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Photo courtesy of Rick and Susie Graetz
Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012
produced daily by Shellie Nelson
Page 2
More news from the Rockies
Community
Bill, Melinda Gates drop in to check up on Colorado education program
The Gates Foundation contributed $10 million in a Colorado program that tests new ways to combine state education standards and teacher evaluations, and on Tuesday, Bill and Melinda Gates were in the state to visit schools where the work is being done.
Denver Post; Oct. 17

Wyoming students like some of changes to school lunches
To meet new federal guidelines, Natrona County School's lunches now have more fruits and vegetables, and servings of chicken nuggets and other proteins have been reduced, which has caused complaints among students that they aren't getting enough to eat.
Casper Star-Tribune; Oct. 17

Idaho city's bike share plan has support, just not the monetary kind
At a Boise City Council meeting on Tuesday, Dave Fotsch, spokesman for the Central District Health Department touted the benefits a bike-sharing program would bring to the Idaho city, but council members balked at the $650,000 startup cost, as well as the projected maintenance costs, and suggested that the Health Department cultivate partnerships to raise the money needed.
Idaho Statesman; Oct. 17

U. of Wyoming agrees to media restrictions on Justice Scalia speech
U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Antonin Scalia will speak next week on the University of Wyoming campus, but no recording of his speech will be allowed nor will reporters be allowed to ask him any questions, which are standard restrictions required by Justice Scalia.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); Oct. 17

Environment
National forest in Montana to re-evaluate for elk cover
After losing lawsuits that challenged the Helena and Lincoln ranger districts in the Helena National Forest was not meeting the standards required for assessing elk hide cover, those Montana ranger districts are re-evaluating for such cover.
Helena Independent Record; Oct. 17

Wyoming biologists study how natural gas development may affect eagles
While there have been studies done in Wyoming to track the effect energy development has had on species such as pronghorn antelope, sage grouse and mule deer, none have been done to see if natural gas development has had any impact on bald eagles until now, as biologists with the state Game and Fish Department and the Craighead Beringia South in Jackson Hole have fitted six bald eagles with GPS transmitters to allow the birds to be tracked for the next six years.
Jackson Hole Daily; Oct. 17

Montana FWP reviews deaths of 3 grizzly bears in separate incidents
Three separate incidents in recent days left grizzly bears dead in Northwest Montana, and state wildlife officials are investigating each of those incidents.
Flathead Beacon; Oct. 17

Big, bold map provides colorful survey of Idaho's geology
The Idaho Geological Survey's new map provides colorful detail about the Gem State's rocks and their ages.
Idaho Statesman (Lewiston Tribune); Oct. 17

Forecast of high winds unwelcome in Colorado where wildfires burn
Wildfire season continues to burn on in Colorado, and with wildfires burning near Rocky Mountain National Park and in the southwest corner of the state, high wind warnings for today added another burden on firefighters.
Denver Post; Oct. 17

Politics
Appeals court keeps Montana campaign spending limits in place
On Tuesday, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals extended a temporary stay ordered last week that keeps campaign spending limits on state races in Montana in place until the federal appeals court has time to review U.S. District Court Judge Charles Lovell's decision that found those spending limits unconstitutional.
Helena Independent Record (AP); Oct. 17

Wyoming governor: Use mineral trust funds to pay for fire, water projects
At the annual meeting Tuesday of the Wyoming Taxpayers Association, Gov. Matt Mead said that, with budget cuts looming due to decreased natural gas revenue, he'd suggest that the $160 million in state mineral trust dollars that are directed into the Permanent Mineral Trust Fund, be diverted to pay for such things as fire suppression, the Madison water project, and landfill projects around the state.
Casper Star-Tribune; Oct. 17

Montana congressman, S.D. senator hold listening session in Great Falls
At a meeting Tuesday with state legislators and Great Falls business owners, South Dakota U.S. Sen. John Thune and Montana U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, who is challenging Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, agreed that extending unemployment benefits and expanding food stamps programs kept people from seeking work.
Great Falls Tribune; Oct. 17

Legislature
Wyoming legislative committee OKs bill to allow storage of nuclear waste
On Tuesday, the Wyoming Legislature's Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee voted unanimously to support a bill that would allow nuclear waste from power plants in Wyoming to be temporarily stored in the state.
Casper Star-Tribune; Oct. 17

Economy
Despite decline in filings, Utah still ranks 4th in nation in bankruptcies
Although the number of Utahns filing for bankruptcy in the first nine months of this year steadily declined, the Beehive State maintained its ranking of 4th-highest-per-capita in the nation.
Salt Lake Tribune; Oct. 17

Certifying organic products in Idaho requires lots of steps, paperwork
The Idaho State Department of Agriculture was accredited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Organic Program to be a certifying agency for organic foods in 2002, a process that involves inspections, and much documentation.
Twin Falls Times-News; Oct. 17





Mountain West News is a program of the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West
at The University of Montana.
"W e've been able to reshore about 15 to 20 percent of our volume back to the U.S. from China over the last year."

Bill Lovell, global director of supply chain for Fort Collins-based OtterBox, a Colorado company that is following the national trend of bringing manufacturing jobs home from China.
- Denver Post

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

6/12/2013

A Look Ahead
Environmental Law Group's 2012 Fall Lecture Series at the University of Montana School of Law
    Oct. 18: "Natural Resource Policy and the Law: Know the Rules and Play the Game," by Martha Williams, deputy solicitor for Parks and Wildlife, U.S. Dept. of Interior, Solicitor's Office, Washington, D.C.

    Oct. 25: "The Public's Treasure in Land, Water, & Minerals: Law and Policy on Public Lands in the West," by Alan Campbell, attorney with the Office of General Counsel of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture in Missoula

    Oct. 29: "Global Warming: Law and Policy at a Crossroads," by Jenny Harbine, staff attorney in the Bozeman office for Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund

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

6/19/2013:  Tap
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


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



at the

The University of Montana