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Thursday: Media Bias, GOP Takes State Senate, Saddam’s Yacht Boycotted

By Beacon Staff

Good morning; on this date in 1947, “Meet the Press” debuted on NBC.

There’s a lot of news on the Beacon and across the state as the implications of election results grow clear. Our top story this week looks at how, and if, media bias played a role in coverage by the Montana press during this election season. Glacier Park, and national parks across the U.S. are waiving their fees Tuesday for veterans, current members of the U.S. Armed Services, and their families. Whitefish City Council has selected Charles Stearns of Georgetown, Colo., as the new city manager. Folks in Columbia Falls partied yesterday as the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree made a stop in town. Bigfork teen Dave Myers is heading to China to hit the books and run big water at the World Class Kayak Academy.

The Smurfit-Stone Container Corp in Missoula is laying off 52 workers. U.S. Agriculture Undersecretary Mark Rey criticized Missoula County’s Freedom of Information Act Request for documents related to road easements to remote parcels of Plum Creek timber land. A victorious Gov. Brian Schweitzer is planning his second term and preparing to release a budget proposal.

In political news, Republicans will control the state Senate with a 27-23 majority, while the House looks as though it will be split 50-50. If Democrat Linda McCulloch unseats Republican Brad Johnson, as she appears poised to do, Democrats will control the entire state Land Board. And Democrat Steve Bullock, after what was perhaps the toughest election in the state, is preparing to serve as attorney general.

And finally, nobody wants to buy Saddam Hussein’s old yacht. I would imagine that’s one boat with some bad karma.