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Photo courtesy of Rick and Susie Graetz
Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012
produced daily by Shellie Nelson
Page 2
More news from the Rockies
Community
Alberta cities give natural-gas powered buses a test drive
Calgary will put two natural-gas-powered buses each from two separate manufacturers a try this winter, and Edmonton is also testing a couple, and the Alberta cities plan to compare notes on how well they run.
Calgary Herald; Sept. 19

Montana subdivision wins approval from Lewis and Clark County
The Lewis and Clark County Commission voted against the recommendations of the Montana county's Planning Board approved the Silver Star subdivision, but did attach a list of conditions.
Helena Independent Record; Sept. 19

Cascade County approves subdivision, says septic concerns are Montana's
At its meeting Tuesday, the Cascade County Commission approved a 23-home subdivision on 245 acres in the Montana county, despite neighbors' concerns about whether the site was suitable for septic systems, an issue the commissioners said rested with the state Department of Environmental Quality.
Great Falls Tribune; Sept. 19

Urban wildlife reserve in Idaho city opens to the public
The 54-acre Hyatt Hidden Lakes Reserve in West Boise officially opened to public access on Tuesday.
Idaho Statesman; Sept. 19

Environment
BLM opens energy lease assessments in Wyoming up for public comment
The Bureau of Land Management will take public comment through Oct. 17 on environmental assessments of three energy development projects in Wyoming's Converse and Niobrara counties.
Casper Star-Tribune; Sept. 19

USFS relents a bit on cabin rental in Montana national forest
The Bitterroot Cross Country Ski Club spent nearly two decades developing the cross-country ski trails in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in Montana, and in 2001, raised $100,000 to build the Gordon Reese Cabin at Chief Joseph Pass, a cabin that the Forest Service said now is part of the agency's nationwide rental system and no longer free, but has compromised and lowered the overnight rental rate from $20 to $9 for this season.
Ravalli Republic; Sept. 19

Michigan hunter injured by grizzly bear in Idaho
A Michigan hunter who was helping a friend track an injured elk last Friday surprised a grizzly bear near Ashton, and was bitten by the bear before he had a chance to respond.
Idaho Statesman (Idaho Falls Post-Register); Sept. 19

Active burning on Idaho, Montana wildfires keep area skies smoky
The Sawtooth Fire in Montana's Bitterroot Valley is now burning away from homes, but areas within the burned area are still ablaze, pumping smoke into the valley, and the Mustang and Porcupine complex fires near the Idaho-Montana border are adding to the smoke as well.
Missoulian; Sept. 19

Wyoming sees indications that Grand Teton land deal may be postponed
The Interior Department may not be able to complete the proposed $107-million deal to buy two square miles of Wyoming state land that lie within the boundaries of Grand Teton National Park, and if the federal government confirms that the deal is dead, Wyoming would be free to shop around for another buyer.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); Sept. 19

Politics
Ninth Circuit Court tosses component of Montana's election law
A three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision late Monday that said Montana's ban on political-party endorsements in state nonpartisan judge races should immediately be rescinded.
Helena Independent Record; Sept. 19

Montana gubernatorial candidates meet for first debate
At a debate in Helena on Tuesday night, Montana gubernatorial candidates Republican Rick Hill and Democrat Steve Bullock staked out their positions on such issues as taxes, medical marijuana and labor policy.
Helena Independent Record; Sept. 19

Legislature
Utah ends 2012 fiscal year $98M in the black
Utah legislators are already warning agencies that they intend to be tight-fisted about handing out the $46.5 million they will have to appropriate out of the $98 million the state had at the end of fiscal year 2012.
Salt Lake Tribune; Sept. 15

Economy
Work on schedule to get Alberta's largest wind farm powered up this year
Edmonton-based Capital Power Corp.'s $357-million, 150-megawatt wind farm, which will be Alberta's largest when all 83 turbines are up and running, should be completed and generating power before winter.
Edmonton Journal; Sept. 19

Airport in Alberta's oilsands hub to soon offer flights to Denver, Las Vegas
The first international flight from Fort McMurray airport in Alberta's oilsands country will fly to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on Dec. 19, the day a Canada Border Service station opens at the airport, and plans are in place for flights to Denver and Las Vegas to begin this spring.
Edmonton Journal; Sept. 19

SEC action cancels sale of Montana-based MSE Technology Inc.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has suspended the trading of stock of Global Technologies Group, a Florida-based company that was in the process of buying Butte-based MSE Technology Inc.
Montana Standard; Sept. 19

Phillips 66's lawsuit challenges Montana's valuation of refinery in 2010
In a lawsuit filed in Yellowstone County District Court, Texas-based Phillips 66 alleges Montana illegally or improperly raised the tax valuation of the company's refinery in Billings.
Billings Gazette; Sept. 19

CoreLogic says nation's most improved housing market is in Idaho
A national real-estate research company assessed housing markets across the United States by comparing year-over-year changes in number of sales, home prices and delinquencies, and found that the Boise-Nampa area in Idaho was the nation's most improved market.
Idaho Statesman; Sept. 19

Private equity company buys share of Utah-based technology firm
Blackstone, a private equity firm, may spend more than $2 billion to buy the interests of Goldman Sachs, Peterson Partners and Jupiter Partners, as well as others, in Utah-based Vivant, which supplies home automation, security and solar power equipment and services.
Salt Lake Tribune; Sept. 15

Idaho mining operations recovers gold from tailings with just water
Since 2009, Gold Hill Reclamation and Mining Co. has been recovering gold from waste rock left behind decades ago from mining operations in the Boise Basin
Idaho Statesman; Sept. 15





Mountain West News is a program of the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West
at The University of Montana.
"W e're seeing a clear change, with bigger fires starting earlier, showing longer fire durations."

Jennifer Marlon of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, discussing Climate Central's new report, "The Age of Western Wildfires."
- Missoulian

On The Bookshelf
Barbara Theroux gives readers a preview of books to be released this fall

6/12/2013

A Look Ahead
Roundtable on the Crown of the Continent's Third Annual Conference: Pathways to Prosperity: Caring for Communities in the Crown of the Continent, Fernie, B.C.

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

6/12/2013:  An Afternoon Cigar
5/29/2013:  Like A Small Family
5/22/2013:  This Little Journey
5/15/2013:  A Long Way
5/8/2013:  Making Roots


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



at the

The University of Montana