Canadian Agreement/ Juvenile Sex Offenders/ Unemployment

Missoulian: Montana sawmills should benefit from continued restrictions on Canadian imports
Department of State: Agreement concerning softwood lumber, with annexes.

Helena Independent Record: Kids can be ordered to register as sex offenders
USA V. JUVENILE MALE 09-30330
“Defendants argue that SORNA’s registration requirement contravenes the confidentiality provisions of the Federal Juvenile Delinquency Act (FJDA), 18 U.S.C. § 5031 et seq., and also challenge its constitutionality.”

Helena Independent Record: More seek unemployment aid, but trend is positive
BLS: Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Summary
“Regional and state unemployment rates were slightly lower in December. Thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia recorded unemployment rate decreases, 3 states posted rate increases, and 10 states had no rate change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.”

New Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Missoulian: New federal map for what to plant reflects warming

USDA Unveils New Plant Hardiness Zone Map
“For the first time, the new map offers a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based interactive format and is specifically designed to be Internet-friendly. The map website also incorporates a "find your zone by ZIP code" function. Static images of national, regional and state maps have also been included to ensure the map is readily accessible to those who lack broadband Internet access.”

State of the Union/ Corporate Campaign Spending/ Medical Pot

Missoulian: Obama to take on economy in State of the Union

State of the Union Address

2011 state of the union speech photo taken by Lawrence Jackson

Missoulian: A.G. asks state Supreme Court to uphold ban on corporate campaign spending
Attorney General Bullock Issues Statement after Lead Plaintiff Appeals Corporate Spending Limit Case to U.S. Supreme Court
“If they want to spend – or ‘speak’ – in our elections, all we require is that they use their own money, not that of their stockholders, and that they disclose who they are, by listing their address and occupation when they contribute.”- Attorney General Steve Bullock

Missoulian: Molloy says federal law trumps Montana's medical marijuana law
Ogden Memo
Gonzales et al v. Raich et al
Supremacy Clause
U.S. Constitution Article. VI.
Clause 2: This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

Unemployment taxed

Bozeman Daily Chronicle: All 2011 unemployment insurance benefits taxable
Topic 418 - Unemployment Compensation
“Unemployment compensation is includible in gross income. You must report unemployment compensation on line 19 of Form 1040, line 13 of Form 1040A, or line 3 of Form 1040EZ.”

Forest Funding/ Supreme Court

Missoulian: Northwestern Montana, Idaho Panhandle areas to share $9.5M in forest funding
Forest Legacy Program: Protecting Forest through partnership
“The Forest Legacy program protects “working forests” those that protect water quality, provide habitat, forest products, opportunities for recreation and other public benefits.”

Missoulian: Court throws out judge-drawn Texas electoral maps
Perry v. Perez
“The day after completing its new electoral plans, Texassubmitted them to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia for preclearance. The preclearance process remains ongoing. Texas was unsuccessful in its bid for summary judgment, and a trial is scheduled in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, various plaintiffs—appellees here—brought suit in Texas, claiming that the State’s newly enacted plans violate the United States Constitu­tion and §2 of the Voting Rights Act.”

Weather/ Asarco/ Coal lease

Missoulian: WEDNESDAY'S WAKE-UP WEATHER: Snow and more coming
NOAA: Data from Montana

Helena Independent Record: Meeting on Asarco site cleanup, redevelopment tonight in East Helena
EPA: American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO) Bankruptcy Settlement EPA Funded Sites and Communities

Helena Independent Record: Mont. coal lease sale set for Feb. 28
BLM: BLM to Reoffer Coal Resources in Upcoming Lease Sale

“The sale is a reoffer of the coal lease the BLM offered on November 16, 2011. Signal Peak Energy LLC submitted the only and high bid of $5,325,000 ($0.15 per recoverable ton) for five unleased coal tracts in Musselshell County. After careful evaluation by an interdisciplinary team, the BLM rejected the bid because it did not meet or exceed BLM’s estimate of the fair market value of the tracts. In early December, Signal Peak Energy LLC requested that the BLM Montana/Dakotas offer the coal lease tracts for sale again, and the BLM agreed to do so.”