Weekend: Referee Shortage, Plane Found, Stinky Bob Dylan

By Dan Testa, 3-20-09

Good morning and happy birthday hockey legend Bobby Orr!

On the Beacon today, the search is on for new, young referees to fill the void left by those retiring. A federal judge Thursday blocked the rule allowing concealed weapons in national parks. In the W.R. Grace trial, jurors heard evidence that a 1977 set of chest x-rays of Libby miners showed high instances of asbestos-related disease. And Warren Miller writes about one moron's feeble attempt to get famous by jumping a cliff on skis while engulfed in flames.

In state news, a bill to spur horse slaughter houses in Montana faces one more hurdle in the state Senate. The downed plane and body of Sparky Imeson was found near Helena. University student leaders questioned the state's plan to cap tuition increases at a Board of Regents meeting. Famous Montana paleontologist Nate Murphy is likely to plead guilty to fossil theft. An actual compromise on river access from bridges appears close in the Montana Legislature. And a consensus bill to store CO2 underground to facilitate coal development is close to making its way through the Legislature as well.

Finally, neighbors of Bob Dylan in Malibu are complaining about fumes from his smelly outhouse "blowin' in the wind." Have a great weekend. [End of article]