In the Rockies today, the federal government rolls out a proposed brucellosis management plan that has the support of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming livestock agencies, the three states in the Greater Yellowstone area where the new rules would be the most restrictive.
Republican senators from Utah, Idaho and Wyoming have formed a new Western caucus to gain more access to land and resources in the West.
And the National Conservation System Foundation is on the hunt for local support of Bureau of Land Management Lands protected under the National Landscape Conservation System that includes 16 national monuments in eight Western states.
Today in Headwaters News' Western Perspective, Headwaters News' summer intern Chris Arneson writes on the changing housing market here in Missoula County.
The national housing slump hasn't hit the Montana county as hard as in other parts of the West, such as Nevada, Arizona and Colorado, where entire subdivisions sit nearly empty.
But business has slowed down since 2006, as the Missoula Organization of Realtors' statistics reflect, and homebuilders are adapting to slower times by taking smaller jobs--of which there are more as people remodel rather than build or move--and by using subcontractors rather than keep a full roster of employees.
We invite you to read the column and send us your thoughts.
Rockies today
USDA, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana reach brucellosis accord
On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its tentative proposal to scrap its existing brucellosis rules that would impose less stringent restrictions across the nation but impose tighter rules for areas around Yellowstone National Park, the last area in the nation where the disease persists in wild elk and bison.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); June 25
GOP senators from Utah, Wyoming Idaho form new Western Caucus
Republican Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett of Utah, along with Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso and Idaho Sen. Jim Risch announced the formation of a new Western caucus on Wednesday, with the stated mission of relaxing government's grip on the West's natural resources and land.
Salt Lake Tribune; June 25
Senate panel to hear 1872 mining law revamp on July 14
The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources will hold a hearing on New Mexico Sen. Jeff Bingaman's bill to revamp the General Mining Act of 1872 on July 14.
Elko Daily Free Press; June 25
Idaho senator, congressman oppose Clean Water Act changes
Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo said legislation currently before the U.S. Senate to change wording in the Clean Water Act to replace "navigable waters" with "waters of the United States," is nothing less than a monumental government land grab, and he, along with Idaho U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, oppose the bill.
Twin Falls Times-News; June 25
Colorado wildlife officials find 10 lynx kittens this year
Colorado's lynx re-introduction program is finally starting to see some success, and state biologists say that they found 10 kittens, which may indicate that the lynx 10-year population cycle may have started its upswing.
Aspen Times; June 25
Power poles set for Idaho hydroelectric project
The Boise Project has been in the works since 1989, and now power poles are in the process of being set to carry electricity generated by a hydroelectric plant at Idaho's Arrowrock Dam to the Northwest electrical grid are being set in place.
Idaho Statesman; June 25
Foundation works to gain local support for NLCS lands
When President Obama signed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act in March, the National Landscape Conservation System became law, protecting 850 areas that cover 26 million acres, but most of the areas aren't well known, and the National Conservation System Foundation is working to establish local groups to help raise awareness of those lands.
Concierge.com (Conde Nast Traveler); June 25
Opinion
Obama can save Alaska lake, Clean Water Act
The Supreme Court decision that allows a mining company to fill -- and kill -- an Alaska lake with mining waste doesn't have to be the final word on this issue, as the Obama administration can simply roll back the definition of "fill material" in the Clean Water Act that the previous administration expanded to include contaminated mining waste.
New York Times; June 25
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Supreme Court decision a toxic interpretation of Clean Water Act
The U.S. Supreme Court's 6-3 decision Monday to allow a gold mining company to dump toxic waste into a lake in Alaska is a narrow, unreasonable interpretation of the law and exposes a loophole in the Clean Water Act that Congress should immediately close.
Las Vegas Sun; June 25
Canadian city's homeless effort a complete bust
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson's brilliant idea to create homeless shelters where vacant buildings allowed the B.C. city to do so quickly put the shelters in two residential areas where the hard-to-house clients quickly brought their drug problems and other attendant social behavior with them, and now residents of those neighborhoods want the shelters gone--and some have gone to U.S. media outlets asking that visitors be warned away from the B.C. city--not exactly a message the host of the 2010 Winter Olympics wants spread around. A column by Gary Mason.
Toronto Globe and Mail; June 25
Beyond the Region
Canada's forest industry worst in world in 2008
Although Canada had only 11 of the top 100 forest industry companies in the world in 2008, those 11 accounted for half of the $8 billion loss posted by those 100 companies in 2008.
Calgary Herald (Financial Post); June 25
Senate Democrats pitch immigration reform with biometric angle
President Barack Obama will meet with congressional leaders today to begin work on immigration reform, and on Wednesday, Senate Democrats outlined their proposal for an identification system for U.S. workers that includes verification through fingerprints and an eye scan.
Washington Post; June 25
Obama meets with Washington governor, 4 others on health care
On Wednesday, President Barack Obama met with Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire, as well as the governors of Vermont, South Dakota, Michigan and Wisconsin, all of whom had hosted regional conferences on health-care reform, while talks on health care continued in Congress, where Montana Sen. Max Baucus said progress was being made toward a plan that would have bipartisan support.
Washington Post; June 25
Poll: Majority want greenhouse gas emissions restricted
A new poll commissioned by the Washington Post-ABC News found that nearly 75 percent of those surveyed believed the government should regulate greenhouse-gas emissions, but only 52 percent believed a cap-and-trade system would work.
Washington Post; June 25
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California may implement nation's first carbon fee
California may become the first state to pass a comprehensive carbon fee on utilities and energy producers as a way to pay for its 2006 landmark greenhouse gas law and the bureaucracy needed to implement it, though some business observers fear the new fee will place an added burden on the state's already strained business climate.
Las Vegas Sun (AP); June 25
Commerce Department: U.S. economy still plummeting, but slower
The economy is still tumbling, but slowed slightly to a rate of 5.5 percent in 2009's first quarter, which is better than an earlier figure of 5.7 percent, though the nation's job market still suffers, a report released Thursday by the Commerce Department indicated.
Washington Post (AP); June 25
Crews make quick work of wildfires in Washington state
Two wildfires that ignited Wednesday in Washington state near Yakima were quickly contained by crews.
Yakima Herald; June 25
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