Gay Rights / Logging / Wal-Mart Bribery

Missoulian: Montana Supreme Court rejects equal benefits forgay couples 

Donaldson et al v. State of Montana 

“Plaintiffs are individuals from a variety of professional backgrounds who are in committed same-sex relationships. In 2010 they sued the State of Montana, complaining that they are unable to obtain protections and benefits that are available to similarly situated different-sex couples who marry under State law. Plaintiffs expressly do not challenge Montana law’s restriction of marriage to heterosexual couples, do not seek the opportunity to marry, and do not seek the designation of marriage for their relationships. They contend however that there is a “statutory structure” in Montana law that prohibits them from enjoying “significant relationship and family protections and obligations automatically provided to similarly-situated different-sex couples who marry.””

Missoulian: Thinning margins: Government agencies, loggerscarefully weigh projects’ viability

Forest Products Sold and Harvested from the National Forestsand Grasslands
“Cut and Sold reports show total volumes and values of all convertible forest products sold and harvested from the National Forest System lands and National Grasslands agency-wide, and by organizational unit, on a quarterly basis, and for the full calendar and fiscal years.”

Businessweek: On Mexico Bribes, Wal-Mart Committee MustJudge Its Leaders

Ranking Members Cummings and Waxman Offer Final Opportunityfor Wal-Mart Response on Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Bribery AllegationsBefore Releasing Investigative Report

“During the course of our investigation, we have learned that Wal-Mart's concerns about potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act are not limited to operations in Mexico, but are global in nature. Your outside counsel informed us that, before allegations of bribery in Mexico became public, Wal-Mart retained attorneys to conduct a broad review of the company's anti-corruption policies. This review identified five "first tier" countries "where risk was the greatest." Wal-Mart then conducted a worldwide assessment of the company's anti-corruption policies, culminating in a series of recommendations and policy changes based on those findings.”

A Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act