 18 Renaming Phoenix peak sparks complaints of heavy-handed politics Despite accusations of political pressure from the governor, an Arizona board approved changing the name of Phoenix's "Squaw Peak" to instead honor Pfc. Lori Piestewa. Arizona Republic; April 18 Montana lawmakers could be setting trap for next Legislature Montana lawmakers may balance the state budget with nearly $150 million in one-time sources of revenue, a strategy that could leave the 2005 Legislature in a deep hole. Billings Gazette; April 18 Idaho House yields on sales tax increase The Idaho House caved in and passed a one-cent increase in the state sales tax already approved by the Senate, sending the measure to the governor. Idaho Statesman; April 18 Salt Lake City's Olympics mementos don't live up to expectations Salt Lake City will get five Olympic markers, far less than local officials had hoped would remain from the games to help animate its downtown. Salt Lake Tribune; April 18 Colorado governor gets ready for fire season with emergency declaration Colorado Gov. Bill Owens declared a disaster emergency Thursday that allowed him to allocate $1.6 million to pay operating expenses for three single-engine air tankers and 10 new wildland fire trucks. Denver Post; April 18 Opinion
Idaho school, university and Medicaid funding now up to governor Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne can't accept a mere one-cent rise in the state sales tax if he intends to keep his promises not to cut education or rely on one-time budget fixes. Idaho Statesman; April 18 Misguided Colorado House cripples U-system's coordinating board The Colorado House stripped most of the funding from the state's Commission on Higher Education, but fortunately a conference committee has a chance to put it back. Denver Post; April 18 Montana dam's removal will ease toxic legacy Removing the Milltown Dam near Missoula is another significant step in cleaning up the mining wastes of Butte and Anaconda, the remnants of the nation's largest Superfund site. Great Falls Tribune; April 18 Beyond the region
Historic South Dakota gold mine may become deep lab A Canadian gold company will reconsider its plans to let the Homestake Mine near Deadwood, S.D., flood, making possible a proposal to turn the historic mine into a unique physics lab. Billings Gazette (AP); April 18 Permissible lead levels stunt children's IQs, new report says Levels of lead now considered safe actually cause severe effects on children's intellectual development, and may lower IQs more than 7 points, according to a new study. Los Angeles Times; April 17 In depth
Thousands of species disappear with their habitat In recent decades, species are disappearing from the planet at rates estimated to be as much as 10,000 times what's natural, mostly from habitat loss. A big-picture look. Colorado Springs Independent; April 18 |
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