Roadless Area / Highways / Wolf Delisting / Smoking

Missoulian: Proposal to release roadless, wilderness study areas gains backers, opponents

H.R.1581 : Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act of 2011
Bill Summery and Status
“To release wilderness study areas administered by the Bureau of Land Management that are not suitable for wilderness designation from continued management as de facto wilderness areas and to release inventoried roadless areas within the National Forest System that are not recommended for wilderness designation from the land use restrictions of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Final Rule and the 2005 State Petitions for Inventoried Roadless Area Management Final Rule, and for other purposes.”

Missoulian: U.S. Senate passes highway bill, extension of payments to forest counties
S.1813: MAP-21

Missoulian: 9th Circuit clears amendment that shielded wolf delisting from court review

ALLIANCE FOR THE WILD ROCKIES V. KEN SALAZAR
“In Klein, the Supreme Court struck down an act of Congress that dictated the result in pending litigation. The plaintiff in Klein sued the government for the proceeds of property sold during the Civil War.”- ALLIANCE FOR THE WILD ROCKIES V. KEN SALAZAR

Missoulian: CDC launching graphic anti-smoking ad campaign
Tips from Former Smokers

Montana Fires

Missoulian: Wildfires burn 13,000 acres in northern Montana

Montana InciWeb
“An escaped campfire late Saturday afternoon caused officials to evacuate 100 campers along the Bear Trap National Recreation Trail in the Bear Trap unit of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness. The fire started near the intersection of the Madison River and Bear Trap Creek and has burned approximately 104 acres and is 60% contained.”

Highway Programs / Retail / Unemployment

Missoulian: Senate ready to pass highway programs overhaul

S.1813 : MAP-21
“Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century or the MAP-21 - Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) (other than the Mass Transit Account) equal to current federal highway spending levels plus inflation for FY2012 and FY2013 for: (1) certain new and existing core federal-aid highway programs, and (2) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) administrative expenses.”- CRS Summery

Helena Independent Record: US business stockpiles rose 0.7 percent in January

Advance Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services
“February 2012 retail and food services sales were $407.8 billion, up 1.1 percent from the previous month and up 6.5 percent from one year ago. Excluding autos, retail and food services sales in February were $335.3 billion, up 0.9 percent from January and up 6.4 percent from February 2011.”

Helena Independent Record: US job openings fell in January from 3 1/2 year high

REGIONAL AND STATE EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT -- JANUARY 2012 “Regional and state unemployment rates were generally lower in January.Forty-five states and the District of Columbia recorded unemployment ratedecreases, New York posted a rate increase, and four states had no change,the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.

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