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In the Rockies today, both The New York Times and The Washington Post offer more details on the federal report issued Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The Times article focuses on changes in the West's water supply, while the Post focuses more on the changes in federal lands management.
Also in the news, a statement on the floor of the British Parliament about storing nuclear waste in Utah has U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson concerned; the U.S. Forest Service rethinks its decision about allowing an energy company to pay for the environmental analysis of oil and gas development on the Wyoming Range; and environmental groups prepare to make their case to restore endangered species protection to wolves in the Northern Rockies.
Rockies today
New climate report paints grim picture of West's water supply
The new climate report issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture said that over the next 20 to 50 years, the American West will face increased demand for water at a time when mountain snows upon which the West depends to fill reservoirs are expected to diminish, and when precipitation does come in the form of rain, it will come in amounts and at times when it's difficult to manage.
New York Times; May 28
Climate report: Federal land managers face new, uncharted territory
The federal report on the effects of climate change found that of the 1,598 animal species studied, nearly 60 percent had already been affected by climate change and that public lands in the Interior West were already affected by larger, more frequent forest fires and widespread beetle infestations. Another look.
Washington Post; May 28
British lawmakers say EnergySolutions courting U.K. nuclear waste
Utah Rep. Jim Matheson said statements by a member of the British Parliament about exporting nuclear waste to Utah concerned him, but EnergySolutions spokesman John Ward said that since current British law bans the export of nuclear waste, discussions between U.K. officials and the company were just brainstorming sessions at this point.
Salt Lake Tribune; May 28
N.M. senator lays out his views on national energy policy
In a speech at the New Mexico Center for Energy Policy's conference on Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici said he supported reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, commercial development of oil shale reserves in Utah, Wyoming and Colorado, and said the United States should speed up its efforts to produce liquid fuel from coal. You may have to view an ad to read this article.
Albuquerque Journal (AP); May 28
Federal judge hears arguments in wolf case Thursday
Environmental groups that want federal protection of wolves in the Northern Rockies reinstated will get their day in court tomorrow at a hearing before U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula, Mont.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); May 27
USFS rescinds decision to let driller fund study of Wyoming Range project
The U.S. Forest Service announced Tuesday that it would not allow Stanley Energy to pay for the environmental analysis of energy development on the Wyoming Range, leases which Stanley Energy hopes to acquire.
Billings Gazette (Casper Star-Tribune); May 28
Clinton, Obama make their case to Montanans on energy, wilderness
Just days before Montana's June 3 primary, the Flathead Beacon asked Democratic presidential contenders Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama to set out their positions on guns, energy, federal land management and other issues that loom large in the Big Sky State.
Flathead Beacon; May 28
Risch, LaRocco will face each other in Idaho U.S. Senate race
Long-time rivals Republican Idaho Lt. Gov. Jim Risch and former congressman Democrat Larry LaRocco both won their party's primary on Tuesday, pitting the longtime political rivals against each other again in November's general election for the U.S. Senate seat left open by Sen. Larry Craig's retirement.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (AP); May 28
Opinion
Presidential candidates court Western states' Electoral College votes
Arizona Sen. John McCain and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama have been in the Interior West these past few days, but make no mistake, it's not Western issues on the minds of these presidential candidates but rather the pursuit of the Electoral College votes in Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico that brings these gents to the West.
Las Vegas Review-Journal; May 28
Westerners can help shape course of presidential debate
For many years, the Interior West was flyover territory for presidential candidates, but no so this year, and Westerners should use the opportunity to get candidates to discuss issues of importance to the region.
Denver Post; May 28
Beyond the region
Two reports provide more bleak news about nation's housing market
One report released Tuesday said that housing prices in March were down 14.1 percent from March of 2007, and a second report said that while sales of new homes increased a bit in April, they remained at the lowest levels seen since 1991.
New York Times; May 28
Canadian PM warns UN panel that world's wildlife is disappearing
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's warning at the United Nations Conference on Biological Diversity that more must be done to protect the globe's flora and fauna was criticized by groups at the conference who said Canada is doing too little itself to protect its wildlife.
Toronto Globe and Mail; May 28
In depth
Democratic Party's fundraising for Denver convention lags
The Democratic Party has missed several fundraising marks for the party's national convention in Denver in August, and is about $15 million short of the $40.6 million it must raise by June 16.
New York Times; May 28
Clinton stresses importance of Native vote in Montana campaign stop
Sen. Hillary Clinton, who is seeking the Democratic Party's nomination for president, spoke to a crowd of 1,200 or so Montanans on the campus of Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, where she said the votes of Native Americans counted more than ever this election.
Missoulian; May 28
Obama hosts invitation-only town hall meeting in Nevada
The economy and the local housing market were topics of concern to those who attended an invitation-only, town hall meeting with Democratic presidential contender Sen. Barack Obama at the College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas on Tuesday.
Las Vegas Sun; May 28
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Another Wyoming superdelegate endorses Obama
Wyoming Superdelegate Nancy Drummond of Sheridan announced Tuesday that she was endorsing Sen. Barack Obama to be the Democratic Party's nominee for president, leaving just one of the Cowboy State's superdelegates uncommitted.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); May 28
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Colorado Democratic Party chair endorses Obama
Democratic presidential contender Sen. Barack Obama picked up another Colorado superdelegate on Wednesday, when state Democratic Party chairwoman Pat Waak announced she would support Obama.
Denver Rocky Mountain News; May 28
McCain suggests nation doesn't need Yucca Mountain waste repository
During a talk on nuclear security at the University of Denver on Tuesday, Arizona Sen. John McCain, the Republican Party's presumptive presidential nominee, said he supported an international nuclear waste repository somewhere overseas, and suggested that if such a site were established, the nation wouldn't need to build its own repository in Nevada's Yucca Mountain.
Las Vegas Sun; May 28
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President Bush campaigns today in Utah for McCain
President Bush will make an appearance at two Republican Party fundraisers in Utah today, to lend his support to Arizona Sen. John McCain's presidential bid.
Salt Lake Tribune; May 28
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President Bush in Colorado today
President Bush is scheduled to give the commencement speech to the graduates of the Air Force Academy in Colorado today, where he is expected to draw parallels between World War II and the current conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Denver Post; May 28
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| "They're not in some distant future. We're experiencing them now."
Anthony C. Janetos, one of the lead authors of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's assessment of the effects of climate change on the United States, about the effects of climate change being seen now.
- Washington Post
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Montana seeks public comment on wind-farm proposal on state lands
Rainfall, snowmelt boosts water levels in Wyoming reservoir
Colorado county considers new tax for water rights, projects
Gas prices top $4 a gallon in New Mexico
Arizona governor vetoes lifelong concealed weapons permits
Colorado governor signs renewable-energy tax breaks bill into law
NRA endorses Montana governor's re-election bid
Coeur d'Alene Tribe gives millions to Idaho, Montana schools, communities
Arizona Senate advances ban on texting while driving
Alberta university under fire for keeping mum on wolf kill test
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Exclusively
on Headwaters:
NewVoices/NewWest:
Culture
Clash: Can the federal No Child Left Behind Act coexist with Montana's
Indian Education for All?
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Regional Conferences
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June 4-6: Natural Resources Law Center's Shifting Baselines & New Meridians — Water, Resources, Landscapes and the Transformation of the American West," at the University of Colorado at Boulder Law School. Read a preview.
June 29-July 1: Western Governors' Association Annual Meeting; Wildlife corridors, climate change, energy and managing water on agenda, Teton Village
Jackson Hole, Wyo. Read a preview.
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Headwaters
News is a project of the Center
for the Rocky Mountain West at the University
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