LGBT Historical Sites/ Shinseki

Missoulian: US announces effort to mark LGBT historical sites

Telling All of America’s Story: The National Park Service Announces LGBT Theme Study
“The men and women who serve in the National Park Service joined our organization to be part of something special, and all of us, no matter what our role, help bring America’s stories to life for our visitors. One of my priorities as we look toward the Service’s centennial year in 2016 has been to ensure that the stories we tell represent the diversity of the American experience and share stories that are relevant to all Americans. To help meet that goal, we have developed a series of heritage initiatives to explore ways that we can increase recognition of underrepresented groups in the National Park System through our interpretation and education programs and expand their inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places and the National Historic Landmarks Program. There is a wealth of information about NPS Heritage Initiatives available here.”

This Week at Interior May 30, 2014
“This week: Secretary Jewell at New York City's Stonewall Inn, to announce the launch of a National Park Service theme study on LGBT historic sites”

Missoulian: Shinseki resigns amid veterans' health care uproar
Statement by VA Secretary Shinseki on the VA OIG Interim Report regarding the Phoenix VA Health Care System

Review of Patient Wait Times, Scheduling Practices, and Alleged Patient Deaths at the Phoenix Health Care System

“The issues identified in current allegations are not new. Since 2005, the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) has issued 18 reports that identified, at both the national and local levels, deficiencies in scheduling resulting in lengthy waiting times and the negative impact on patient care. As required by the Inspector General Act of 1978, each of the reports listed was issued to the VA Secretary and the Congress and is publicly available on the VA OIG website. These reports are identified in Appendix D.”

Pertussis/ Flooding

Bozeman Daily Chronicle: Gallatin one of 10 counties reporting whooping cough in state

Pertussis Outbreak Trends
“During 2012, 48,277 cases of pertussis were reported to CDC, including 20 pertussis-related deaths. The majority of deaths occurred among infants younger than 3 months of age. The incidence rate of pertussis among infants exceeded that of all other age groups. The second highest rates of disease were observed in children 7 through 10 years old. Rates increased in adolescents 13 and 14 years of age.

Overall reporting of pertussis declined during 2013. While 13 states and Washington, D.C. reported an increase in pertussis cases compared with 2012, the majority of states reported fewer cases in 2013. As of December 31, 2013, 24, 231 cases of pertussis were reported to CDC, and this number is expected to increase as case counts are reconciled. Age-incidence trends observed during 2013 were similar to those in 2012. Increased rates were again observed in adolescents 13 and 14 years of age, as well as in 15 year olds.

From January 1-April 14, 2014, 4,838 cases of pertussis have been reported to CDC by 48 states and Washington, D.C.; this represents a 24% increase compared with the same time period in 2013.”

Missoulian: Yellowstone River continues to rise near Billings

Montana 2014 Snowmelt Flooding Potential

Flooding and Fishing/ Smurfit Waste/ Drone Strikes/ War in Afghanistan

Missoulian: FWP adds more closures, restrictions to western Montana
Restrictions and Closures of FWP Lands

Missoulian: County, owners continue tussle over cleanup at Frenchtown mill site

EPA-Smurfit-Stone Mill
“With support from Missoula County, Missoula City-County Health Department and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), and the Tribal Council of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, EPA announced a proposal to add the Smurfit-Stone Mill site near Frenchtown, Montana to the National Priorities List (NPL), making it eligible for comprehensive assessment and cleanup resources under EPA’s Superfund program.”

Missoulian: Obama: US will still use drone strikes 
Remarks of President Barack Obama Graduation Ceremony West Point, New York
“Let me make one final point about our efforts against terrorism. The partnership I’ve described does not eliminate the need to take direct action when necessary to protect ourselves. When we have actionable intelligence, that’s what we do – through capture operations, like the one that brought a terrorist involved in the plot to bomb our Embassies in 1998 to face justice; or drone strikes, like those we have carried out in Yemen and Somalia. But as I said last year, in taking direct action, we must uphold standards that reflect our values. That means taking strikes only when we face a continuing, imminent threat, and only where there is near certainty of no civilian casualties. For our actions should meet a simple test: we must not create more enemies than we take off the battlefield.”

Missoulian: Top US commander: Obama ended Afghan uncertainty

Fact Sheet: Bringing the U.S. War in Afghanistan to a Responsible End

“Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States and Afghanistan have partnered together to respond to threats to international peace and security and to help the Afghan people chart a secure, democratic, and prosperous future.  Since President Obama took office in 2009, we have pursued a focused strategy, alongside our NATO allies and partners, to strengthen the capacity of Afghanistan’s security forces and government to take full responsibility for their country’s future while we have struck significant blows against al-Qa’ida’s leadership and prevented Afghanistan from being used to launch attacks against our homeland.  Today’s announcement by President Obama continues this strategy by responsibly drawing down the U.S. military presence to end our combat mission and giving the Afghan people the opportunity to succeed as they stand on their own.”