In the Rockies today, Yellowstone wolves earned praise as a cog in the economic engine for Wyoming, Idaho and Montana at the North American Wolf Conference.
A study done by a University of Montana economist showed tourists lured to Yellowstone National Park by the promise of seeing wolves pumped $35 million into the three states that border the national park.
John Duffield said he based his economic figures on the responses of tourists surveyed who said they would not have come to Yellowstone if wolves were not present.
Duffield said he figured about 151,000 people a year see wolves, including about 27,000 visitors in the winter.
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Rockies today
Study says Yellowstone wolves pump money into states
An analysis of surveys completed by Yellowstone National Park visitors between December 2004 to February 2006 found that 3.7 percent of the park's 2.8 million annual visitors wouldn't have come to Yellowstone if it didn't have wolves, a figure that translated into $35 million yearly to the three states surrounding the park.
Billings Gazette; April 7
Partisan wrangling stalls Senate immigration legislation
Senate leaders reached a compromise on immigration legislation that would put a majority of the 11 million illegal immigrants in the country on a path to citizenship, but late-night wrangling over amendments delayed a vote on the final legislation until this morning, and then Democrats killed it, and some fear the issue will unravel during Congress' two-week break.
New York Times; April 7
Hearing on Cobell trust suit set for April 11 in D.C.
Elouise Cobell, the lead plaintiff in the class action lawsuit over management of tribal trust funds, urged tribal members from across the nation to attend an April 11 hearing in Washington D.C. on the government's attempt to remove the judge that has been presiding over the case for a decade.
RezNet; April 7
Michigan tribe returns school grant linked to Montana senator
The Saginaw Chippewa tribe of Michigan, once represented by former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, said it would return a $3-million school construction grant received as a result of efforts of Montana Sen. Conrad Burns.
Washington Post; April 7
Extra cops called in for Wolf Creek development meeting
The Mineral County sheriff called in an extra two dozen police officers in case tensions flair at a meeting in Creede, Colo., arranged by supporters of a controversial development at Wolf Creek, but nothing may happen because the most vocal opponents of the plan weren't invited to the meeting.
Denver Rocky Mountain News; April 7
Utah senator agrees to tweak lands bill
Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, met with members of environmental groups this week to discuss concerns they had about Bennett's proposed Washington County land-use bill, and although no consensus was reached at the meeting, members of the groups said they were encouraged by Bennett's willingness to work with them.
Salt Lake Tribune; April 7
Scientists say Yellowstone's elk calf population on the rise
State and federal scientists conducted an aerial survey of elk in and around Yellowstone National Park last month and found 24 calves for every 100 cows, an increase from the previous four years where biologists found between 12 and 14 calves per 100 cows.
Bozeman Daily Chronicle; April 7
Gold hits 25-year high
Experts predicted that tightening gold supplies, geopolitical instability and a weakening U.S. dollar would prompt gold prices to surpass the $600-per-ounce benchmark hit Thursday, and in Calgary silver sales were strong as well at $12.04 an ounce
Calgary Herald; April 7
Opinion
Senate should pass immigration reform legislation
The Senate's compromise on immigration legislation has led to a less-than-perfect bill, but it's still a better option than allowing the immigration crisis to continue.
Los Angeles Times; April 7
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Arizona immigration march will be peaceful
Arizona Schools Superintendent Tom Horne's plan to fire any staff member that allows students to leave campus to attend a planned march in support of immigration rights is a bizarre over-reaction to what will surely be a peaceful event.
Tucson Citizen; April 7
Mouse illustrates the need to be reasonable with species law
The Preble's meadow jumping mouse barely weighs an ounce, but because it is classified under federal law as endangered, it has the power to stop highway development — and maybe the Endangered Species Act itself, and unless we stop straining the law, it will continue to be viewed as an economic plague and might go extinct.
NewWest.net; April 7
Beyond the region
Parties set their dates for national conventions in 2008
Democrats will hold their 2008 national convention Aug. 25-29, 2008, and the Republican national convention will begin just three days after Democrats finish naming their presidential nominee, the shortest time period between conventions in 50 years.
New York Times; April 7
Oregon lawmakers scrutinize forestry industry, college ties
A controversy over an Oregon State University College of Forestry graduate student's study that said logging delays recovery of burned forests has sparked a state Senate hearing to investigate whether the school's longtime ties to the timber industry have undermined academic freedom at OSU.
Portland Oregonian; April 7
B.C. forestry official warns timber towns on industrial taxes
British Columbia Forests Minister Rich Coleman said municipal taxes levied by timber towns are making it impossible for industries to compete globally, but mayors said rapid growth has increased cities' infrastructures costs and challenged the minister to come up with an alternative for cities to raise revenue.
Vancouver Sun; April 7
In depth
Montana tribal members trapped in substandard housing
A group of residents in the 153-home Glacier Homes housing built by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Montana's Blackfeet Nation have sued HUD and the tribe over the substandard housing and improper building materials, which they say have caused myriad health problems.
Missoula Independent; April 7
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