In the Rockies today, Montana opens a public comment period on a planned wolf hunt this fall, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is sued over his cancellation of the sale of 77 leases in Utah; and Chrysler's decision to close 789 dealerships is felt in Wyoming and throughout the West.
At a meeting Thursday, the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission said anywhere from 26 to 165 gray wolves could be taken during a hunting season this fall.
The tentative quotas are based on the presumption more litigation lies ahead on the federal government's decision to remove wolves in Idaho and Montana from the federal endangered species list.
Comments on the state's plan will be taken through June 19th, with final quotas to be set on July 9.
In Utah, three oil companies and three counties have filed lawsuits alleging that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar acted illegally when he set aside 77 leases sold at auction in that state in December.
Both the counties' and the energy companies' lawsuits allege that the Bureau of Land Management was required to issue the leases within 60 days of the auction, although the BLM has repeatedly taken the position that it is not bound to issue leases just because a bid was won.
In Wyoming, five dealerships are on the list Chrysler wants to close in early June.
And in our In-depth section, an array of articles on Chrysler's decision on dealerships across the Rocky Mountain West.
Rockies today
Montana opens public comment on wolf hunt
Montana wildlife commissioners met Thursday to discuss setting a quota for a planned wolf hunt later this year, and gave preliminary approval to setting quotas between 26 and 165 wolves, and will take public comment on those quotas with a final decision slated for July 9.
Helena Independent Record; May 15
Utah counties, oil companies sue Interior over canceled leases
Impact Energy Resources of Colorado, Peak Royalty of Utah and Questar Exploration and Development of Texas, as well as Uintah, Carbon and Duchesne counties in Utah filed lawsuits against the U.S. Interior Department, alleging that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar broke the law when he canceled 77 leases sold by the Bureau of Land Management at its December auction.
Salt Lake Tribune; May 15
Five Wyoming dealerships on Chrysler's closure list
Covello Motor Company in Torrington, Kotby Motors in Laramie, Riverton Chrysler Dodge Jeep, Teton Motors in Jackson and Great Western Autoplex in Rock Springs all learned Thursday that they were among the 789 dealerships in the United States that Chrysler wants to close by June 9.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); May 15
Experts: Commuter rail in Idaho an unlikely option
For decades, the concept of commuter rail service between Boise and Nampa has been tossed around, but on Thursday at a forum hosted by the Urban Land Institute in Boise, three national train and transportation experts were blunt in their assessment that too many obstacles lay in the path of commuter rail service in Idaho's Magic Valley.
Idaho Statesman; May 15
Thousands show up for ribbon-cutting at new Cabela's in Montana
The first Cabela's store in Montana opened Thursday in Billings, with an estimated 3,000 people flooding into the store within minutes of the grand opening.
Billings Gazette; May 15
Dust storms dissipate snowpack in Colorado Rockies
Colorado water managers said people who depend on snowpack for water supplies later in the year have a tough year ahead as much of the snowpack in the Colorado Plateau region encompassing parts of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona has already melted.
New York Times (Greenwire); May 14
Peabody, Australian company launch joint venture in Wyoming
St. Louis-based Peabody Energy Co., which operates three coal mines in Wyoming's Powder River Basin, and Australia-based White Energy Co. announced that they will build a plant in Wyoming to process and upgrade coal from one of Peabody's mines in Wyoming; White Energy Co. announced earlier this year that it was building a similar plant at another mine in Wyoming.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); May 15
Opinion
Judge made the right decision in sage grouse lawsuit
U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill's decision rendered earlier this week to keep a lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management over 18 resource management plans in six states intact was a good one, since the lawsuit is aimed at regional protection of sage grouse and its habitat, which once stretched over all six western states.
Salt Lake Tribune; May 14
Montana Legislature can try again on bill to define renewable energy
Legislation designed to expand the definition of renewable energy to include expansion of hydroelectric generation failed in the Montana Legislature this session, but the bill contained some serious flaws and lawmakers should try again next session with legislation that corrects SB257's flaws.
Great Falls Tribune; May 15
Beyond the Region
Mexico says immigration to U.S. down 25 percent
The number of Mexicans crossing the U.S. border has dropped dramatically due to the lack of jobs, with Mexican data indicating 226,000 fewer people emigrated from Mexico to other countries for the year that ended in August 2008.
New York Times; May 15
Energy-efficient building experts find human flaw in process
Experts in building super-energy efficient buildings and homes said now that all the measures have been addressed to make structures as "green" as possible, the next thing they need to do is to convince residents and workers in those buildings to curtail energy and water use.
Portland Oregonian; May 15
Federal stimulus plan's 'Buy American' sparks trade war with Canada
As economies suffer around the world, countries are using domestic policy decisions to protect jobs, including the United States, where federal stimulus funds are tied with "Buy American" provisions.
Washington Post; May 15
In depth
GM to notify 1,100 dealerships today of intent to close
General Motors Corp. wants to pare its number of U.S. dealers by 1,100 and will begin notifying those dealers today.
Toronto Financial Post (Bloomberg); May 15
Five Arizona Chrysler dealerships targeted for closure
Chrysler informed Diamond Dodge Chrysler in Flagstaff, Arnold Motor Sales in Superior, Darner Motor Sales in Mesa, Jones Dodge Chrysler Jeep in Wickenburg and Performance Dodge in Phoenix that the Arizona dealerships were on a list of those the car maker wants to close in early June.
Arizona Daily Sun; May 15
-
Thirteen of Colorado's 44 Chrysler dealerships on closure list
The impact the closure of 13 Chrysler dealerships will have on Colorado's economy may be hard to judge as about half of those dealerships set to close sell other brands.
Denver Post; May 15
-
Two open, 1 closed Chrysler dealerships in Idaho on closure list
A Chrysler dealership in Blackfoot that closed in January was one of three Chrysler identified for closure in Idaho, with Ambassador Auto Service in Moscow and Taylor-Parker Motor Co. in Sandpoint also on the list.
Idaho Statesman (AP); May 15
-
Four Montana Chrysler dealerships get closure letter
Chrysler put Flanagan's Jeep-Eagle in Missoula, Bell McCall in Hamilton, and Rimrock Chrysler Jeep and Underriner Motors in Billings on notice that the company wanted to pull their franchises by early June.
Missoulian; May 15
-
Four Las Vegas-area dealerships to lose Chrysler franchises
Chrysler notified Jim Marsh Chrysler Jeep, United Dodge, United Chrysler Jeep and Integrity Chrysler at 6770 Redwood St. on Thursday that the carmaker would be canceling its franchise agreements with the Las Vegas dealerships.
Las Vegas Review-Journal; May 15
-
Chrysler puts a handful of N.M. dealerships on notice
The Lithia Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Santa Fe dealership was not on the list of dealerships Chrysler wants to close in New Mexico, although Quality Jeep-Chrysler in Albuquerque, Cimino Brothers in Raton, Sandoval Dodge in Las Cruces and Brewer Jeep in Clovis did get the letter indicating that the carmaker wanted to close them.
Santa Fe New Mexican; May 15
-
Chrysler puts nearly half of its Utah dealerships on notice
Chrysler informed 10 of its 24 Utah dealerships that it wants to close them by early June, including all of its dealerships in communities along the Interstate 15 corridor from St. George to Spanish Fork.
Salt Lake Tribune; May 15
-
Oregon dealers say they'll fight Chrysler's plan to close them
Chrysler put six dealerships in Oregon on notice that they are on the list to be closed in early June, including the only dealership in Portland.
Portland Oregonian; May 15
|
