Good morning; on the Beacon today, the accomplished soprano Katie Maker Martin found several ways to give back to the people who helped her through school and supported her as she fought and overcame cancer. As the Montana Public Service Commission shifts from a 4-1 Democratic majority to a 3-2 Republican majority in 2011, the outgoing commissioner representing the Flathead, and the head of Montana’s leading environmental group say they have deep concerns about the direction energy policy in Montana could take under the GOP. A former chairman of the board of the Hungry Horse Volunteer Fire Department is charged with felony theft for allegedly taking $3,000. A 27-year-old man who shot his father to death as a teen in their Ferndale home wants to represent himself as prosecutors try to extend his time in prison for allegedly violating the conditions of his release. And Mick Holien offers a preview of what's at stake in this weekend's Griz-Cat Brawl of the Wild.
The state Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission will ask the federal government for a permit that would allow a limited wolf hunt in southwestern Montana because of the threat to the elk population there. A federal judge says the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was wrong to refuse to turn management of gray wolves over to the state of Wyoming. Jobless benefits will run out for 2 million people during the holiday season unless they are renewed by a Congress that's focusing more attention on a quarrel over preserving tax cuts for people making more than $200,000 a year. Stillwater Mining Company is moving to extend its two platinum and palladium mines in south-central Montana's Beartooth Mountains. The temperature could reach 15-below-zero in some places in western Montana by next week, according to the National Weather Service, which is warning of potentially dangerous wind-chill values in the days and nights leading up to Thanksgiving. The Montana Board of Regents will likely adopt a plan Friday that charges out-of-state graduate students in-state tuition rates. Authorities searched the offices of Missoula medical marijuana provider Jason Christ on Thursday, leaving with records and at least one laptop computer. This week, most of Montana's newly elected state legislators came to the Capitol to learn about bill drafting, fiscal notes, transmittal deadlines and other mechanics of setting policy for the state. A hearings examiner has upheld the Commerce Department's firing of the state's tourism director.
The state Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission will ask the federal government for a permit that would allow a limited wolf hunt in southwestern Montana because of the threat to the elk population there. A federal judge says the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was wrong to refuse to turn management of gray wolves over to the state of Wyoming. Jobless benefits will run out for 2 million people during the holiday season unless they are renewed by a Congress that's focusing more attention on a quarrel over preserving tax cuts for people making more than $200,000 a year. Stillwater Mining Company is moving to extend its two platinum and palladium mines in south-central Montana's Beartooth Mountains. The temperature could reach 15-below-zero in some places in western Montana by next week, according to the National Weather Service, which is warning of potentially dangerous wind-chill values in the days and nights leading up to Thanksgiving. The Montana Board of Regents will likely adopt a plan Friday that charges out-of-state graduate students in-state tuition rates. Authorities searched the offices of Missoula medical marijuana provider Jason Christ on Thursday, leaving with records and at least one laptop computer. This week, most of Montana's newly elected state legislators came to the Capitol to learn about bill drafting, fiscal notes, transmittal deadlines and other mechanics of setting policy for the state. A hearings examiner has upheld the Commerce Department's firing of the state's tourism director.
Comments (0) TotalGood morning; on the Beacon today, as the holiday season approaches and temperatures continue to fall, many food banks in the Flathead Valley are seeing customer numbers spike and some supplies run thin. The Bigfork Vikings host Fairfield for the championship on Saturday Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. Federal wildlife agents are offering a $2,500 reward for information about the apparent shooting deaths of two gray wolves in northwestern Montana's Flathead National Forest.
House Republicans on Wednesday elected Rep. Mike Milburn of Cascade as their new speaker. A 26-year-old firefighter from Dillon says he started a fire in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and later worked on the Forest Service crew that extinguished the blaze. House Democrats elected Nancy Pelosi to remain as their leader Wednesday despite massive party losses in this month's congressional elections that prompted some lawmakers to call for new leadership. Consumer prices rose moderately in October but there was little sign of inflation as the cost of autos, clothing and hotels fell. The Griz take on the Bobcats this weekend as MSU is led by two freshmen. Democrats may be in the minority at the upcoming 2011 Legislature, but that doesn't mean they can't work to solve the economic and budget issues facing the state, their leaders said Wednesday. A press release issued Wednesday by the White House said that Darrell James Bell, who spent 31 years with the BPD, has been nominated to head up the U.S. Marshals Service's Montana District. A Montana group that financed three conservative ballot measures in 2006 has settled a long-running dispute with the state's chief campaign cop, agreeing to disclose the source of $1.2 million used to support the measures.
