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News Buffet: 2008 Legislative Races, Congressional Pork, The Jingle Cats!

By Beacon Staff

Good morning and happy Cathode-Ray Tube Day!

On the Beacon this morning, we look at how some of the local 2008 legislative races are shaping up, particularly the open seat in Whitefish’s Senate District 2. I also spent some time attempting to unravel the new GOP caucus system, and talked to some of the presidential campaigns learning to work within it. Columnist Wild Bill Schneider discusses the need for wilderness advocates to seek compromise on certain issues. In C-Falls, the parks committee is beginning to work out its vision for the new riverfront park. And finally, we’ve got a killer feature about Ceres Bakery in downtown Kalispell, with a multimedia slideshow by Lido Vizzutti and words by Keriann Lynch.

And topping state news this morning, coming out of Congress we’ve got PORK – lots of it. The AP reports on the bountiful earmarks Montana’s delegation brought home, including $3.9 million for the Kalispell bypass. The Missoulian reports that increases in the operating budgets for national parks, also granted by Congress, should make for some improvements at Glacier National Park. According to an investigation, two U.S. soldiers killed in a February incident in Iraq were victims of friendly fire. One of those soldiers was from Glendive. Recent tests by the Department of Livestock show Montana remains free and clear of brucellosis. Speaking of bison, the hunt outside of Yellowstone is off to a slow start, with tribal hunters taking twice as many as holders of state tags, so far.

And finally, depending on your feelings about cats and Christmas carols, this will either make you laugh, or make you want to gauge your eyes out. Ladies and gentlemen, The Jingle Cats!