Good morning; on the Beacon today, we check in with Jim Kenyon, who replaced Charlie Abell as Whitefish Credit Union’s president and CEO. Mitch Gilman, 13, of Whitefish, has been ranked by Powder magazine as one of the best skiers in the world under the age of 18. Whitefish High School students Dietrich Perchy and Jessica Sagen were named Prince Frey and Princess Freya in the Whitefish Winter Carnival. Scott Brown is on a high after his win in Massachusetts, while health care legislation has reached a low point, in our weekly index of what’s up, down and in between.
University of Montana President George Dennison announced Monday that he will retire in August after 20 years at the Missoula school. Gov. Brian Schweitzer was among those who received a controversial Republican mailing made to look like the U.S. Census form. The latest congressional budget estimates due Tuesday predict a $1.35 trillion deficit for this year, a top Capitol Hill aide says. U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg said Monday that he could support U.S. Sen. Jon Tester’s plan to expand wilderness and increase logging — but only with more assurances that the logging will occur. Higher tuition and a shorter work week were among the proposed budget cutbacks outlined by University of Montana President George Dennison on Monday. And things could be looking up in Hardin: The town may get a horse slaughter facility.