House Republicans on Wednesday elected Rep. Mike Milburn of Cascade as their new speaker. A 26-year-old firefighter from Dillon says he started a fire in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and later worked on the Forest Service crew that extinguished the blaze. House Democrats elected Nancy Pelosi to remain as their leader Wednesday despite massive party losses in this month's congressional elections that prompted some lawmakers to call for new leadership. Consumer prices rose moderately in October but there was little sign of inflation as the cost of autos, clothing and hotels fell. The Griz take on the Bobcats this weekend as MSU is led by two freshmen. Democrats may be in the minority at the upcoming 2011 Legislature, but that doesn't mean they can't work to solve the economic and budget issues facing the state, their leaders said Wednesday. A press release issued Wednesday by the White House said that Darrell James Bell, who spent 31 years with the BPD, has been nominated to head up the U.S. Marshals Service's Montana District. A Montana group that financed three conservative ballot measures in 2006 has settled a long-running dispute with the state's chief campaign cop, agreeing to disclose the source of $1.2 million used to support the measures.
Comments (0) TotalGood morning; on the Beacon today, the Montana Veterans’ Home in Columbia Falls is a place where you will hear endless anecdotes of lives fully lived, deaths escaped and genuine heroism. Several local short-term loan businesses in the Flathead are shutting their doors after voters passed an initiative capping the interest rates they can charge their customers. And business columnist Mark Riffey advises on what you can learn from the Kindle.
Reinvigorated Republicans have their first announced candidate in what could be a 2012 election battleground to win Montana Democrat Jon Tester's seat and control of the U.S. Senate. Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer is making another run at getting cheap prescription drugs for everyone in his state — and trying to make it harder for the federal government to say no. The Montana Supreme Court has stepped in to resolve conflicting orders on whether to proceed with the execution of a Canadian man on death row. Montana State University has achieved its $8 million fundraising goal for the expansion and upgrade of Bobcat Stadium, and now the nonprofit MSU Foundation wants $2 million more so the entire project can be built next year. Gov. Brian Schweitzer's proposed budget relies heavily on $95 million worth of money transferred from other funds to beef up the state's general fund and balance his spending plan for the next two years. A cell phone left behind at the scene of a computer theft in Columbia Falls led investigators to a suspect. The Montana University System says enrollment is reaching a new high with 39,100 students in state colleges. The coal industry is maneuvering to sharply ramp up its U.S. exports to Asia out of the West Coast, with the first of several potential port expansions along the Columbia River now before officials in Washington state. State lawmakers Tuesday queried the Schweitzer administration's top health official about plans to hire a private company to manage part of Medicaid, asking why the administration hasn't had a more public discussion on the proposal. Gov. Brian Schweitzer is proposing to increase funding for all Montana school districts by $38 million a year by redirecting oil and gas tax revenues that now only benefit schools in the few counties where the minerals are produced. Top leadership spots for the 2011 legislative session appear to be already settled, except for the House Republican caucus. Montana's tax code is one of the best in the nation for people doing business, a national tax group has concluded.
Reinvigorated Republicans have their first announced candidate in what could be a 2012 election battleground to win Montana Democrat Jon Tester's seat and control of the U.S. Senate. Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer is making another run at getting cheap prescription drugs for everyone in his state — and trying to make it harder for the federal government to say no. The Montana Supreme Court has stepped in to resolve conflicting orders on whether to proceed with the execution of a Canadian man on death row. Montana State University has achieved its $8 million fundraising goal for the expansion and upgrade of Bobcat Stadium, and now the nonprofit MSU Foundation wants $2 million more so the entire project can be built next year. Gov. Brian Schweitzer's proposed budget relies heavily on $95 million worth of money transferred from other funds to beef up the state's general fund and balance his spending plan for the next two years. A cell phone left behind at the scene of a computer theft in Columbia Falls led investigators to a suspect. The Montana University System says enrollment is reaching a new high with 39,100 students in state colleges. The coal industry is maneuvering to sharply ramp up its U.S. exports to Asia out of the West Coast, with the first of several potential port expansions along the Columbia River now before officials in Washington state. State lawmakers Tuesday queried the Schweitzer administration's top health official about plans to hire a private company to manage part of Medicaid, asking why the administration hasn't had a more public discussion on the proposal. Gov. Brian Schweitzer is proposing to increase funding for all Montana school districts by $38 million a year by redirecting oil and gas tax revenues that now only benefit schools in the few counties where the minerals are produced. Top leadership spots for the 2011 legislative session appear to be already settled, except for the House Republican caucus. Montana's tax code is one of the best in the nation for people doing business, a national tax group has concluded.
