Good morning; on the Beacon today, a small rally in Kalispell Saturday by people who said they were concerned about the rights of white people was in line with what the Montana Human Rights Network has identified as “an upswing in white supremacist activity recently” in the state. State wildlife officials are investigating the death of an adult female grizzly, whose carcass was found in the Flathead National Forest north of Columbia Falls. We’re high on “Butt Huts” and low on Michael Hilton in our weekly index of what’s up, down and in between. Hunters in Montana reported taking nine wolves through the end of last week in the state’s first-ever organized wolf hunt.
Plans for a California company to take over Hardin’s empty jail were put on hold Monday, following last week’s revelations that the company’s lead figure has a criminal history. A foot of snow has fallen in Red Lodge and the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for south-central Montana. Montana’s unemployment rate remains low compared to the national average, but as the recovery creeps in here, it is occurring without jobs. And MSU-Billings business professor A.J. Otjen of Laurel said Monday she is challenging Rep. Denny Rehberg in the 2010 House GOP primary to offer voters an alternative to “the far right.”