Wilderness Bill/ NORAD Santa/ Federal Budget Bill

Missoulian: Tester wilderness, jobs bill set for markup this week

S.37: Forest Jobs and Recreation Act of 2013

“Forest Jobs and Recreation Act of 2013 - Establishes the Montana Forest Jobs and Restoration Pilot Initiative under which the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA), through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall implement authorized forest and watershed restoration projects and other land management projects on certain eligible lands within the Beaverhead-Deerlodge and Kootenai National Forests in Montana to achieve the specified purposes of the Initiative and specified performance requirements.”

Missoulian: As NORAD Tracks Santa, critics track NORAD

NORAD Santa Tracker includes games, stories and movies.

Missoulian: Several GOP senators to back a vote on budget bill

H.J.Res.59 - Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014

Pine Beetle/ Budget Deal

Missoulian: Pine beetles likely survived recent cold snap

Mountain Pine Beetle

“Mountain pine beetles overwinter mostly as larvae beneath (or within) the inner bark of host trees. Occasionally, pupae and callow adults may also overwinter. In most lodgepole and ponderosa pine stands, larvae pupate at the ends of their feeding galleries in late spring. Adults emerge and attack from about early July through August, depending on elevation and temperature (fig. 2). Egg galleries a re more or less straight and vertical and may be up to 30 inches (76 cm) long. Eggs are laid along each side of the gallery in individual niches. Bothniches and egg galleries are tightly packed with frass. Eggs hatch and larvae feed until freezing temperatures cause dormancy. Extremely cold temperatures (prolonged periods below -30 °F) can cause significant mortality and can lead to an outbreak reduction or end.”

Missoulian: Federal workers' pensions targeted in budget deal

H.J.Res.59 - Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014

Bison Hunt/ Grizzly Bear Delisitng/ Health Care Enrollment

Missoulian: Montana wildlife officials seek to expand bison hunt
Statewide Bison Management Plan EIS Public Scoping

Missoulian: Grizzly bear managers recommend delisting in Yellowstone
Environmental Conservation Online System -Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis)

Missoulian: Federal data show health disparities among states

Total Marketplace Applications, Eligibility Determinations, and Marketplace Plan Selections By Marketplace Type and State

Montana Health/ Forest Bill/ Kansas Death Sentence/ Animal Antibiotics/ Health Care Insurance/ Budget Deal

Missoulian: Montana up to 23rd healthiest state in nation           

Adult Obesity Facts
“By state, obesity prevalence ranged from 20.5% in Colorado to 34.7% in Louisiana in 2012. No state had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. Nine states and the District of Columbia had prevalence between 20-25%. Thirteen (13) states (Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia) had a prevalence equal to or greater than 30%.”

Missoulian: Natural resources: Bill of Daines, Hastings threatens state
H.R.1526 - Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act

Missoulian: Court: Kan. death sentence shouldn't be thrown out

Kansas V. Cheever

Missoulian: FDA targets antibiotics in meat
FDA takes significant steps to address antimicrobial resistance
“Certain antimicrobials have historically been used in the feed or drinking water of cattle, poultry, hogs, and other food animals for production purposes such as using less food to gain weight. Some of these antimicrobials are important drugs used to treat human infection, prompting concerns about the contribution of this practice to increasing the ability of bacteria and other microbes to resist the effects of a drug. Once antimicrobial resistance occurs, a drug may no longer be as effective in treating various illnesses or infections.”

Missoulian:  Health care signups pick up pace in November

Nearly 365,000 Americans selected plans in the Health Insurance Marketplace in October and November
“Since October 1, 1.9 million have made it through another critical step, the eligibility process, by applying and receiving an eligibility determination, but have not yet selected a plan.  An additional 803,077 were determined or assessed eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in October and November by the Health Insurance Marketplace.”

Missoulian: Bipartisan budget deal sets off some grumbling

The Path to Prosperity. A Responsible, Balanced Budget

National Forest/ Mental Health

Missoulian: Crowd urges Ravalli County not to attempt takeover of federal lands

Bitterroot National Forest
US Forest Service visitor report shows economic, health benefits of America’s national forests and grasslands

Missoulian: 1 year after Newtown, Biden to boost mental health
HHS announces Affordable Care Act mental health services funding

Presidential Nominations

Missoulian:  Senate Dems push Obama nominees, GOP bides time

Nominations & Appointments