In the Rockies today, a massive public lands bill that was shunted off Congress' agenda last fall by the nation's economic situation is back on track.
The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2008 contains the Craig Thomas Snake Headwaters Legacy Act and the Wyoming Range Legacy Act, among others, and could be heard by the U.S. Senate as early as Sunday.
The bill reportedly has good bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate, as well as the U.S. House, which will take up the legislation after the Senate acts on it.
Today in Headwaters News' On the Bookshelf, Barbara Theroux of Fact & Fiction offers a review of Steven Rinella's American Buffalo: In search of a lost icon.
Rinella will be at Fact & Fiction in Missoula, Mont., on Tuesday, Jan. 13, at 7 p.m. to discuss this book.
Rockies today
U.S. Senate ready to vote on public lands omnibus bill
A public lands bill that contains about 150 measures, including the Craig Thomas Snake Headwaters Legacy Act and the Wyoming Range Legacy Act could be voted on by the U.S. Senate as early as Sunday, and some say the bill has a good chance of passing.
Jackson Hole Daily; Jan. 8
Wildfire continues to burn in Colorado
High winds that roared into Colorado on Wednesday downed power lines, which sparked grass fires near Boulder and forced the evacuation of hundreds of homes; fire officials said they have the wildfire about 30 percent contained.
Boulder Daily Camera; Jan. 8
Timber industry challenges USFS lynx rule in Colo., Wyo.
The Colorado Timber Industry Association and Intermountain Forest Association have sued the U.S. Forest Service over its Southern Rockies Lynx Amendment, which covers all seven national forests in Colorado as well as the Medicine Bow National Forest in southern Wyoming.
Durango Herald; Jan. 8
9th Circuit Court: USFS needs rule on grizzlies in Montana
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals returned a Montana U.S. District Court decision on roads in grizzly habitat in Montana's Flathead National Forest with orders to the U.S. Forest Service to define a standard "for evaluating when land use values 'compete' with grizzly bears' needs within the meaning of the Forest Plan."
Missoulian; Jan. 8
Coalition: Protect more of Montana's Rocky Mountain Front
Members of the Coalition to Protect the Rocky Mountain Front will submit a comprehensive plan on protecting more federal lands between Marias Pass and Rogers Pass to Montana's congressional delegation later this year.
Great Falls Tribune; Jan. 8
Idaho's planned communities offer little work
A decade ago, Hidden Springs was touted as a planned community, offering Idahoans a place to live, play and work, and other such planned remote, communities have sprung up around Boise as well, but none of those communities have met their promise of being self-sustaining and providing residents places to work where they live.
Boise Weekly; Jan. 8
Beetle-killed timber in Montana reignites logging debate
Beetles have killed large swaths of trees from British Columbia south to Colorado, and in Montana's Swan Valley the standing dead trees are coveted by log-home builders in the state, but getting federal timber sales approved sometimes takes too long and the trees lose their commercial value, although the dead trees do provide important habitat to forest animals.
Christian Science Monitor; Jan. 8
Opinion
Idaho's water holds financial promise
In its search for a new revenue stream, Idaho need look no further than its water, and start charging water-rights holders for the water, which is owned by the state. A guest column by Jon Marvel, the executive director of Western Watersheds Project.
Idaho Statesman; Jan. 8
U.S. House should create Indian Affairs Committee
The U.S. House should listen to Montana U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg and create an Indian Affairs Committee.
Missoulian; Jan. 8
Idaho's freshman congressman has a notable history
U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick, Idaho's freshman congressman, is only the second Democrat to hold his house seat in more than four decades, but he's also a former member of Nixon's White House staff, who was the second to resign after the Watergate scandal broke. A column by David S. Broder.
Washington Post; Jan. 8
Beyond the region
Report: Private industry in U.S. shed 693,000 jobs in December
A report issued by a private employment service released Wednesday said 693,000 jobs in the United States' private sector were eliminated in December.
Calgary Herald (Reuters); Jan. 8
McCain, Feingold again try to eliminate earmarks
Arizona Sen. John McCain is part of a bipartisan group of senators sponsoring legislation they want to attach to any federal economic stimulus package that will force any funding of special projects, often referred to as earmarks, to get the approval of 60 senators.
Seattle Times; Jan. 8
Lack of financing dims plans for Oregon solar-cell plant
SpectraWatt Inc. officials said a lack of financing forced them to cancel plans to build a new solar-cell manufacturing plant in Hillsboro, and the company is instead looking in Oregon and other states for a building it could retrofit for their manufacturing needs.
Portland Oregonian; Jan. 8
BuRec Washington facility to carry name of former commissioner
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne announced that a 312-megawatt power and water pumping plant at Washington's Grand Coulee Dam will carry the name of John W. Keys III, a former commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation who spent most of his career in the Pacific Northwest and who played a key role in Idaho water issues.
Twin Falls Times-News; Jan. 8
In depth
Avalanches, mudslides close roads in British Columbia
Heavy rains on Wednesday sent torrents of snow and mud down on major highways in British Columbia on Wednesday, with major routes out of Vancouver blocked.
Vancouver Sun; Jan. 8
Flooding forces tens of thousands from their Washington homes
Heavy rains on top of heavy snow caused unprecedented flooding in Washington state, with evacuation orders issued for 40,000 in Tacoma and 26,000 in Orting; I-5 is closed and three of the state's major arterials are blocked by avalanches and mudslides.
Seattle Times; Jan. 8
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Washington flooding forces Amtrak to suspend service
Amtrak officials have put train service between Seattle and Portland on hold from today through Saturday, and between Spokane and Seattle today.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (AP); Jan. 8
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Flooding sends hundreds fleeing in central Washington
More than 200 residents of Ellensburg had to leave their homes as three small creeks flooded, and high water forced the closure of I-90, U.S. Highway 97 and 16 major roads in Kittitas County in central Washington.
Yakima Herald; Jan. 8
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