Milk / Russian Crown Jewels

Missoulian: Deal reached for stopping spike in milk prices

S . 3240 

“Establishes a dairy production margin protection program under which participating dairy operations are paid: (1) basic production margin protection program payments when production margins are less than threshold levels, and (2) supplemental production margin protection program payments if purchased by a participating dairy operation.

Provides for a transition period under which the dairy production margin protection program and the milk income loss program shall both be in existence and producers may participate in either program.”

                                           www.usgs.gov

NPR: The Mysterious Disappearance Of The Russian CrownJewels

Diamonds and Dusty Pages 
“The Russian Crown Jewels today—their value is almost unimaginable. This discovery and the documentation it will provide researchers in the future is an extremely important find not only for the USGS but for researchers around gems and gemstones worldwide.”

MT Governor's Appointments

Missoulian: Gov.-elect Bullock names directors of Healthand Human Services, Administration

Governor Elect- Steve Bullock 

Birth Control / State Parks

Missoulian: Justice refuses to block morning-after pill rule

Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. v. Sebelius (12/26/2012)

“Applicants do not satisfy the demanding standard for the extraordinary relief they seek. First, whatever the ultimate merits of the applicants’ claims, their entitlement to relief is not “indisputably clear.” Lux v. Rodrigues, 561

U. S. ___, ___ (2010) (ROBERTS, C. J., in chambers) (slip op., at 2) (internal quotation marks omitted). This Court has not previously addressed similar RFRA or free exercise claims brought by closely held for-profit corporations and their controlling shareholders alleging that the mandatory provision of certain employee benefits substantially burdens their exercise of religion.”

Missoulian: 6 Montana State Parks offer guided hikes Jan. 1

Montana State Parks

Lewis and Clark Caverns

Lone Pine

Spring Meadow

Makoshika

Lake Elmo

First Peoples Buffalo Jump

Statewide Fisheries Plan

Missoulian: Montana FWP adopts first statewide fisheries plan

Statewide Fisheries Management Plan 

“The plan will identify overarching goals for fisheries management, habitat protection and improvement, fishing access and angling opportunities. The plan will also guide priority-setting and decision-making for the different waters in the state. FWP expects that the plan will serve the angling public, the FWP Commission, public officials, and FWP staff.”

NORAD Tracks Santa

NORAD Tracks Santa 

"For more than 50 years, NORAD and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) have tracked Santa's flight.

The tradition began in 1955 after a Colorado Springs-based Sears Roebuck & Co. advertisement misprinted the telephone number for children to call Santa. Instead of reaching Santa, the phone number put kids through to the CONAD Commander-in-Chief's operations "hotline." The Director of Operations at the time, Colonel Harry Shoup, had his staff check the radar for indications of Santa making his way south from the North Pole. Children who called were given updates on his location, and a tradition was born."

Fighting Filibuster / Newtown

Missoulian: Judge dismisses suit challenging Senate filibuster

COMMON CAUSE et al v. BIDEN et al  

Missoulian: Obama on gun violence: 'We hear you'

President Obama at Prayer Vigil for Connecticut ShootingVictims: "Newtown, You Are Not Alone"