Comments (0) TotalGood morning; on the Beacon today, in the wake of headlines highlighting student conduct infractions at Flathead High School, a parent group has launched a campaign encouraging teenagers to make good decisions and reminding the community of the many positives at the school that don’t make the news. After a memorable run at the Class AA state volleyball tournament, the Glacier Wolfpack came up just short of the title match and had to settle for third place. State and federal wildlife officials are investigating the shooting death of an adult grizzly bear near Troy. A strong wood-products industry is key to removing thousands of dead, bark beetle-infested trees that threaten to topple onto roads, power lines and campsites or harm watersheds around the West, U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell said Monday.
Gov. Brian Schweitzer launched plans Monday to cut almost all the state's tax on business equipment and give homeowners a property tax refund as part of his budget plan — making tax relief a primary goal even before Republican lawmakers taking over the Legislature have a chance to do so. The state is seeking applications for the next commissioner of political practices, the person responsible for investigating and helping prosecute violations of election and campaign finance laws. The Montana Democratic Party is getting a new executive director less than two weeks after big election losses to the Republicans. FWP announced that microscopic larvae suspected to be from exotic mussels may be contained in four of 17 plankton samples collected from Flathead Lake this summer. The Montana Department of Transportation says research into the potential misuse of state fuel credit cards found a smaller problem than originally thought.
Gov. Brian Schweitzer launched plans Monday to cut almost all the state's tax on business equipment and give homeowners a property tax refund as part of his budget plan — making tax relief a primary goal even before Republican lawmakers taking over the Legislature have a chance to do so. The state is seeking applications for the next commissioner of political practices, the person responsible for investigating and helping prosecute violations of election and campaign finance laws. The Montana Democratic Party is getting a new executive director less than two weeks after big election losses to the Republicans. FWP announced that microscopic larvae suspected to be from exotic mussels may be contained in four of 17 plankton samples collected from Flathead Lake this summer. The Montana Department of Transportation says research into the potential misuse of state fuel credit cards found a smaller problem than originally thought.
Comments (0) TotalGood morning; on the Beacon today, Montana Department of Transportation Director Jim Lynch told the Kalispell City Council last week he expects to have the southern portion of the long-awaited Kalispell Alternate Route open to traffic Nov. 17. Flathead County Commissioner Joe Brenneman presented the State of the County speech to a Kalispell Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Nov. 9, a disquisition bookended with his feelings about the recent election and his fears for the county’s future. The closest trailhead to Whitefish is the Lion Mountain Trailhead and is an awesome, relaxed hike. The Flathead Nordic Ski Patrol hosts the 2010/2011 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour on Nov. 16 and 17 at Flathead High School’s auditorium.
A Bozeman businessman, Steve Daines, has announced he'll run as a Republican in 2012 for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Democrat Jon Tester. Two Montana business groups are joining the online travel companies in an ongoing dispute with the state over hotel bed taxes now that the Department of Revenue is rewriting its rules aimed at the big companies. When things got tough Saturday, Montana running back Chase Reynolds stepped it up and carried the Grizzlies to a 27-17 victory over North Dakota. One judge set a Jan. 31 execution date for the only Canadian on death row in the U.S. Another judge ordered a stay in the execution. Now the Montana Supreme Court is being asked to decide who's right. A proposed logging project on a popular network of trails in Whitefish is nearing fruition, and an advocacy group with ambitious plans for the area is taking steps to ensure that recreation is an integral part of the state's management plan. Sun Mountain Lumber Owner Sherm Anderson says unstable market prices and lack of available logs prompted 30 layoffs at the Deer Lodge operation. No new information was released by Great Falls Police on Sunday about the shooting deaths of a married couple in Great Falls on Thursday.
