Tribal Nations Buy-Back/ New Fish Found/ Flood Insurance

Missoulian: CSKT reaches agreement with feds on land buyback program

Interior Announces Next Cooperative Agreements Under Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations

“As part of President Obama’s commitment to help strengthen Native American communities, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn today announced cooperative agreements with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) of the Flathead Reservation and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, both located in Montana, for continued collaborative implementation of the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations (Buy-Back Program) on their reservations. The Buy-Back Program will purchase trust or restricted interests from willing sellers and transfer those interests to the tribes in order to unlock lands for tribal development and other priorities.”

Missoulian: New fish species found in Clark Fork River basin
Scientists discover new fish species, the Cedar Sculpin
“The new species was discovered in the Coeur d’ Alene and St. Joe River basins in Idaho and part of the Clark Fork River basin in Montana. Because the current range of this fish overlaps the historical homeland of the Coeur d’ Alene Tribe, the scientists consulted with Tribal elders to select a scientific name for the new species. This led to the naming of the species as Cottus schitsuumsh (s-CHEET-sue-umsh), the Cedar Sculpin. Translated, Schitsu’umsh means “those who were found here” and is the name for the Tribe. The common name refers to the western redcedar, a tree often found in streamside stands in this region.”

Missoulian: House GOP question changes in flood insurance bill

S.1926 - A bill to delay the implementation of certain provisions of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 and to reform the National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers, and for other purposes.

BLM Oil Leases/ Montana Teachers Awarded

Missoulian: BLM oil, gas leases in North Dakota fetch $17.5M
Oil & Gas Statistics

Missoulian: Montana Presidential Award-winning teachers support Common Core
President Obama Honors Outstanding Math and Science Teachers

“The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is awarded annually to outstanding K-12 science and mathematics teachers from across the country. The winners are selected by a panel of distinguished scientists, mathematicians, and educators following an initial selection process done at the state level. Each year the award alternates between teachers teaching kindergarten through 6th grade and those teaching 7th through 12th grades. The 2012 awardees named today teach kindergarten through 6th grade.”

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

NASA Satellite/ FDA Study on 4-MEI/ State of the Union

Image from NASA

Missoulian:  NASA launching newest communication satellite
TDRS-L to Add to Communications Constellation

“TDRS-L will become the 11th member of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System orbiting Earth following its launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Liftoff is scheduled for Jan. 23 during a launch window that opens at 9:05 p.m. EST.”

 Missoulian: FDA says it is studying caramel coloring in soda

Questions & Answers on Caramel Coloring and 4-MEI

“4-methylimidazole (4-MEI) is a chemical compound that is not directly added to food; rather it is formed as a byproduct in some foods and beverages during the normal cooking process. For example, 4-MEI may form when coffee beans are roasted and when meats are roasted or grilled. 4-MEI also forms as a trace impurity during the manufacturing of certain types of caramel coloring (known as Class III and Class IV caramel coloring) that are used to color cola-type beverages and other foods.”

Missoulian: State of the Union: High volume, low yield

The State of the Union address will be on January 28, 2014 at 7:00am mountain time.

Highway Safety/ W.V. Spill/ Sexual Assault

Missoulian: Group says Montana among 'worst states' for highway safety laws

Montana Comprehensive Highway Safety Plan

Missoulian: W.Va. tells company to disclose everything spilled
Ranking Members Waxman and Tonko Call for Hearing on West Virginia Chemical Spill

Missoulian: Obama targets college sexual assault epidemic
Rape and Sexual Assault: A Renewed Call to Action

Storm/ Child Pornography Case

Missoulian: Snowstorm shuts down federal government offices

Weather.gov

Missoulian: Court ruling due on child porn victim restitution

 Paroline, Doyle R. v. United States, et al. (12-8561)       

Respondent Amy’s Brief on the Merits

“The Court should read Section 2259 to achieve Congress’s explicit compensatory aims, not to thwart them. As the Fifth Circuit en banc interpreted the statute, it does not require a child pornography victim to establish precisely what fraction of, for example, her psychological counseling costs are the proximate result of an individual defendant’s crime.  Instead, victims like Amy must first establish that they suffered “harm” from a defendant’s child pornography crime.  See 18 U.S.C. 2259(c). This cause-in-fact link or nexus between an individual’s harm and a defendant’s crime establishes a statutorily-recognized “victim” entitled to restitution for the “full amount” of her losses. 18 U.S.C. 2259(c) & (b)(1). This case comes to this Court on a factual finding that petitioner harmed Amy—a finding that was unchallenged below and is well-supported by the record.”

Martin Luther King Jr.

  MLK Day 2014: Start a Year of Citizen Action

MLKDay.gov
"What is the MLK Day of Service?

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'

Each year, Americans across the country answer that question by coming together on the King Holiday to serve their neighbors and communities.
The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the President's national call to service initiative. It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems"

 Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site
"A young boy grows up in a time of segregation…A dreamer is moved by destiny into leadership of the modern civil rights movement…This was Martin Luther King, Jr.  Come hear his story, visit the home of his birth, and where he played as a child.  Walk in his footsteps, and hear his voice in the church where he moved hearts and minds.  Marvel at how he was an instrument for social change."
 
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial