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Photo courtesy of Rick and Susie Graetz
Friday, Sept. 21, 2012
produced daily by Shellie Nelson
Page 2
More news from the Rockies
Community
 Idaho's median household income declines for third year in a row
New Census data indicate that the median household income in Idaho fell for a third consecutive year, and only Nevada and Georgia recorded declines larger than the Gem State's.
Idaho Statesman; Sept. 21

Real estate markets in Colorado's high country improve
In six of Colorado's resort-anchored counties, real estate sales thus far this year are up over the same time period last year.
Denver Post; Sept. 21

Tribes
 Montana governor releases annual tribal relations report
Legislation passed in Montana in 2003 requires the governor to provide an annual reporting of deals between tribes and the state government, and this year's annual report indicates there were 450 agreements, trainings and other collaborative works.
Char-Koosta News; Sept. 20

BIA nominee gets strong support during Senate confirmation hearing
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held a hearing last Friday on Kevin Washburn's nomination to lead the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the nomination received strong support from tribal representatives and federal officials and lawmakers.
Char-Koosta News; Sept. 20

Environment
 Parks Canada's program removes unwanted trout from Alberta lake
For the past 13 months, a team of Parks Canada scientists and volunteers have been pulling brook trout from Hidden Lake in Banff National Park in Alberta, with the plan to make the lake a haven once again for native cutthroat trout.
Calgary Herald; Sept. 20

Interest high for drilling permits in Wyoming's Converse, Niobrara counties
More than 20 companies have filed for permits to drill in Converse County and part of Niobrara County in east-central Wyoming, with the Bureau of Land Management's Casper Field Office currently processing between 300 and 350 applications.
Denver Post (Gillette News-Record); Sept. 21

Insurance companies sue U.S., Army over 2010 Utah wildfire
Allstate Insurance Co., Met Group and Metropolitan Property and Casualty filed a lawsuit this week against the federal government and the Army National Guard, alleging that they were negligent for allowing training exercises that ignited the Machine Gun Fire in 2010 near Herriman, and seeking $785,000 in reimbursement for claims paid to policyholders who lost their homes.
Salt Lake Tribune; Sept. 21

Fire danger 'extreme' in W. Wyoming as Horsethief Fire calms
Bridger-Teton National Forest fire specialist Andy Norman said conditions in western Wyoming are drier than they were in 1988, and while the Horsethief Canyon Fire is nearly contained, three others in northwest Wyoming are growing.
Jackson Hole Daily; Sept. 20

Weeks-old wildfire in Montana makes a run
The Condon Mountain Fire has been relatively calm in the past weeks since igniting July 28, but on Wednesday the wildfire in the Flathead National Forest in Montana grew to nearly 3,000 acres.
Missoulian; Sept. 21

Wildfire in Montana's Bitterroot Valley now 40 percent contained
The 5,021-acre Sawtooth Fire burning west of Hamilton in Montana is well-contained on the edge near homes, but will be allowed to burn on the edge in rough, wild terrain.
Ravalli Republic; Sept. 21

Yellowstone National Park wildfires continue to burn
The Cygnet Fire is the largest one now burning in Yellowstone National Park, where dry conditions continue to feed the fires.
Idaho Statesman (AP); Sept. 21

Advisory group recommends continued multiple-use for Idaho's Cedar Fields
The Bureau of Land Management isn't expected to make a decision on changes in management for Cedar Fields, but the agency’s Resource Advisory Council is recommending that it remain open to multiple use.
Twin Falls Times-News; Sept. 21

Politics
 Idaho Department of Health and Welfare gets Medicaid analysis
In anticipation of changes to Medicaid eligibility under the federal Affordable Care Act, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare requested an analysis of what changes would occur in Idaho, and a report on that analysis was released Thursday.
Twin Falls Times-News; Sept. 21

Wyoming ranchers say lack of a farm bill will add to losses
Ranchers in Wyoming have lost livestock and forage to wildfires and drought, and with no farm bill likely to pass by Sept. 30, disaster programs that could help ranchers are likely to end as well.
Casper Star-Tribune; Sept. 21

Economy
 Exxon, Denbury to trade energy properties in Wyoming, Montana, N.D.
Exxon Mobil Corp.'s $1.6-billion deal with Denbury Resources Inc. will increase Exxon's holdings in the Bakken formation in Montana and North Dakota by 50 percent, while Denbury will get some of Exxon's holdings in Wyoming and Texas.
Great Falls Tribune; Sept. 21

EPA fines KinderMorgan for inadequate safety plans at Wyoming plants
KinderMorgan will pay $316,000 in fines for having inadequate risk management plans in place at its natural gas processing facilities in Casper and Douglas, which are among the assets KinderMorgan is selling to Tallgrass Energy later this year.
Casper Star-Tribune; Sept. 21

Colorado's unemployment rate edges down a bit in August
The unemployment rate in Colorado decreased 0.1 percent between July and August to 8.2 percent, which is 0.1 percent higher than the national unemployment rate of 8.1 percent reported last month.
Denver Post; Sept. 21

B.C. launches pilot program to move unemployed to where the jobs are
Job Match, a $2.9-million pilot program in British Columbia, will work with communities where unemployment is low to bring in workers who may now be on welfare or getting unemployment benefits, to fill open jobs.
Vancouver Sun; Sept. 20
Mountain West News is a program of the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West
at The University of Montana.
"W e applaud FERC's decision today, which upholds the sanctity of our qualified facility power purchase agreements with Idaho Power."

Steve Eisenberg, the managing director of RP Wind ID LLC, the managing partner of Idaho Wind Partners 1, about the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's decision that Idaho Power must buy wind-generated power, even in times of low demand.
- Idaho Statesman (AP)
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
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

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