A Bozeman businessman, Steve Daines, has announced he'll run as a Republican in 2012 for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Democrat Jon Tester. Two Montana business groups are joining the online travel companies in an ongoing dispute with the state over hotel bed taxes now that the Department of Revenue is rewriting its rules aimed at the big companies. When things got tough Saturday, Montana running back Chase Reynolds stepped it up and carried the Grizzlies to a 27-17 victory over North Dakota. One judge set a Jan. 31 execution date for the only Canadian on death row in the U.S. Another judge ordered a stay in the execution. Now the Montana Supreme Court is being asked to decide who's right. A proposed logging project on a popular network of trails in Whitefish is nearing fruition, and an advocacy group with ambitious plans for the area is taking steps to ensure that recreation is an integral part of the state's management plan. Sun Mountain Lumber Owner Sherm Anderson says unstable market prices and lack of available logs prompted 30 layoffs at the Deer Lodge operation. No new information was released by Great Falls Police on Sunday about the shooting deaths of a married couple in Great Falls on Thursday.
Comments (0) TotalGood morning; on the Beacon today, the new Jumping Jacks Inflatable Funhouse is home to a number of inflatable structures, perfect for helping kids blow off some energy in the cold weather. Lori Curtis has just released the “Flathead Watershed Sourcebook: A Guide to an Extraordinary Place,” the culmination of a year and a half of intense work. Glacier National Park is on pace for a record year for visitation after receiving more than 66,000 visitors in October. The Flathead County sheriff’s office just sent along a photo of the man who robbed Glacier Bank in Lakeside Wednesday. And Mick Holien looks at how the University of North Dakota has been left in the lurch by all the conference realignment.
The University of Montana Grizzlies will stay in the Big Sky Conference and not move up to the Football Bowl Subdivision, President Royce Engstrom said Thursday. Montana State University is nearing its fundraising goal for the expansion and upgrade of Bobcat Stadium. Plans to move gigantic oil refinery equipment down a mountainous Idaho highway are being defended by ConocoPhillips and an Idaho business group. After his sixth straight election to Congress, Republican U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg said Thursday he intends to concentrate on his job as congressman, but isn't ruling out any political options in the future. When Congress meets for a lame-duck session later this month, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said it must address the expiring Bush administration income tax cuts and the estate tax. Qwest and CenturyLink, the two largest land-line telephone companies operating in Montana, have agreed to merger conditions endorsed by the Montana Consumer Counsel, likely paving the way for state regulatory approval of the companies' proposed merger. With his Republican pedigree in hand, Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger is reaching out to GOP lawmakers in hopes of forging a relationship between the Schweitzer administration and the heavily Republican Legislature, several lawmakers said this week.
The University of Montana Grizzlies will stay in the Big Sky Conference and not move up to the Football Bowl Subdivision, President Royce Engstrom said Thursday. Montana State University is nearing its fundraising goal for the expansion and upgrade of Bobcat Stadium. Plans to move gigantic oil refinery equipment down a mountainous Idaho highway are being defended by ConocoPhillips and an Idaho business group. After his sixth straight election to Congress, Republican U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg said Thursday he intends to concentrate on his job as congressman, but isn't ruling out any political options in the future. When Congress meets for a lame-duck session later this month, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said it must address the expiring Bush administration income tax cuts and the estate tax. Qwest and CenturyLink, the two largest land-line telephone companies operating in Montana, have agreed to merger conditions endorsed by the Montana Consumer Counsel, likely paving the way for state regulatory approval of the companies' proposed merger. With his Republican pedigree in hand, Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger is reaching out to GOP lawmakers in hopes of forging a relationship between the Schweitzer administration and the heavily Republican Legislature, several lawmakers said this week.
Comments (0) TotalGood morning; on the Beacon today, incoming county commissioner Pam Holmquist is taking a breather before beginning her new job. Authorities are looking for a man who robbed a Lakeside bank and escaped on a motorcycle. Under a plea agreement filed Tuesday, Kalispell Republican state Sen. Greg Barkus will plead no contest to felony criminal endangerment as part of a deal on charges stemming from an Aug. 27, 2009 boat crash that injured five people. Arizona State's backup quarterback Brock Osweiler, who is from Kalispell, says he wants to play basketball in addition to football. And Dave Skinner takes aim at the Land Board's approval of the issuance of $21 million in bonds to buy the “Montana Legacy Project’s” Potomac parcel near Missoula.
Gov. Brian Schweitzer said Wednesday that state workers will get a four percent raise over the next two-year budget period under a proposed deal with employee unions. Montana's attorney general has asked a judge to throw out a lawsuit filed by seven gay couples seeking the same rights as married couples in making decisions about their families' health care and finances. Sarah Palin is the most polarizing of the potential 2012 Republican presidential candidates, while impressions of Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney lean more positive, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll. Bozeman Republican Steve Daines is expected to announce Saturday he is challenging Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester in 2012. A legislative council will consider Friday whether Wyoming should join Montana and Idaho in hiring a lawyer to negotiate with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about removing wolves from the federal endangered species list.
