Good morning and happy Inauguration Day!
On the Beacon this morning, with money in hand, the planners of the new 911 emergency communications center must figure out the best way to oversee construction and tamp down rumors that some dispatchers could be losing their jobs. A business seminar is coming to the Hilton Garden Inn that honors the legacy of Jeff Hodgson, a successful consultant who died this year. The 10-year-old Marion boy charged with shooting a 7-year-old girl in the stomach was put on probation. The census is hiring in Kalispell.
Legislative leaders want to set up some type of oversight committee to ensure federal stimulus dollars are spent appropriately. Republicans’ attempts to introduce bills that would tighten voter eligibility and allow people to register their party affiliation met with stiff opposition at the bills’ hearings. Sen. Greg Barkus, R-Kalispell, has introduced a bill to add more judicial districts and judges to Montana, which the governor opposes because of its cost. The Missoulian’s Jodi Rave is in Washington, D.C., reporting on Indian country’s excitement at Barack Obama’s inauguration today. Chairman Carl Venne and 23 other Crow riders will be mounted up in the parade. And Bozeman is one of four Montana cities predicted to be a top housing market in the U.S. in 2009; the others are Great Falls, Livingston and Missoula.
And finally, an Australian man found himself the victim of a bizarre prank when he came upon a lizard someone had taped to the handle of his car. Have a great day.