Employment Rates, Wildfire Smoke and Health

Missoulian: Solid hiring in July cuts unemployment rate to 4.3 pct.

Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment Summary
“Unemployment rates were lower in June than a year earlier in 336 of the 388 metropolitan areas, higher in 45 areas, and unchanged in 7 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Twenty-six areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and two areas had rates of at least 10.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 342 metropolitan areas, decreased in 39 areas, and was unchanged in 7 areas. The national unemployment rate in June was 4.5 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 5.1 percent a year earlier.”

Missoulian: Health dangers of forest fire smoke remain less understood

Protect Yourself from Wildfire Smoke

Today’s Air

FDA, Veterans Clinic, Mountain Lion Kitten

Missoulian: Senate passes legislation to ensure no halt in FDA reviews

H.R.2430 - FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017

Missoulian: Tester touts bipartisan legislation to expand Missoula's Veterans Affairs Clinic

S.1526 : Veterans Access to Care Act of 2017
“For an outpatient clinic, Missoula, Montana, an amount not to exceed $6,942,000.”

Image P-32 from the SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS NATIONAL RECREATION AREA showing what a Mountain Lion kitten looks like.

Missoulian: Officials: House cat mistaken for mountain lion cub in Helena

Mountain Lion - Puma concolor

Fires, Drought, Russia, Selling Endangered Species

Missoulian: Growing Rice Ridge fire shadows Seeley Lake
Missoulian: Evacuations ordered near Lincoln as fire activity increases
Montana InciWeb
Montana Wildfires

Missoulian: 12% of Montana is in exceptional drought — a once-in-a-century event, NOAA scientist says
U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook

Missoulian: White House official: Trump signs sanctions against Russia as punishment for election meddling

H.R. 3364 - Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act

Missoulian:  Prosecutors: Alabama shop sold coat of endangered jaguar fur

Can I sell it?
“Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the legality of selling an item made from an endangered or threatened species in interstate or international commerce may depend on a number of circumstances, including the age and origin of the item and whether the species is native to the United States. The Endangered Species Act is the only Federal wildlife law that addresses the concept of an “antique,” and the statute specifies that such items must be at least 100 years old. “

Montana Still on Fire

Map of Montana showing air quality.

Missoulian: Liberty fire triples in size, Placid Lake area receives 'evacuation warning'

Liberty Fire
“Today, fire crews will continue to build containment line on the fires east perimeter along the Boles Meadow burn scar using the existing road system. The priority is to keep the fire west of the Boles Meadow scar and away from the communities of Placid Lake. Resources will be focused on the eastern flank while additional containment lines are scouted on the south flank. Containment lines on the north and west flank will be improved and additional contingency lines well be constructed as resources become available.”

Today’s Air

Montana Fires, Yellowstone River Irrigation Project, Supreme Court Cases on Young Offenders

Montana Wildfire Map

Missoulian: Liberty fire triples in size, Placid Lake area receives 'evacuation warning'

Bruner Mountain Fire

Sapphire Complex- Lolo National Forest

Sunrise Fire –Lolo National Forest

Lodgepole Complex-Miles City

See a full list of fires.

Department of Agriculture
Fire and Drought Assistance Hotline Information

Montana Department of Revenue
Tax Relief and Assistance for Loss Due to Natural Disaster, Including Fires, Floods and Drought
“The Montana Department of Revenue reminds Montana property owners whose homes or other property are damaged or destroyed during wildfire or other natural disaster that they can apply for property tax assistance. To apply, property owners need to complete Form AB-25. Forest land owners should do Form AB-26.”- State Agency Coordination Center report 7/28/17

Missoulian: Eastern Montana irrigators plead for patience from Army Corps

Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project
Yellowstone Intake (USACE)

Missoulian:  Supreme Court rulings reshape penalties for young offenders

Roper v. Simmons

Graham v. Florida

Miller v. Alabama

Jackson v. Hobbs

Obamacare Repeal, Yellowstone Harassment, Pharma Bro

Missoulian: GOP dealt stiff blow in Senate's bid to repeal 'Obamacare'
H.R.1628 - American Health Care Act of 2017

Missoulian: 10 people at Yellowstone to be punished after sexual harassment investigation
Investigative Report of Alleged Sexual Misconduct and Reprisal at Yellowstone National Park
“We found credible evidence that male supervisors and staff in the Maintenance Division unit created a work environment that included unwelcome and inappropriate comments and actions toward women. This negative work environment was allowed to continue because of the actions, or inaction, of supervisors. Specifically, the Maintenance Division supervisor should have known about and addressed some of the alleged misconduct.”

Missoulian:  Prosecutor: 'Pharma Bro' Shkreli exposed as a 'con man'

Former Hedge Fund Manager And New York Attorney Indicted In Multimillion Dollar Fraud Scheme

Montana Transgender Bathroom Ballot, Sunrise Fire, Mine Near Yellowstone

Missoulian: Bid to restrict transgender bathroom use advances in Montana

Montana Ballot Issues
Ballot Issue #1 I-183
Subject: Require a person using a locker room or protected facility in a government building or public school to use the facility that is designated for that person's sex.
Contact Person: Jeff Laszloffy
Sponsor: Jeff Laszloffy
Type: Statutory initiative
Received by SOS:  May 10, 2017
Status: Petition has been approved for signature gathering as of July 26, 2017.
Next Step: As of October 20, 2017, sponsor may submit signatures to county election offices.

Missoulian:  Sheriff orders evacuations as Sunrise fire spots close to homes
Montana InciWeb
“According to the Mineral County Sheriff, residents of Sunrise and Quartz Flats are now under Stage 3 Evacuation. This is the time to leave the area immediately and in an orderly fashion. The Sheriff is currently contacting residents in these areas.”

Missoulian: Gold mining proposal near Yellowstone advances
Environmental Assessment Complete for Lucky Minerals Exploration Project
Final Environmental Assessment - Lucky Minerals Emigrant Exploration Project

“Lucky Minerals proposes to drill up to 46 drill holes from 23 drill pads (two/pad) over two field seasons (Updated Figure 1.4). The anticipated field season would be from mid-July to mid October. The total project disturbance area, including access roads, laydown areas, and drill pads within the St. Julian Claim Block, would be approximately 4.8 acres (See Table 2.1). In order to keep disturbance to a minimum, all drill holes and associated sumps would be located within the previously disturbed prism of existing roads. The sumps would be used for collection and disposal of drill cuttings. Lucky Minerals would use two drills running two ten hour shifts per day.”