Gov. Brian Schweitzer said Wednesday that state workers will get a four percent raise over the next two-year budget period under a proposed deal with employee unions. Montana's attorney general has asked a judge to throw out a lawsuit filed by seven gay couples seeking the same rights as married couples in making decisions about their families' health care and finances. Sarah Palin is the most polarizing of the potential 2012 Republican presidential candidates, while impressions of Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney lean more positive, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll. Bozeman Republican Steve Daines is expected to announce Saturday he is challenging Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester in 2012. A legislative council will consider Friday whether Wyoming should join Montana and Idaho in hiring a lawyer to negotiate with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about removing wolves from the federal endangered species list.
Comments (0) TotalGood morning; on the Beacon today, we look at the impacts of last week’s election, where Republicans snuffed out every Democrat-held elective office in the county, reasserting the Flathead Valley as one of Montana’s conservative bastions. Four teams are representing the Flathead region at the all-class state volleyball tournament, held on Nov. 11-13 at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in Bozeman. The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission has approved the acquisition of 9,350 acres in the Swan Valley for $14.8 million.
Staff Sgt. Calvin Gibbs of Billings, accused of masterminding a plan to kill Afghan civilians for sport and goading other soldiers to do the same, appeared at a military hearing Tuesday to determine whether there is enough evidence to court-martial him. A Republican who casts himself as a tea party favorite and the more conservative choice, Rep. Krayton Kerns of Laurel, is running for leader of the Montana House of Representatives. Democrats on Tuesday accused Republican Steve Daines of campaigning illegally for the U.S. Senate seat held by Jon Tester, who is up for re-election in 2012. Montana sued more than a dozen online travel companies on Monday, claiming the companies shortchange the state on hotel taxes. Gov. Brian Schweitzer on Tuesday denied political rumors that he is gearing up to run for president in 2012 and is polling already in New Hampshire in preparation for a race. Rep. Denny Rehberg says federal officials appear bent on destroying Montana's mining industry with their aggressive enforcement of mine safety violations in recent months.
Staff Sgt. Calvin Gibbs of Billings, accused of masterminding a plan to kill Afghan civilians for sport and goading other soldiers to do the same, appeared at a military hearing Tuesday to determine whether there is enough evidence to court-martial him. A Republican who casts himself as a tea party favorite and the more conservative choice, Rep. Krayton Kerns of Laurel, is running for leader of the Montana House of Representatives. Democrats on Tuesday accused Republican Steve Daines of campaigning illegally for the U.S. Senate seat held by Jon Tester, who is up for re-election in 2012. Montana sued more than a dozen online travel companies on Monday, claiming the companies shortchange the state on hotel taxes. Gov. Brian Schweitzer on Tuesday denied political rumors that he is gearing up to run for president in 2012 and is polling already in New Hampshire in preparation for a race. Rep. Denny Rehberg says federal officials appear bent on destroying Montana's mining industry with their aggressive enforcement of mine safety violations in recent months.
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Gabby Johnson said: "New poll out today: A roaring 10 percent of the American people think Congress is doing a good job. Denny Rehberg picked a bad time…
waterman said: "It might mean that some just do not like successful people or accomplishments."
RIGHTOFCENTER said: "Yea, just look at what Unions have done in this Country. They have just about bankrupted local and State governments all across this great country. …
ponymt said: "I’m not sure why it cut my statement short but the following is the complete sentence.. Additionally, consider how “responsible” society has…
RIGHTOFCENTER said: "I have to agree with Craig moore, I too was a big supporter of Gallagher, but I would have been a big supporter of anyone…
Yudamni said: "I would not trust Tester. He is supposed to represent Montana. When over 60% of us were against Obama Care he still voted for it! …
waterman said: "It might mean that some just do not like successful people or accomplishments."
Gabby Johnson said: "New poll out today: A roaring 10 percent of the American people think Congress is doing a good job. Denny Rehberg picked a bad time…
JB said: "Oh, joy…more taxpayer dollars being spent for a worthless circle jerk, to benefit a minority of folks that don’t believe in God."
ponymt said: "I’m not sure why it cut my statement short but the following is the complete sentence.. Additionally, consider how “responsible” society has…