In the Rockies today, President Obama pledges more money for renewable energy; groups sue over lynx habitat and the foreclosure market buoys home sales in the West.
In Nevada Wednesday, President Obama called Nellis Air Force Base's solar installation and the state's use of geothermal resources projects worthy of replication and said more stimulus funding would be available to do just that.
Four groups sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Tuesday in Montana, charging that the agency failed to consider the effect climate change was having on Canada lynx when it designated critical habitat for the species in six states, including Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Washington.
And the National Association of Realtors' report for April said home sales were up 16 percent in the 13 western states, while nationally sales increased just nominally.
Today, in Headwaters News' Western Perspective, Erika Fredrickson, a member of the Montana Food System Council, writes about that council and the work being done to cultivate more locally grown food in the state.
The column provides information about the work done thus far, and the Council is asking citizens to let them know about other projects that are promoting food produced in the state, or where there is potential for a localized process.
We invite you to read the column and send us your comments.
Rockies today
Idaho leads nation in per-capita federal stimulus funds
Federal agencies have thus far awarded $4 billion in federal stimulus contracts, according to USA Today's analysis of contracts disclosed through the Federal Procurement Data System, but few of those contracts have gone to Michigan, which has the nation's highest unemployment rate, while Idaho leads with the highest per-capita federal stimulus funding.
USA Today; May 28
On Nevada trip, Obama touts state's solar, geothermal projects
President Barack Obama visited Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada on Tuesday, and lauded the base's solar-power project, the largest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere that provides about 25 percent of the electricity needed on the base, and announced federal programs to replicate Nevada's solar and geothermal development in cities and communities across the nation.
Washington Post; May 28
Home sales up in the West
In 13 western states and in cities throughout Montana, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Washington, low prices on foreclosed homes have driven home sales up 16 percent from May, while nationally sales only increased slightly, the National Association of Realtors reported Wednesday.
Arizona Daily Sun (AP); May 28
Groups sue USFWS to expand lynx habitat
Four conservation groups filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Montana against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, alleging that the federal agency failed to consider climate change when it designated habitat critical to the survival of the Canada lynx in six Western states.
Missoulian; May 28
Montana tribes meet with federal housing, education officials
At Montana Sen. Jon Tester's behest, the secretaries of the federal housing and education departments came to Montana to tour reservations and to meet tribal leaders from all seven reservations in the state.
Billings Gazette; May 28
Federal judge orders new study on Glen Canyon Dam releases
On Wednesday, a federal district judge in Denver found that a decision made last year by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that found irregular releases from Glen Canyon Dam into the Grand Canyon did not violate the Endangered Species Act, and gave the federal agency until November to review how such releases affected the endangered humpback chub, and to come up with a new schedule for such releases if the fish is adversely impacted by them.
Los Angeles Times; May 28
Arizona schools chief sparks debate with ESL-policy change
Arizona's school superintendent says too many children in the state are identified as non-English speakers, resulting in crowded English language programs intended for students that may not speak the language—the superintendent's solution: make the screening exam easier, so more children are labeled "English-proficient."
Arizona Republic; May 28
Opinion
Astroturf better option for Colorado than Kentucky bluegrass
The Colorado Springs city government spends $3 million every year to fertilize and water the bluegrass lining its parks and playing fields, but by replacing that grass with astroturf, the city would save money and conserve the scarce water supply.
Colorado Springs Gazette; May 27
'MasterBlaster' bill will charge the course of future gun legislation
President Obama's signature of the credit-card reform bill that carried a policy change on guns in national parks along with it probably won't have much of an effect on visitors' experiences in those national parks, but it will have a telling influence on future gun bills. A column by Bill Schneider.
NewWest.net; May 28
Respect Wyoming's wildlife by following some simple forest etiquette
Follow these simple rules to improve your chances of seeing wildlife on your next hike in Wyoming's wilderness: stay on the trail, observe wildlife from a distance and control your dogs.
Jackson Hole Guide; May 27
Beyond the Region
Northwest company keeps plastic ag containers out of landfills
The Ag Container Recycling Council, a consortium of chemical manufacturers, including Bayer CropScience, DuPont Crop Protection and Dow AgroSciences, has been operating a program since 1992 to recycle plastic pesticide containers, and Northwest Ag Plastics runs the program in much of the Pacific Northwest.
Yakima Herald-Republic; May 28
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