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Photo courtesy of Rick and Susie Graetz
Friday, July 20, 2012
produced daily by Shellie Nelson
Page 2
More news from the Rockies
Community
Alberta resort town declines to limit chain stores
The Banff City Council voted 4-2 to toss a proposed bylaw that would have limited the number of corporate chains allowed to enter the marketplace of the Alberta resort town.
Calgary Herald; July 20

U. of Montana students' solar car on display at Butte energy fair
At the Renewable Energy Fair in Butte on Saturday, a team of University of Montana students will display the solar-powered car they entered in Shell Oil Co.'s Eco-Marathon, an international competition in Houston in April.
Montana Standard; July 20

Idaho offers incentives for blood tests for Silver Valley children
Idaho's Panhandle Health District is offering incentives to get Silver Valley parents to have their children tested for lead, as elevated lead levels are still a concern in the area of the Superfund site contaminated by decades of mining.
Spokane Spokesman-Review; July 20

Environment
Montana study details benefits of thinning old-growth forests
A University of Montana study done in the Southwestern Crown Collaborative (SWCC) project area that covers 1.5-million acres in Montana's Blackfoot, Clearwater and Swan river valleys in portions of the Flathead, Helena and Lolo national forests, examined the benefits of thinning old growth forests and found that such treatment successfully restored the spatial patterns of such forests.
Flathead Beacon; July 20

Wildfire on Montana-Idaho border now 30 percent contained
The 1,800-acre Chrandal Creek Fire burning along the Montana-Idaho border south of Darby is now 30 percent contained.
Ravalli Republic; July 20

Colorado National Guard unit started Wyoming wildfire
A Colorado National Guard unit's training exercises ignited the Sawmill Canyon Fire on the Wyoming National Guard's Camp Guernsey training grounds.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); July 20

Grass fire burns 100 acres, barn, in SW Idaho
The Summit fire, believed to be human caused, ignited mid-afternoon on Thursday near Horseshoe Bend, prompted the evacuation of about a dozen homes near the Idaho community, and burned across 100 acres in a matter of hours.
Idaho Statesman; July 20

Montana wildfire south of Livingston burns 1,075 acres
None of the 15 homes evacuated in the path of a wildfire that ignited south of Livingston, Mont., on Wednesday were lost to the 1,075-acre fire, which was reported to be fully contained early Friday morning.
Bozeman Daily Chronicle; July 20

Colorado's federal lawmakers make bipartisan plea for more FEMA aid
All nine members of Colorado's federal delegation have signed a letter requesting more Federal Emergency Management Agency aid to deal with the aftermath of the destructive Waldo Canyon and High Park wildfires.
Denver Post; July 20

Politics
Wyoming governor lays out concerns about proposed Medicaid expansion
In a letter to the Obama administration, Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead said states need more information on how the proposed Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act would affect them, and he also raised questions about the health insurance exchanges required under the federal law.
Casper Star-Tribune; July 20

Alberta premier gathers support for national energy plan
In advance of next week's Council of the Federation meeting of provincial and territorial leaders in Halifax, Alberta Premier Alison Redford is meeting with fellow premiers to get their support for a national energy policy.
Toronto Globe and Mail; July 20

Economy
Idaho water bottler inks deal with China
Rocks Water, a water bottler in Idaho, has signed a deal to send 35,000 bottles of its spring water to Shanghai.
Idaho Statesman; July 20

Montana's denial of $800K loan won't derail Columbia Falls plant
Doug Shanks, president of Western Building Center, said SmartLam, which will manufacture cross-laminated timber and other processed wood products in Columbia Falls, will move forward despite the denial of the request for a low-cost $800,000 loan from Montana's Community Development Block Grant program.
Kalispell Daily InterLake; July 20

Housing market on Utah's Wasatch Front showing signs of recovery
With mortgage interest rates hovering below 4 percent, sellers of homes along Utah's Wasatch Front are being inundated with offers, often above the asking price.
Salt Lake Tribune; July 20





Mountain West News is a program of the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West
at The University of Montana.
"W e're re-imagining what summer can be like."


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
July 21: Montana Renewable Energy Fair, National Center for Appropriate Technology, Butte

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

5/15/2013:  A Long Way
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