Good morning and happy birthday William Carlos Williams.
On the Beacon this morning, we look at how Montana’s candidates are taking advantage of the Web to level the political playing field. To jump-start a sluggish real estate market, some developers in Whitefish are holding online auctions to sell condos to the highest bidder. Kalispell city officials met with business leaders last week to try to hammer out a compromise on transportation impact fees for new developments. In Swan Lake, state and federal agencies are conducting a study to figure out how many lake trout are creeping into the bull trout fishery. And business columnist Mark Riffey advises on how to automate reminders to customers in a way that is profitable and not annoying.
A new federal study shows the grizzly population in Northwest Montana is thriving, which could help ease restrictions on oil and gas drilling, logging and other development. The government plans to retreat from its push to remove gray wolves from the endangered species list. Another low-profile statewide election, for state auditor, is beginning to heat up. And the Bozeman Chronicle has a neat story about how the turmoil on Wall Street this week is having little effect on Main Street in Montana.
And finally, check out this ingenious ziploc bag that prevents sandwich theft by making your lunch look moldy. Have a great humpday.