In the Rockies today, beetles, good and bad, are in the news.
In the arid Southwest region of the United States, land managers have declared war on the thirsty tamarisk, also known as salt cedar.
Among the arsenal of weapons is a tiny beetle that feasts just on the plant's leaves.
But beetles that prey on the Rocky Mountain West's pine trees are leaving large swaths of forests from Wyoming south to New Mexico dead and dying.
And now the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado is studying the effect of all those beetle-killed trees may be having on the weather.
For our readers in Montana, the Flathead Valley Community College kicks off its series of presentations on climate change with a speech by Montana climatologist Dr. Steven Running, whose work earned him a share of the Nobel Peace in 2007.
Rockies today
Beetles unleashed on thirsty invader in Arizona
Tamarisk, or salt cedar, is a water guzzling plant that has taken over many riverbanks in the Southwest, and ecologists are using Diorhabda elongata, a beetle that eats just the tiny, scaly green leaves of the tamarisk, to eradicate the thirsty invader.
Christian Science Monitor; Sept. 25
Study to probe link between beetle-killed timber, temperature increases
The National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado has begun a four-year study of the effect beetle-killed forests from Southern Wyoming to Northern New Mexico may have on the weather in that region.
Santa Fe New Mexican (AP); Sept. 25
Researchers predict more ferocious wildfire seasons in the future
At the weeklong conference titled "The '88 Fires, Yellowstone and Beyond," on Wednesday, the focus was on climate change and its effects on future wildfires.
Billings Gazette; Sept. 25
Legacy Project could change balance of power in Montana county
The Montana Legacy Project, a public-private partnership to fund a $150-million deal to buy 320,000 acres of Plum Creek Timber Co. land in Missoula County, will not only protect those lands from future development but will end Plum Creek Timber Co.'s reign as majority landowner in the Montana County, opening up the company's remaining lands to local land-use controls.
Missoulian; Sept. 25
Utah senator makes late-inning push for Washington County land bill
Sen. Bob Bennett has been working with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to find a piece of "must-pass" legislation to attach the Utah senator's comprehensive Washington County land bill to, ensuring the bill passes this session.
Salt Lake Tribune; Sept. 25
Congress' inaction allows moratorium on oil-shale leasing to lapse
Some Democrats vowed to act quickly in January to enact a new moratorium on commercial oil-shale leasing in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah after a moratorium on such activity put in place last year is set to expire Sunday night.
Salt Lake Tribune; Sept. 25
Group presses for congressional probe of environmental lobbyists
After Utah Rep. Rob Bishop announced last week that the Interior Department's inspector general was investigating whether environmental lobbyists had improperly worked with National Landscape Conservation System officials, the Americans for American Energy, a pro-energy group, called for a congressional inquiry into the matter.
Deseret News; Sept. 25
Opinion
Debate over federal roadless forest lands treks along
In the years since the Clinton administration's proposal to put 58 million acres of federal forest lands off-limits to development, there have been five court rulings on the proposal, and the latest will surely be appealed, but Idaho's plan for its 9.3 million acres of such lands may provide a road map for other states to deal with the issue. An essay by Rocky Barker.
High Country News (Writers on the Range); Sept. 25
Beyond the region
Eastern climate group to auction carbon credits today
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a coalition of 10 Northeast and mid-Atlantic states, will auction off 12.5 million "carbon allowances," which are basically the right to discharge carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, today.
Christian Science Monitor; Sept. 25
GOP donors lunch with Cindy McCain, Todd Palin in Washington state
King County ranks fifth in the nation for presidential campaign contributions, making the Washington state county a good location for Wednesday's fundraiser that gave donors the opportunity to meet Cindy McCain, the wife of Republican presidential nominee John McCain, and Todd Palin, the husband of McCain's running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
Seattle Times; Sept. 25
Joint approach restores salmon habitat in Oregon stream
Crucial habitat for imperiled salmon and steelhead in the Salmon River, a tributary of the Sandy River, just 20 miles from Portland, is being resurrected through a joint effort of groups and agencies in Oregon.
Portland Oregonian; Sept. 25
Montana river ecologist opines on NOAA Fisheries' salmon plan
Jack Perry, a Montana river ecologist, said that more water from the Columbia River is the single most important component of a plan to restore threatened steelhead in the Middle Columbia River, which includes the Yakima River.
Yakima Herald; Sept. 25
In depth
President's speech on financial rescue plan impresses Utah lawmakers
While Utah Sens. Bob Bennett and Orrin Hatch said President Bush made a persuasive case for passing his proposed legislation to provide aid to the nation's financial industry during his prime-time speech Wednesday, neither Republican lawmaker said they were willing to support the plan, a sentiment shared by Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson.
Salt Lake Tribune; Sept. 25
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N.M. congressmen unswayed by president's speech on bailout
U.S. Reps. Steve Pearce and Tom Udall, who are vying for New Mexico's U.S. Senate seat left open by Sen. Pete Domenici's retirement, said they remained unconvinced after President Bush appealed to the nation to request Congress to pass his plan to rescue the financial industry, but Domenici said he's inclined to vote a plan similar to the one championed by the president and his advisers. You may have to view an ad to read this article.
Albuquerque Journal; Sept. 25
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McCain suspends campaign to return to D.C.
Republican presidential nominee John McCain announced he was suspending his presidential campaign to return to Washington, D.C. to work on legislation crafted to address the nation's financial industry, putting Friday's scheduled debate between McCain and Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama in question.
New York Times; Sept. 25
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FBI's investigation of AIG began months ago
In March, the Federal Bureau of Investigation began investigating American International Group in March to see if the mammoth insurance company had knowingly concealed massive losses.
Washington Post; Sept. 25
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