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Photo courtesy of Rick and Susie Graetz
Friday, May 17, 2013
produced daily by Shellie Nelson
Page 2
More news from the Rockies
Community
Warden of private prison in Idaho resigns
Timothy Wengler, who works for Corrections Corporation of America, became warden of the privately run Idaho Correctional Center to replace the warden who left amid an investigation of reports of inmate-on-inmate violence, and Wengler himself is leaving amid an investigation that staff had falsified their time records.
Idaho Statesman and Associated Press; May 17

Residents urge Colorado county commission to extend drilling moratorium
At a meeting of the Boulder County Commission on Thursday, residents of the Colorado county urged commissioners to extend the current moratorium, which expires June 10, on processing new applications for permits to drill for oil and gas.
Boulder Daily Camera; May 17

Idaho Insurance Department launches Affordable Care Act education campaign
To help educate Idahoans about changes wrought by the federal Affordable Care Act, the state Department of Insurance is developing a series of articles and links to websites.
Twin Falls Times-News; May 17

Utah gears up for health care reform
Utah is the only state that offers two marketplace options for health care insurance under the federal Affordable Care Act, with the federal government running one and the state the other, and members of the Utah Health Reform Task Force got an update Thursday from the state Insurance Department on getting procedures and programs in place for enrollments beginning in October.
Deseret News; May 17

U. of Montana puts second site on table for new Missoula College
On Thursday, Peggy Kuhr, the University of Montana's vice president of integrated communications, said that a 7-acre parcel of land the University owns on East Broadway would be considered as a potential site for the new Missoula College, although Kuhr made it clear that the parcel on which the UM golf course is now located is still on the table.
Missoulian; May 17

Tribes
Salish exhibit in Butte reflects Montana Silver Bow Creek's history
Before copper mining arrived in Montana, Silver Bow Creek teemed with bull trout and the Salish people shot the fish with arrows, and a new exhibit that opens in Butte reflects the creek's history with the tribe.
Montana Standard; May 17

Montana tribe says ousted chairman of business council won't be reinstated
Former Chippewa Cree Business Committee Chairman Ken Blatt St. Marks is seeking a restraining order to delay an election held by the tribe in Montana until St. Marks is reinstated as a candidate, but the tribe's Election committee said St. Marks will remain ineligible to run.
Great Falls Tribune; May 17

Youngest defendant in Crow corruption case in Montana to plead guilty
Martin Lloyd Old Horn, the youngest of the seven defendants on Montana's Crow Reservation facing federal corruption charges, has reached a plea deal with federal prosecutors.
Great Falls Tribune (AP); May 17

Environment
Montana man charged with setting wildfires had volunteered as fireman
Frederick James Maw V, 18, is charged with 12 counts of arson for allegedly setting a series of wildfires near Helena, Mont.
Helena Independent Record; May 17

Large elk antlers get pulled from annual Wyoming auction
While preparing the antlers picked up on the National Elk Refuge for the annual Elk Antler Auction in Wyoming, a pair of 6-by-8 antlers that earned a gross score of 431 7/8 on the Boone and Crockett system was pulled from the auction to be used as a display.
Jackson Hole Daily; May 17

Politics
Colorado secretary of state mulls run for governor in 2014
The Denver Post reported Thursday that former U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo was weighing a run for Colorado governor in 2014, and today, Secretary of State Scott Gessler is reported to be considering such a run, too.
Denver Post; May 17

Legislature
Snowmobile group asks Wyoming legislators to raise fees
The Wyoming State Snowmobile Association said an increase in permit fees for snowmobiles is needed to help fund trail maintenance, and the group is asking state legislators to consider raising the fees $10 for private riders and $30 for commercial outfits.
Casper Star-Tribune; May 17

Economy
Colorado's jobless rate fell again in April
The unemployment rate in Colorado continued its downward trend in April, falling from 7.1 in March to 6.9 percent in April, with the most jobs gained in the professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, and education and health services.
Denver Post; May 17

Idaho officials say stable jobless rate due to decrease in workforce
The unemployment rate in Idaho remained at 6.1 percent in April, unchanged from that in March, and state Department of Labor officials said the number of people working or looking for work in the state declined again last month, the fourth consecutive month the labor force posted a decrease.
Idaho Statesman (AP); May 17

Utah reported above-average job growth in April
The unemployment rate in Utah in April fell for the third consecutive month, with the addition of 43,100 jobs between April 2012 and last month crediting for bringing the jobless rate down to 4.7 percent.
Salt Lake Tribune; May 17

First quarter foreclosure filings in Colorado down 41 percent
The Colorado Division of Housing reports that 4,571 foreclosure filings were made in the first quarter of 2013, a 41 percent decline from the 7,785 filings reported the first quarter of 2012.
Denver Post; May 17

Idaho chipmaker moves closer to Elpida Memory Inc. takeover
The decision of the Tokyo High Court to dismiss an appeal filed in Micron Technology Inc.'s takeover of bankrupt Elpida Memory Inc. removes one obstacle to the Idaho chipmaker's move to obtain the Japanese company.
Idaho Statesman; May 17

Home health care firms in Idaho see expanding business
The trend of seniors paying for in-home care to allow them to stay in their homes longer is driving an increase in home-health care businesses in Idaho, although workers' wages in the industry are some of the lowest in the state.
Idaho Statesman; May 17





Mountain West News is a program of the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West
at The University of Montana.
"I t's redundant to what the state's really requiring of us. We don’t really see a change."


On The Bookshelf
Barbara Theroux of Fact & Fiction reviews Christine Byl's "Dirt Work: An education in the woods

5/15/2013

Mountain West Perspectives
Study uncovers the restoration realities in Montana


4/15/2013

Mountain West Voices
Hear weekly stories from the Rocky Mountain West as gathered by Clay Scott

5/22/2013:  This Little Journey
5/8/2013:  Making Roots
5/1/2013:  Cancer in the Real World
4/24/2013:  Sheep Country
4/10/2013:  Shearing Sheep


Mountain West News is a program of the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West



at the

The University of Montana