In the Rockies today, reduction of wildfire risk, transmission lines and projects in national parks are all being proposed as candidates for federal funding to stimulate the nation's economy.
The Western Governors Association is pressing for funding of transmission-line projects, but Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer says those don't fit the "shovel-ready" requirement and should be funded separately.
Senators from Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, and Arizona have signed on to Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden's letter to the Obama administration urging wildfire-reduction projects get a billion-dollar slice of the stimulus pie.
And former and current directors of the National Park Service said there are plenty of shovel-ready projects within that system that could use some funding as well.
Rockies today
Western Governors Ass'n want funds for transmission lines
The Western Governors Association is pressing President Obama for federal stimulus funding for transmission line projects, but Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer said such projects are not "shovel ready," and should be funded separately from federal stimulus programs.
Helena Independent Record (AP); Jan. 26
Idaho senators push for stimulus funds for fire-reduction projects
Senators from Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington and South Dakota have requested that $1.52 billion of federal stimulus funds be funneled into fire reduction projects in national forests.
Idaho Statesman; Jan. 26
Utah congressman says parks should be priority in stimulus plan
Utah U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson urged Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, to make national parks a priority in any federal economic stimulus funding.
Salt Lake Tribune; Jan. 24
At BLM auction in Utah, 8 of 362 wild horses are sold
At the Bureau of Land Management's auction Saturday in Utah, only eight of the 362 horses that had been removed from the Sulphur Herd in southwestern Utah in November sold.
Salt Lake Tribune; Jan. 26
Smurfit-Stone: Bankruptcy filing won't harm Montana plant
International packaging giant Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. filed for Chapter 11 reorganization today, and company officials said they did not anticipate any changes in the operation of its Frenchtown plant in Montana.
NewWest.net; Jan. 26
Idaho native helps map New Mexico's aquifers
Boise native Peggy Johnson is manager of the aquifer mapping program at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, which has been collecting data on well locations, water quality and water-table depths over the past 2 1/2 years.
Santa Fe New Mexican; Jan. 26
Opinion
RailRunner weekend runs deserve communities' support
Thousands of New Mexicans are climbing aboard RailRunner trains on Saturdays, an unexpected demand that has caught transit authorities by surprise, but maintaining weekend service, and perhaps extending that service to Sundays, deserves a look, and chambers of commerce of the cities served should study the possibility.
Santa Fe New MExican; Jan. 26
Guest Column:
Bill would protect Montana from wildfires
Montana state Sen. Dave Lewis' legislation challenges the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution to allow counties to reduce wildfire risk on federal lands. A guest column by Sen. Lewis.
Sen. Dave Lewis, Montana Senate District 42; Jan. 26
Beyond the region
Obama gives 14 states right to regulate vehicle emissions
In a sharp reversal of a Bush administration decision, President Barack Obama today granted California, Oregon and Washington, as well as 11 other states, the power to set automobile emissions and fuel efficiency standards.
New York Times; Jan. 26
Oregon residents unhappy with Idaho Power's 'extension cord'
Idaho Power officials said the proposed 298-mile-long power transmission corridor from Boardman across eastern Oregon to the Hemingway substation in Melba, Idaho, is needed to meet a growing demand for power, but Oregon residents are concerned about the visual impact of the transmission line.
Portland Oregonian; Jan. 26
Fuel costs drive crisis in Alaska's most remote communities
Most remote Alaskan villages had to buy their winter supply of fuel at a time when prices were at their highest last year, and now residents of those tiny communities are forced to choose between heating their homes or buying food, and some residents have money for neither.
Los Angeles Times; Jan. 26
Old floodplain maps leave Washington state residents soaked
Residents of Pacific, a Washington state community that flooded a couple of weeks ago, had been told that they didn't live in a floodplain and thus didn't need flood insurance, but their homes did flood and now they're demanding to know why they weren't warned.
Seattle Times; Jan. 26
In depth
Federal stimulus package contains $37B for high-tech projects
Contained within the $875 billion stimulus plan crafted by House Democrats, $37 billion would be spent on three high-tech projects, with $20 billion funneled into getting medical records online; $11 billion to design smarter electrical grids; and $11 billion to expand the reach of the Internet into rural and underserved areas.
New York Times; Jan. 26
Next10 report: Green jobs can help stimulate U.S. economy
A California-based nonprofit research group said that state has already proven that energy efficiency and clean technology can drive an economy, and that "green" jobs can help power up the economy.
Los Angeles Times; Jan. 25
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