Search
Our archives

Major Funders:
Foundation for Community Vitality
Greater Montana Foundation
Liz Claiborne Art Ortenberg Foundation
Idaho Public TV
Focust West
Dauphin Rapids
Photo courtesy of Rick and Susie Graetz
Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012
produced daily by Shellie Nelson
Page 2
More news from the Rockies
Community
 Colorado DOT to try 'continuous flow metering' on I-70
In order to keep winter weekend traffic flowing through the Eisenhower Tunnel on Interstate 70 in Colorado, state Department of Transportation officials will test the use of continuous flow metering on Dec. 8, a process using traffic lights that require only quick stops designed to keep traffic moving.
Denver Post; Nov. 29

Leaking pipe releases mine wastewater into Eagle River in Colorado
A failed plug in a clean-out port in a pipeline dumped mine waste from the Eagle Mine into the Eagle River near Minturn on Wednesday, turning the river in Colorado green, and tests are underway to determine the effects the spill may have on the river.
Vail Daily; Nov. 29

Environment
 Poachers end big game season in Montana with a blast near Lolo
Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks wardens are investigating a poaching incident on Sunday where at least four cow elk were killed illegally.
Missoulian; Nov. 29

Wyoming investigates mysterious disappearance of fish from 3 lakes
The trout stocked by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department from three Beartooth Mountain lakes are disappearing, and state biologists are working to find out why.
Billings Gazette; Nov. 25

Politics
 Colorado, Tennessee senators draft bipartisan measure to avoid fiscal cliff
Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennett of Colorado and Republican U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee have drafted a plan to rework the nation's tax code and reform Medicaid and Medicare to help facilitate the ongoing negotiations between Congress and the White House.
Denver Post; Nov. 29

Legislature
 Colorado legislators poised to pass civil unions bill in upcoming session
While there are many contentious issues facing Colorado legislators when the Legislature convenes in January, with Democrats in the majority in both chambers, a bill making the Centennial State the ninth in the nation to recognize civil unions is likely to pass.
Denver Post; Nov. 29

Expansion of Medicaid program a big issue awaiting Montana Legislature
At the 2012 Montana Healthcare Forum Conference in Helena on Wednesday, University of Montana economist Gregg Davis said that expansion of the Medicaid program would be an economic benefit to the state, but state Rep. Liz Bangerter said legislators are not totally on board with such an expansion and that the issue will be a priority when the Legislature convenes in January.
Missoulian; Nov. 29

Economy
 Target distribution center in Alberta to open in January
The 1.3-million-square-foot distribution center Target is building near Balzac in Alberta is one of three the company is building in Canada, and the facility--which covers an area the size of 22 football fields--will employ hundreds of workers when it opens in January.
Calgary Herald; Nov. 29

Outdoor enthusiasts may see footwear prices jump 30 percent
Unless Congress can override the Obama administration's opposition to outdoor industry duty suspension bills, the cost of footgear for hiking, biking and other outdoor activities that are manufactured overseas will increase prices nearly 38 percent, according to Outdoor Industry Association President Frank Hugelmeyer.
Boulder Daily Camera; Nov. 29

Utah firm snags $3.8 million in funding from U.S. Department of Energy
Ceramatec Inc. won two U.S. Department of Energy grants for cutting-edge research, and the Utah company will use than $1.7 million to develop a membrane reactor that can change natural gas into transportable liquids in one step, and $2.1 million to further its research on a solid-state fuel cell capable of operating at temperatures similar to those of internal combustion engines.
Salt Lake Tribune; Nov. 29
Mountain West News is a program of the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West
at The University of Montana.
"T he solar street lights kept our marina lit when all other grid-connected lights were out."

Wallace Chang, an engineer with the Morris County Parks Department in New Jersey, praising Idaho-based Inovus Solar's SmartPole and solar-powered street lights which kept operating during and after Hurricane Sandy.
- Idaho Statesman
On The Bookshelf
Barbara Theroux gives readers a preview of books to be released this fall

6/12/2013
A Look Ahead

Nov. 27-Dec. 2: Sustainable Tourism Education Program, Alta, Wyoming

Nov. 29-Dec. 1: Montana Organic Association's Tenth Anniversary Conference, Helena
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