Good morning; on the Beacon today, check out one of our most popular features of the year, Best of Preps, showcasing the top high school athletes in the valley. Lido’s video on the making of Best of Preps is not to be missed either. And while we’re on the subject of sports, Myers breaks down the story lines heading into Friday night’s championship between the Griz and Villanova. Two men accused of counterfeiting bills and circulating them in the Kalispell area have been arrested, and investigators say the alleged operation may be linked to an Evergreen family that was arrested earlier this week on drug charges. And Wild Bill Schneider writes about how Tester’s Wilderness and Jobs bill could be made even better.
The governor says he is backing U.S. Sen. Jon Tester’s plan to both create more wilderness and mandate more logging. The number of newly laid off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week as the recovery of the nation’s battered labor market proceeds in fits and starts. A threatening letter with a powdery substance was discovered in Sen. Max Baucus’ mailroom Wednesday, but the senator’s office said initial tests found no hazard. The Missoulian’s Chelsi Moy reports on how dozens of voters turned out Wednesday afternoon, most of them opposing the proposed closure of several polling places – including at the Missoula County Courthouse and on the University of Montana campus – saying the plan would hurt the democratic process. A 17-year-old inmate at the state prison has been in solitary confinement for almost a year and is being subjected to “torturous” treatment, the Montana ACLU said Wednesday. The U.S. Forest Service is rewriting the basic planning rule that balances logging against wildlife, clean water, and other benefits of the national forests. Former U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has purchased a 940-acre ranch along the Big Hole River. Outdoor enthusiasts are being warned of avalanche danger after two skiers were caught in a slide at Big Sky Resort over the weekend.