In the Rockies today, research on fighting pine bark beetles and new rules on leasing Idaho state lands.

First up, research under way at Northern Arizona University has found that pine bark beetles' communications may be the best weapon against the burrowing bugs.

Researchers at NAU's School of Forestry have found that by manipulating sounds the bugs make, they can make them turn on each other, which is promising news in the West where the bugs have killed millions of acres of trees.

In Idaho, lawmakers put their stamp of approval on new leasing rules for state lands that took effect immediately.

New categories of leases were created, as was a new procedure for handling contested leases.

And in our In-depth section, a roundup of articles about President Obama's meeting with governors on energy policy on Wednesday that included governors from Montana, Wyoming and Washington.

Rockies today

Arizona researchers fight pine beetles with beetle 'music'
Researchers at the Northern Arizona University School of Forestry found they could drive bark beetles away from areas by playing back the sounds beetles uses to communicate with each other.
Arizona Daily Sun ; Feb. 4
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Idaho lawmakers OK new leasing rules for state lands
On Wednesday, the Idaho House and Senate Resource committees approved rules developed by the Idaho Land Board last year that create new categories of leases for state lands, set out procedures for contested leases and allow multiple leases on the same acres as long as they do not conflict; the rules take effect immediately.
Idaho Statesman (AP); Feb. 4
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Montana agency will hold hearings on exempt water wells
The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation will appoint a hearing examiner and hold hearings on a state law that allows small water wells be drilled without a permit.
Billings Gazette; Feb. 4
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Idaho parks board backs away from closure decisions
The Idaho Parks and Recreation Board said Wednesday that it would reverse its decision to close some state parks to deal with proposed budget cuts, and the board told said work was under way to find ways to keep all 30 state parks open.
Idaho Statesman ; Feb. 4
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Report sounds alarm about future water supplies in Wyoming
A report released this week by the Ruckelshaus Institute of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming warned that warming temperatures and a decline in precipitation in the state means less snowpack, upon which Wyoming relies heavily for its surface water supplies.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); Feb. 4
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Utah groups protest Colorado uranium mill's water request
Utah-based Red Rock Forests and Living Rivers challenged Energy Fuels Resources' application for 282-acre-feet of groundwater in Colorado for development and processing at its proposed Pinion Ridge Uranium Mill in Paradox.
Deseret News ; Feb. 4
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Another dry month drives snowpack levels lower in Colorado
The Natural Resources Conservation Service's latest report said that snowpack levels in Colorado's river basins were 86 percent of average, the lowest level reported since 2003.
Denver Post ; Feb. 4
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Debate over Northern Rockies wolves all about the numbers
The lawsuits over wolf management in the Northern Rockies focus primarily on the number of wolves needed for a sustainable population, and Idaho and Montana say their population goals will do that, but wolf advocates disagreed and disputed the science on which the numbers were based.
Missoulian ; Feb. 4
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Opinion

Wyoming needs to abandon its ill-advised approach on wolves
Wyoming's stubborn stance on wolf management has kept wolves in the Cowboy State on the endangered species list, and it may also affect how Idaho and Montana manage their wolves, which would be a shame as those states appear to have been successful in showing that regulated hunting of wolves can work.
Casper Star-Tribune ; Feb. 4
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Beyond the region

President rolls out his alternative-fuels agenda
President Obama said Wednesday that his administration was working on a rule to meet the mandate in the 2007 energy bill for the nation to produce 36 billion gallons of ethanol and advanced biofuels a year by 2022.
New York Times ; Feb. 4
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Trio of oilsands companies embroiled in dispute over Alberta Clipper
Suncor Energy Inc. and Imperial Oil Ltd. asked the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to prevent Enbridge Inc. from raising tolls for the Alberta Clipper, a pipeline that runs from Alberta to Wisconsin, until Enbridge can prove that there is enough demand for the U.S. portion of the pipeline.
Toronto Globe and Mail ; Feb. 4
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Oregon governor, legislators want to reduce wind-energy tax credits
Oregon's tax incentives for wind-energy projects have outpaced expectations and have put a serious crimp in the state's already dented budget, and now Gov. Ted Kulongoski and state lawmakers are working on legislation to reduce those incentives.
Portland Oregonian ; Feb. 4
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In depth

Montana, Wyoming governors talk energy with President Obama
President Obama met with governors from coal and corn states, including Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer and Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal, on Wednesday to discuss those energy resources, as well as carbon sequestration and transmission projects.
Casper Star-Tribune ; Feb. 4
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• Montana governor applauds Obama's stance on coal-fired power
  Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer was one of 10 governors who met with President Obama to discuss energy on Wednesday, and Schweitzer applauded the president's recognition that coal will play a lead role in the nation's energy picture in the future.
  Missoulian ; Feb. 4
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• Washington governor lauds Obama's support of nuclear power
  Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire was one of 10 governors that met with President Obama on Wednesday to talk about energy, including the president's recent push for nuclear power.
  Yakima Herald-Republic (AP); Feb. 4
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