Good morning; on the Beacon today, if fish and wildlife managers decide to use gill netting as a method of lake trout removal in Flathead Lake, they will undoubtedly look to a project at nearby Swan Lake for guidance. Dean Swank is celebrating 50 years in business. A former Internal Revenue Service employee from Kalispell, Todd Snarr, has pleaded guilty to unauthorized inspection of tax returns. Glacier National Park is seeing a near record number of visitors during its centennial year. And Mark Riffey offers some advice on problem solving.
Helena school officials are changing some of the most controversial aspects of their proposed sex education policy following intense criticism from parents, and officials are making clear that abstinence-based teachings top the program. Virtually unknown a month ago, Christine O’Donnell rode a surge of support from tea party activists to victory in Delaware’s Republican Senate primary Tuesday night, dealing yet another setback to the GOP establishment in a campaign season full of them. Gov. Brian Schweitzer publicly hammered Travelocity leaders Tuesday over a growing tax dispute — the same day the online travel reservation company announced a program aimed at promoting the state. The state’s tourism director was fired last month for failing to spend $4 million in bed tax money that the Legislature may now use to offset current budget shortfalls, Commerce Department director Dore Schwinden said. Retail sales rose in August by the largest amount in five months, adding to evidence that a late spring economic swoon was temporary and not the start of another recession. Rising oil prices and a declining supply will create an enormous problem in the U.S. unless other energy sources are found and made affordable, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu said Tuesday in Butte. Education Secretary Arne Duncan says Montana will receive nearly $30.7 million to support education jobs.