In the Rockies today, business deals are at the top of the page.
British Columbia-based Intrawest, which owns the 2010 Winter Olympics venue Whistler Blackcomb, sold its Copper Mountain Resort in Colorado to Utah-based Powdr Corp.
Intrawest officials said the sale was driven by a desire to pay down the B.C. company's debt load.
In Montana, a California company came calling to buy the Semitool company, which builds equipment and tools to manufacture microchips at three facilities in Northwest Montana.
Santa-Clara based Applied Materials is offering Semitool shareholders $11 for each of their shares, a 31 percent increase over the price the stock closed at Monday--but Semitool's stock prices soared with the news, with premarket prices at nearly $11 on Tuesday.
Two-thirds of the shareholders must approve the sale before it can go through, but with directors and executives who hold 32 percent of the shares already pledging their approval, the $364-million deal may be a shoo-in.
For our readers in the Missoula area, Timothy Egan will be reading from and signing his new book, "The Big Burn," at an event at 7 p.m. at Fact & Fiction in downtown Missoula.
Rockies today
California company makes pitch for Montana manufacturing firm
California-based Applied Materials Inc. has offered shareholders of Semitool Inc., a Montana based company that manufactures equipment and tools to make microchips, a premium price for their shares; Applied will have to get two-thirds of Semitool's shareholders to approve the sale.
Flathead Beacon; Nov. 18
B.C.-based Intrawest sells Colorado ski resort to Utah company
Intrawest ULC, the owner of Whistler Blackcomb, announced that it had sold its Copper Mountain ski resort in Colorado to Utah-based Powdr Corp.
Toronto Globe Investor; Nov. 18
Montana governor puts pine beetle problem on WGA agenda
Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer is chairman of the Western Governors Association, and he said Tuesday, he intends to put the problem of the spread of pine beetles on the agenda of the Western Governors Association.
Missoulian; Nov. 18
Wyoming considers seasonal ban on antler gathering
Antler gatherers in Wyoming have become too aggressive--and numerous--and officials of that state are considering a ban on antler gathering from January through April to give wildlife a break.
Los Angeles Times; Nov. 18
Idaho settles grazing lawsuit with $50,000 settlement
Under the terms of a settlement of a lawsuit brought by an environmentalist who bid on seven grazing leases offered by the Idaho Board of Land but lost to ranchers who bid a lower amount, the Board agreed to pay Washington state businessman and environmentalist Gordon Younger $50,000 and promised to revise its rules to allow conservation groups to lease state trust lands.
Idaho Statesman (AP); Nov. 18
Former Idaho Sen. Craig warns cattlemen to stay vigilant
Former U.S. Sen. Larry Craig spoke at the Idaho Cattle Association's annual conference in Sun Valley on Tuesday, where he warned attendees that federal legislation, such as the Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act, were being interpreted differently than they were intended, and that ranchers needed to stay involved to keep their place on the range.
Twin Falls Times-News; Nov. 18
Wolf hunt ends in third Idaho zone
Idaho Department of Fish and Game closed the wolf hunt Tuesday in the Dworshak-Elk City zone after hunters took the 18 wolves allowed in that zone; the wolf season closed earlier in the Upper Salmon and the McCall-Weiser area.
Spokane Spokesman-Review (AP); Nov. 18
Opinion
Treasury secretary should pick bison quarter for Yellowstone
U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has a full plate these days, but one task on his to-do list is a no-brainer: Pick the Yellowstone quarter that shows the bison and Old Faithful.
Billings Gazette; Nov. 18
Colorado needs to exhale before taxing marijuana
Before Colorado legislators race to tax medical marijuana, there are several legal questions that need to be answered and state lawmakers must tread carefully to ensure they do not expand the measure that legalized medical marijuana into something voters did not approve.
Denver Post; Nov. 18
Arizona must take the long view on funding state parks
Arizona's state parks are an important part of the economy, and there is a real danger that Arizona could become the first state in the union not to have a state park system, making the issue of funding a priority.
Arizona Republic; Nov. 18
Beyond the region
Oregon governor orders agencies to review energy tax breaks
Following an investigation by The Oregonian about the escalating costs of energy tax credits to Oregon, Gov. Ted Kulongoski ordered an immediate review of the Business Energy Tax Credit.
Portland Oregonian; Nov. 18
California county supervisor protests solar-power project
San Bernardino County Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt said a solar-power project in his California county, which would provide jobs primarily for Las Vegas and electricity for San Francisco, would have too great an environmental impact on his county and he does not believe it should be built.
Los Angeles Times; Nov. 18
Gold prices climb further into record territory
The price of gold hit $1,143.45 per ounce early Wednesday morning.
National Post (Toronto); Nov. 18
China blamed for rise in carbon emissions
During previous periods of international recession, carbon dioxide emissions have dropped, but not so for the current economic slump according to a study published Tuesday, which said an increase in emissions in China, India and other developing nations are to blame.
Denver Post (AP); Nov. 18
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