In the Rockies today, and in our In-depth section, we're going to show a bit of our backyard bias.
The Big Sky State was on the national radar this past weekend, with Democratic presidential contenders Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama in Butte and Missoula over the weekend.
It's not often Montana basks in the glow of presidential candidates' attention, so we're offering an array of articles about those events.
Also in the Rockies today, Alberta released its plan to protect grizzly bears on Friday, and a federal judge in Arizona put uranium mining operations near the Grand Canyon on hold.
Rockies today
Federal judge halts uranium mining efforts near Grand Canyon
On Friday, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to suspend Britain-based VANE Minerals Group's efforts to drill for uranium on Kaibib National Forest in Arizona near the Grand Canyon.
International Herald Tribune (AP); April 5
Alberta releases grizzly bear recovery plan
Biologists said the grizzly bear recovery plan unveiled by Alberta on Friday is a start, but that the province must act quickly to implement programs to keep the grizzly bear population in the province viable.
Edmonton Journal; April 5
Former NPS directors oppose lifting of gun restrictions in parks
Seven former directors of the National Park Service have gone on record against an attempt to lift gun restrictions in national parks.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); April 7
After Nevada disaster, BuRec ramps up review of irrigation canals
After a 105-year-old irrigation canal burst near Fernley in January, flooding nearly 600 homes in the Nevada town, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has begun assessing the integrity of some of its 7,911 miles of canals in 17 Western states, focusing first on those in areas that are now heavily populated, such as in and around Phoenix and in the Klamath Basin in northern California and southern Oregon.
Washington Post; April 6
Wolf advocates, opponents hold differing views of N.M. effort
A decade after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services began efforts to reintroduce the Mexican gray wolf into areas of Arizona and New Mexico, the divide between opponents and advocates of the effort is as deed as ever, and opinions about the program's success are diverse as well. Editor's note: You may have to view an ad to read this article.
Albuquerque Journal; April 7
Group promises former nuclear-plant workers help on claims
The newly formed Colorado-based nonprofit, Cold War Patriots, has created a clearinghouse of information for former nuclear workers and their families to help them navigate the complex federal compensation process.
Denver Rocky Mountain News; April 7
Montana mining city plays host to Democratic presidential candidates
Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama were in Butte on Saturday night for the annual Mansfield-Metcalf Democratic Party dinner in Montana.
Montana Standard; April 6
Opinion
Congress' inaction puts Arizona treasures at risk
Four years ago, Congress decided that the lands around Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona contained enough natural and archaeological treasures that 125,000 acres should be acquired to protect those treasures, yet federal lawmakers have yet to appropriate the $20 million needed, and now it appears some of those lands--and the fossils and natural resources--may be slipping away.
Arizona Republic; April 6
Colorado should give cistern proposal a trial run
Legislation proposed by Denver Sen. Chris Romer would allow up to 10 new housing developments in Colorado to use cisterns to capture rainwater and use the water to irrigate gardens and lawns and store it for fighting wildfires to see how the process would impact streams and waterways, and the Legislature should pass the bill to give cisterns a trial run.
Grand Junction Sentinel; April 7
Beyond the region
Slump in housing market pulls timber industry down
A U.S. Forest Service economist says as bad as current production numbers for timber on federal land are now, he does not feel that the numbers have hit rock bottom, as the nation's housing slump and a dive in the U.S. dollar hit the nation's timber and sawmill industries hard.
Denver Post (AP); April 7
The 08-ers head for the hills of California in search of gold
With gold prices hitting record highs, tens of thousands of prospectors are panning and digging for gold in the American West and Alaska, with the majority seeking their fortunes in California.
New York Times; April 6
Documentary records Texas' fight with Big Coal
A 34-minute film commissioned by Robert Redford's Sundance Preserve documents how opposition to 19 new coal-powered plants in Texas resulted in 8 plants being scrapped, and the record $45 billion takeover of Texas' largest utility.
New York Times; April 5
Texas officials unsure they have FLDS girl who reported abuse
Texas officials descended upon YFZ Ranch in Eldorado, a FLDS compound in the state, on Thursday evening after a 16-year-old girl had contacted the state's Child Protective Services agency and reported she was being abused; more than 219 women and children had been removed from the compound over the weekend.
Salt Lake Tribune; April 7
Weak dollar puts American assets on the auction block at bargain prices
Between 1998 and 2007, foreign companies have shelled out $1.7 trillion for shares of existing American firms or to set up shop in the United States, with more than five million Americans working for domestic affiliates of foreign companies.
New York Times; April 7
In depth
Clinton, Obama discuss Western issues at Montana events
Clean coal, No Child Left Behind, the environment and global warming were all issues addressed by Democratic presidential contenders Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama at rallies and events in Montana this weekend. An analysis. Check out a slideshow from the events here.
NewWest.net; April 6
Obama pledges to work with tribes from the White House
Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama promised to create a White House staff position for a Native American policymaker if he's elected, and said he'll work to strengthen ties between the national and tribal governments.
Missoulian; April 7
Thousands turn out for Obama rally in Montana
Sen. Barack Obama's rally in Missoula Saturday morning was a raucous one, with thousands of Montanans filling the seats at the University of Montana's Adams Center.
Missoulian; April 7
Sen. Clinton fields questions from Montanans at Sunday town hall meeting
At a town hall meeting early Sunday morning in Missoula, Sen. Hillary Clinton laid out her agenda: end the war in Iraq, dump the No Child Left Behind program and provide universal health care, among other issues.
Missoulian; April 7
Obama talks issues with Montana reporter
After his appearance at the Montana Democratic Party's annual Mansfield-Metcalf dinner, Sen. Barack Obama sat down with a reporter from the Great Falls Tribune Capitol Bureau and talked about environmental, tribal and energy issues.
Great Falls Tribune; April 7
Sen. Clinton discusses health care, guns in Montana interview
Lee Newspapers reporter Charles Johnson interviewed Sen. Hillary Clinton after her appearance Saturday evening at the Montana Democratic Party's annual Mansfield-Metcalf Dinner, where she shared her views on universal health care, energy and gun control.
Missoulian; April 7
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