Justice Dept. Investigates Baltimore/ Iran Legislation/ VE Day

Missoulian: Justice Dept. launches investigation of Baltimore police

Justice Department Opens Pattern or Practice Investigation into the Baltimore Police Department
“During the course of the investigation, the Justice Department will consider all relevant information, particularly the efforts that BPD has undertaken to ensure compliance with federal law, and the experiences and views of the community.  The Justice Department has taken similar steps involving a variety of state and local law enforcement agencies, both large and small, in jurisdictions throughout the United States.  These investigations have in many instances resulted in comprehensive, court-overseen agreements to fundamentally change the law enforcement agency’s police practices.”

Missoulian: Iran Legislation is win-win for GOP, Obama
H.R.1191: A bill to provide for congressional review and oversight of agreements relating to Iran's nuclear program, and for other purposes.

Missoulian: Missoula woman recalls 'Rosie the Riveter' days

V-E Day Marked End of Long Road for World War II Troops

Weekly Address: Honoring the 70th Anniversary of VE Day

Two Down, One to Go: Preparing Soldiers for More War-Video
“After the Allied victory was declared against Nazi Germany on May 8, 1945 (a date known to history as V-E Day), US military officials presented troops with Two Down, One to Go, a film that serves as both Q+A session and pep talk to prepare them to shift their attention to Japan.”

NSA Can't Collect Phone Records

Missoulian: US appeals court: NSA phone record collection is illegal

ACLU v. Clapper

License-plate Renewal/ VE Day/ Income Tax Veto

Missoulian: Bullock vetoes bill lengthening vehicle license-plate renewal
HB 628: Revise the replacement schedule for regular license plates

Missoulian: Countdown to V-E Day: May 6, 1945

VE Day- Library of Congress
“Eleven months after Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy, the German Army, pushed back to the streets of Berlin, surrendered. The relief that all American soldiers felt was tempered by the realization that the war wasn’t yet won. Some would ship out to the Pacific Theater, though few of them saw any action. Others stayed behind as occupiers or, in a few instances, participants in the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials.”

Missoulian: Gov. Bullock vetoes bill to simplify income taxes
SB 171: Generally revise taxation of income, including the corporate income tax

New Speed Limit/ Libby Asbestos

Missoulian: New law will increase some highway speed limits to 80 mph
SB 375: Revise certain highway speed limits

Missoulian: Final EPA plan would leave some asbestos in Montana town
EPA Announces Proposed Plan for Cleanup
Proposed Plan for Libby Asbestos Site Cleanup
“The proposed plan addresses five of eight areas at the Site. Remedial action has already been completed at Operable Unit 1 (the former Export Plant, now Riverfront Park in Libby) and Operable Unit 2 (former Screening Plant). Operable Unit 3 (the former Libby vermiculite mine and forested areas) will be addressed in a separate proposed plan. Investigation and cleanup are being conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in consultation with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) under the federal Superfund law.

Because long-term management tools, otherwise known as institutional controls, are instrumental to the cleanup, we have divided this document into three sections. Part One provides background and explains alternatives considered for the construction portion of the remedy. Part Two explains why waste will remain at the site and provides additional information about institutional controls. Part Three summarizes EPA's and the state’s preferred remedial alternative.”

Bankruptcy Appeals/ Sex Change Surgery

Missoulian: High court: Debtors must wait to appeal payment plan denial
Bullard v. Blue Hills Bank
“After filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, petitioner Bullard submitted a proposed repayment plan to the Bankruptcy Court. Respondent Blue Hills Bank, Bullard’s mortgage lender, objected to the plan’s treatment of its claim. The Bankruptcy Court sustained the Bank’s objection and declined to confirm the plan. Bullard appealed to the First Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel (BAP).”

  Missoulian: Supreme Court rejects inmate's appeal for sex-change surgery
Kosilek v. Spencer
“This case involves important issues that arise under the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. We are asked to determine whether the district court erred in concluding that the Massachusetts Department of Correction ("DOC") has violated the Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clause of the Eighth Amendment by providing allegedly inadequate medical care to prisoner Michelle Kosilek ("Kosilek"). More precisely, we are faced with the question whether the DOC's choice of a particular medical treatment is constitutionally inadequate, such that the district court acts within its power to issue an injunction requiring provision of an alternative treatment -- a treatment which would give rise to new concerns related to safety and prison security.”