MSU Fees and Tuition, NAFTA, National Bison Range

Bozeman Daily Chronicle: Regents plan to hike tuition but fees are in question

Montana Board of Regents Meeting, May 25-26, 2017
Budget, Audit and Enterprise Risk Committee

US Agricultural Export, pre and post trade agreements

Bozeman Daily Chronicle: Why Trump’s combative trade stance makes US farmers nervous

Free Trade Agreements and U.S. Agriculture
“NAFTA subsumed the Canada-U.S. FTA, which took effect in 1989, and created a free-trade area involving the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In the 21 years since NAFTA’s implementation in 1994, U.S. agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico have more than quadrupled, growing from $8.9 billion in 1993 to $38.6 billion in 2015. Canada and Mexico’s share of total U.S. agricultural exports to the world has increased from an average of 19 percent (1990-93) to 28 percent (2012-15). Before the agreement, Canada was the fourth leading U.S. market. It is now the number one market for U.S. agricultural exports, and by far the largest U.S. market for high-value consumer-oriented products. Mexico’s imports of feedstuff from the United States are closely linked to its burgeoning poultry and pork industries. It is the top market for U.S. corn, soybean meal, and poultry, as well as the second largest market for U.S. pork.”

MTPR: National Bison Range Will Remain Under USFWS Management, Interior Says
Statement from Secretary Zinke on the National Bison Range

Hot Summer Expected

Image of Land and Ocean Temperature Percentiles for April 2017

Bozeman Daily Chronicle: US forecasters: Here comes another hotter than normal summer

Globe had 2nd warmest April and year to date on record
Assessing the Global Climate in April 2017

Where are the highest chances for a hot summer in 2017?
Schools are letting out, Memorial Day is nearly here, and for many Americans that means  the unofficial start of summer. And if it's summer, then it 's time to start paying attention to the risk of extreme heat. According to NOAA’s summer outlook, most of the United States is favored to have a hotter than average summer in 2017. Only in the Great Plains do forecasters think the chances for a cool or a normal summer are equal to the chances of a hot summer. Everywhere else—from Alaska to southern California, and from Maine to Texas—odds are tilted toward well above average warmth. The absolute highest chances for a much warmer than usual summer are in Hawaii. (see the large version of the map below for Hawaii and Alaska.)

 

Investigations of President Trump and Russia, Privatizing Air Traffic Control

Bozeman Daily Chronicle: The Latest: Cummings seeks vote on independent commission

S.27 - A bill to establish an independent commission to examine and report on the facts regarding the extent of Russian official and unofficial cyber operations and other attempts to interfere in the 2016 United States national election, and for other purposes

H.R.356 - Protecting Our Democracy Act
“This bill establishes in the legislative branch the National Commission on Foreign Interference in the 2016 Election to examine any attempts or activities by the Russian government or other governments, persons or entities associated with such governments, or persons or entities within Russia to use electronic means to influence, interfere with, or sow distrust in elections for public office held in the United States in 2016.”

H.Con.Res.47 - Expressing the sense of Congress that until the conclusion of the FBI's criminal and counterintelligence investigations into the nature of the Russian connection to the Trump campaign, the Trump Administration is acting under a "gray cloud" of the appearance of a conflict of interest, and, as such, should refrain from taking any actions or making any changes to United States policy that could be seen as benefitting President Putin or his inner circle.

Bozeman Daily Chronicle:  Ryan backs Trump, cautions against ‘rush to judgment’

Chaffetz statement on Comey firing
Chaffetz requests final determination on Flynn

Representative Thaddeus Stevens of Pennsylvania, a Radical Republican, gave the last speech during House debate on articles of impeachment against President Andrew Johnson on March 2, 1868. Johnson became the first president impeached by the House, but he was later acquitted by the Senate by one vote.

Impeachment
“The Constitution gives the House of Representatives the sole power to impeach an official, and it makes the Senate the sole court for impeachment trials. The power of impeachment is limited to removal from office but also provides for a removed officer to be disqualified from holding future office. Fines and potential jail time for crimes committed while in office are left to civil courts.”

Bozeman Daily Chronicle:  House chairman pushes privatizing air traffic control in US
Hearing: The Need to Reform FAA and Air Traffic Control to Build a 21st Century Aviation System for America

Wittich Appeal, Uninsured Americans, School Bullying

Bozeman Daily Chronicle:  State replies to former Rep. Wittich’s appeal, says court decision should be upheld

Bonogofsky V. Wittich (2010) 

Plaintiffs vs. Art Wittich (2014) Summary of Penalties and Costs

Commissioner's letter from 6-21-16
“The 2010 Republican Primary election candidates who were involved with National Right to Work, including Mr. Wittich, acted differently. They denied everything, refused to produce campaign records and claimed a sweeping personal first amendment immunity from responsibility for their campaign actions. The COPP did not reach an administrative agency settlement agreement with these candidates, meaning enforcement moved to the next level through litigation in the court system. The Wittich jury verdict and judgment are now posted next to the Wittich administrative Decision, showing final enforcement resolution through court action. Please see the case numbered 14/026 on the Campaign Decision list for a review of the documents. The Decision, jury verdict and Court Order are all posted for your review.”

Bozeman Daily Chronicle:

Bozeman Daily Chronicle: Progress reducing US uninsured rate comes to a halt

National Health Interview Survey’s Early Release Program
Health Insurance Coverage

Bozeman Daily Chronicle:  Bullying persists in school, reports of sex crime up

Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2016
“A joint effort by the National Center for Education Statistics and the Bureau of Justice Statistics, this annual report examines crime occurring in schools and colleges. This report presents data on crime at school from the perspectives of students, teachers, principals, and the general population from an array of sources—the National Crime Victimization Survey, the School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, the School Survey on Crime and Safety, the Schools and Staffing Survey, EDFacts, and the Campus Safety and Security Survey. The report covers topics such as victimization, bullying, school conditions, fights, weapons, the presence of security staff at school, availability and student use of drugs and alcohol, student perceptions of personal safety at school, and criminal incidents at postsecondary institutions.”