We’re high on local real estate and low on Max Resource Corp. in our weekly news index of what’s up, down and in between…
HIGH
ELOISE COBELL – After 13 years of legal battles, this Blackfeet tribe member won a $3 billion settlement over mismanagement of royalty payments to American Indians by the U.S. government dating back to the 1800s.
LOCAL REAL ESTATE – Due largely to an extension of the first-time homebuyers tax credit, local home sales showed a slight uptick in October over the previous year, indicating a slight recovery?
KNIFE RIVER – The Kalispell firm won the bid for the second section of the southern portion of the bypass, a job that could employ as many as 30 local workers.
FINANCIAL REGULATION – With all Republicans and 27 Democrats opposed, the U.S. House passed sweeping financial regulatory reform overhaul, a victory for the president. The bill now heads to the Senate, which won’t take it up until 2010.
BETWEEN
WOLF HUNT – After an examination of Montana’s first hunt found nine wolves were killed in an area prone to livestock attacks, wildlife officials say the hunt was effective and may up the quota for next year. But a federal judge in Missoula may decide to restore federal protections to the wolf, putting another hunt in jeopardy.
LOW
MAX RESOURCE CORP. – This Canadian mining company found large amounts of gold after test drilling 10 miles north of Glacier Park, and plans to continue tests next year, setting up yet another dispute over mining north of the border.
KALISPELL FIRE PREVENTION – With the layoff of the city’s fire marshal due to a tight budget, fire inspections and prevention measures will operate in a bare-bones fashion.
U.S. FOREST SERVICE – A proposed plan to trim discounts given to seniors and the disabled who want to camp in national forests has critics charging it will reduce affordable access to public land.
SWINE FLU – Despite an influenza season milder, thus far, than predictions, 18 Montanans have died from the virus.