X Hanging Diamond Ranch/ Middle East Peace/ Education

Missoulian: DNRC kills proposed Dana Ranch land exchange
Proposed Dana Ranch X Hanging Diamond Land Exchange

Missoulian: Kerry meets with Jordan's king over peace plan
Jordan

Missoulian: Obama to promote education agenda at Miami school

Education
President's 2015 Budget Proposal for Education

Rocky Mountain Front/ World Digital Library/ Military Sexual Assault

Missoulian: Walsh takes lead on Rocky Mountain Front protection bill
S.364: Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act of 2013

“Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act of 2013 - Establishes the Rocky Mountain Front Conservation Management Area in Montana.

Designates specified land within the Lewis and Clark National Forest in Montana as wilderness and as additions to existing components of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to prepare a comprehensive management strategy for the prevention, control, and eradication of noxious weeds in the Rocky Mountain Ranger District of Lewis and Clark National Forest.

Authorizes such Secretary to conduct a study for improving nonmotorized recreation trail opportunities, including mountain bicycling, on land within the District that is not designated as wilderness.”

Missoulian: World Digital Library grows to 10,000 items

World Digital Library
“U.S. Librarian of Congress James H. Billington proposed the establishment of the WDL in a speech to the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO in June 2005. The basic idea was to create an Internet-based, easily-accessible collection of the world's cultural riches that would tell the stories and highlight the achievements of all countries and cultures, thereby promoting cross-cultural awareness and understanding. UNESCO welcomed the idea as a contribution toward fulfilling UNESCO's strategic objectives, which include promoting knowledge societies, building capacity in developing countries, and promoting cultural diversity on the Web. UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura designated UNESCO's Directorate for Communication and Information, led by Dr. Abdul Waheed Khan, to work with the Library of Congress to develop the project.”

Missoulian: Military sexual assault bill heads for Senate vote
S. 1752: Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013
S.1917: Victims Protection Act of 2014

Wilderness/ North Fork Watershed/ Flood Insurance

Missoulian: USFS chief: Wilderness conservation to continue as opportunities shrink
The National Wilderness Preservation System
“The Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, and the National Park Service are charged to preserve the natural condition of these lands and provide outstanding opportunities for primitive and unconfined wilderness experiences.”

BLM- Wilderness
USFS- Wilderness
Fish and Wildlife- Wilderness
NPS- Wilderness

Missoulian: North Fork Protection Act passes U.S. House

H.R.2259: North Fork Watershed Protection Act of 2013
“Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, the eligible 

Federal land is withdrawn from--

            (1) all forms of location, entry, and patent under the

        mining laws; and

            (2) disposition under all laws relating to mineral leasing

        and geothermal leasing.”

Missoulian: 2 years later, Congress poised to undo flood law
H.R.3370 - Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2013

“Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2013 - Prohibits the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from: (1) increasing flood insurance risk premium rates to reflect the current risk of flood for certain property located in specified areas subject to a certain mandatory premium adjustment, or (2) reducing such subsidies for any property not insured by the flood insurance program as of July 6, 2012, or any policy that has lapsed in coverage as a result of the policyholder's deliberate choice (Pre-Flood Insurance Rate Map or pre-FIRM properties). Sets forth expiration dates for such prohibitions.”

National Parks Report/ Possible Flooding

Missoulian: Report: National parks brought 4.5M visitors, $400M to Montana in 2012
Secretary Jewell, NPS Director Release New Report Showing National Parks Remain Strong Economic Engines, Support 243,000 Jobs Nationwide
“More than 200,000 of the jobs supported by national parks in 2012 were in local neighboring communities, ranging from big parks like the Grand Canyon, which supported 6,000 jobs, to smaller parks like the Lincoln Boyhood Home, which supported 93 jobs.”

2012 National Park Visitor Spending Effects Report

Missoulian: National Weather Service says flooding next concern for Missoula

Hydrologic Outlook

“POOR WATER DRAINAGE ISSUES WILL DEVELOP THIS WEEK ACROSS WESTERN

MONTANA AND NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO. RECENT SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL, COUPLED

WITH RISING TEMPERATURES AND ADDITIONAL PRECIPITATION ON TOP OF

MELTING SNOW, WILL CAUSE WATER TO BACK UP AND FORM PONDS ON

FIELDS, YARDS, AND ROADWAYS.

ALSO, STANDING WATER MAY CARVE NEW CHANNELS IN THE SNOW AND ICE

ON THE GROUND...HEIGHTENING THE FLOOD RISK FOR LOW-LYING ROADS AND

PROPERTIES...INCLUDING GARAGES...OUTBUILDINGS...AND BASEMENTS.“

Teeth-whitening/ Death Sentence/ World Wildlife Day

Missoulian: Teeth-whitening challenge gets high court review
FTC: In the Matter of  THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF DENTAL EXAMINERS, Docket No. 9343

“This case involves the efforts of the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners (“Respondent” or the “Board”) to prevent non-dentists from providing teeth whitening services in North Carolina. The Board is an agency of the State of North Carolina and is charged with regulating the practice of dentistry in the state. By law, six of the eight members of the Board must be practicing dentists.”

Missoulian: High court looks at death row inmate with low IQ
Supreme Court of Florida: Freddie Lee HALL, Appellant v. STATE of Florida, Appellee
“Freddie Lee Hall was tried and convicted in Putnam County for the 1978 murder of Karol Hurst. Hall v. State (Hall I), 403 So.2d 1321, 1323 (Fla.1981). We upheld Hall's conviction and sentence on direct appeal. Id. at 1325.”

 Protecting our Wildlife - A Race Against Time. Photos: UN Photo/John Isaac, UN/DPI Photo, UN Photo

Missoulian: 1st Wildlife Day marks elephant, rhino deaths
On inaugural World Day, UN urges preservation of wild animals and plants

“Senior United Nations officials are sounding the alarm that nature is under threat, marking today’s first ever World Wildlife Day with calls to protect biological diversity and halt environmental crimes.”