MT Supreme Court & Mountain Water/ Migrant Children/ Heir-Tracing Antitrust

Missoulian: Montana Supreme Court to hear Mountain Water arguments at UM
Oral Argument - Supreme Court Case No. DA 15-0375, City of Missoula v. Mountain Water Co., and Employees of Mountain Water Co.

Date     2016/04/22 - 2016/04/22
Time    08:30 AM - 10:10 AM
Location          George Dennison Theater, University of Montana
Contact name   ED SMITH
Contact phone (406) 444-3858
Event type       Standard event

Missoulian: Senate subcommittee examines migrant children abuse
Portman and McCaskill to Hold Hearing on HHS Placement of Migrant Children and Protection Against Human Trafficking
“U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, today announced that they will hold a public hearing on Thursday, January 28, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. in SD-342 titled ‘Adequacy of the Department of Health & Human Services’ Efforts to Protect Unaccompanied Alien Children from Human Trafficking.’”

Missoulian: Justice Dept. targeting collusion in heir-tracing industry
President of Heir Location Services Provider to Plead Guilty for Agreement Not to Compete
“The owner and President of a Massachusetts-based heir location services provider has agreed to plead guilty to allocating customers with another heir location services firm, the Department of Justice announced today.

Richard A. Blake Jr. will plead guilty to conspiring to eliminate competition in the heir location services industry between 1999 and 2014.  Heir location services firms identify people who may be entitled to an inheritance from the estate of a relative who died without a will.  The heir location services firms then help heirs secure their inheritances in exchange for a contingency fee paid out of the inheritances they are due to receive.”

Malheur Refuge Arrests/ EPA Anaconda Aluminum Co Cleanup

Missoulian: 8 members of Oregon group arrested, including Montana man; 1 person killed

Joint Statement by the FBI and Oregon State Police on Law Enforcement Activity Near Burns, Oregon

Additional Arrest Made in Arizona Related to the Occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

Missoulian: EPA pushes back Superfund decision on aluminum plant

EPA Superfund Program: ANACONDA ALUMINUM CO COLUMBIA FALLS REDUCTION PLANT, COLUMBIA FALLS, MT
“The Anaconda Aluminum Co Columbia Falls Reduction Plant, also known as Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Plant, is located two miles northeast of Columbia Falls, Mont. It covers approximately 960 acres north of the Flathead River, a fishery that includes the federally designated threatened bull trout and the federally sensitive westslope cutthroat trout. EPA’s initial site evaluation indicates that ground water and surface water at the site contain various contaminants of concern, including cyanide, fluoride, and various metals.”

Civics Contest/ Solitary Confinement

Missoulian: Federal courts sponsor civics contest
Federal Courts Sponsor Civics Contest
“50 Years After the Miranda Decision: How Federal Courts Defined the Rights of the Accused” is the theme of an essay and video competition open to sophomores, juniors and seniors in public, private and parochial schools or to home-schooled students of equivalent status. Individual students can compete in the essay contest, while individuals and teams of up to three students can enter the video contest. Visit http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/civicscontest for more information.”

2016 Ninth Circuit Civics Contest
Submissions Open                                                  January 1, 2016
Submissions Close                                                     April 15, 2016
Local Winners (Circuit Finalists) Announced     May 13, 2016
Circuit Contest Winners Announced                    June 6, 2016

Missoulian: Obama bans solitary confinement for juveniles in fed prisons

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING THE USE OF RESTRICTIVE HOUSING
“The Report includes more than 50 “Guiding Principles,” which are intended as best practices for correctional facilities across the American criminal justice system.[1]  These aspirational principles are designed to serve as a roadmap for correctional systems seeking direction on future reforms, and address a range of topics, including the use of disciplinary segregation, protective custody, and long-term preventative segregation; the conditions of confinement in restrictive housing; and the treatment of certain categories of inmates, including juveniles (under 18), young adults (18 to 24), inmates with medical needs, pregnant women, LGBTI inmates, and inmates with serious mental illness.”

Yellowstone Elk

Bull elk grow antlers for the fall mating season and keep them through the winter, they fall off for the new year’s growth.

NPS/Peaco

Missoulian: Yellowstone elk herd remains stable

Yellowstone Elk
“Yellowstone provides summer range for an estimated 10,000–20,000 elk (Cervus elaphus) from 6–7 herds, most of which winter at lower elevations outside the park. These herds provide visitor enjoyment as well as revenue to local economies through hunting outside the park. As Yellowstone’s most abundant ungulate, elk comprise approximately 90% of winter wolf kills and are an important food for bears, mountain lions, and at least 12 scavenger species, including bald eagles and coyotes.”