Montana Graduation Rates/ Montana State Parks Visits/ Exxon Refinery Blast/ Bristol Bay Assessment

Missoulian: Public educators tout 'historic' graduation rates
Montana’s Graduation Rate Reaches Record High

Missoulian: Montana State Parks sees 3rd straight visitation record
Shoulder Season Visitation Boosts Montana State Parks to Record Breaking 2015
“Once again, the North Central Region (Great Falls area) had the highest annual visitation in the state with over 727,800 visits. Giant Springs State Park drew the highest visitation of all state parks with over 419,000 visits as well as the highest annual visitation for a single park in the last 10 years.”

2015 Annual Visitation Report

Missoulian:  Probe: Exxon deficiencies found in California refinery blast
U.S. Chemical Safety Board Finds Multiple Safety Deficiencies Led to February 2015 Explosion and Serious Near Miss at the Exxon Mobil Refinery in Torrance, California
“An ongoing investigation by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) of the February 18, 2015, explosion at the ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California, has uncovered multiple process safety management deficiencies that led to the accident and a serious near miss.”

Missoulian: Watchdog: No bias in EPA's study on mining in Alaska fishery
EPA’s Bristol Bay Watershed Assessment: Obtainable Records Show EPA Followed Required Procedures Without Bias or Predetermination, but a Possible Misuse of Position Noted

U.S. Navy in Iran

Missoulian: US Navy sailors held by Iran are released with their boats
On U.S. Navy Sailors' Departure From Iran

Sailors Depart Iran Safely

Grand Canyon Abuse Report/ State of Union/ FOIA Act

Missoulian: Report charts history of abuse at Grand Canyon
Investigative Report of Misconduct at the Grand Canyon River District

Missoulian: Obama reaches for upbeat outlook in final State of the Union
President Obama will deliver his final State of the Union address on tonight at 9PM ET.

Missoulian: House votes to strengthen government records law
HR 653: FOIA Act

Taking a break

This blog will not be updated till 1/12//2016.

Navy Nukes/ Pesticides and Bees

Missoulian: Navy leader says 'nukes' essential to US survival

Thornberry On North Korea Nuke Test
Secretary, South Korean Defense Minister Discuss North Korean Nuclear Test
New Nuclear LDO Designator Established  

Missoulian: EPA says pesticide harms bees in some cases
Protecting Bees and Other Pollinators from Pesticides

Montana Highway Deaths/ EPA and Flint Water/ President Obama Gun Control

Missoulian: Montana highway death toll up sharply in 2015
Crash Data
Traveler Safety
“There were 224 fatalities in 2015. There has been 1 fatality on Montana highways in 2016 compared to 0 fatalities for this same time in 2015.”

Missoulian: Federal prosecutors working with EPA on Flint water probe
Flint Safe Drinking Water Task Force
“On October 16, 2015, EPA established the Flint Safe Drinking Water Task Force to provide the Agency’s technical expertise through regular dialogue with designated officials from Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the City of Flint.”

Missoulian: Obama initiative on gun control shows limits of acting alone
What the President is Doing to Keep Guns Out of the Wrong Hands

Origin of Meat

Missoulian: Consumers won't know meat origin after US ends labeling law
Country of Origin Labeling
H.R. 2393: Country of Origin Labeling Amendments Act of 2015
(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to repeal country of origin labeling requirements for beef, pork, and chicken. Country of origin labeling requirements are administered by the Department of Agriculture and require a retailer to inform consumers of the country of origin of a covered commodity.