Good morning; on the Beacon today, we feature the valley’s top athletes in our fall 2010 Best of Preps. As part of an effort to court an industry with enormous potential for growth, Whitefish state Sen. Ryan Zinke is co-director of a project focused on bringing unmanned aerial systems, or drones, to Montana for testing and research. An 18-year-old Polson man has pleaded not guilty to stabbing his mother’s boyfriend to death during an argument. And Whitefish Rep. Mike Jopek cautions against plans to encourage nuclear power development in the upcoming Legislative session.
Gov. Brian Schweitzer said Wednesday the state budget picture already looks rosier since last month, using the news to needle Republicans who have taken a more pessimistic outlook. University of Montana cornerback Jimmy Wilson has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct for biting a woman’s leg over the summer. Montana’s two Democratic U.S. senators voted Wednesday with the 81-member Senate majority that approved the tax cut package negotiated by President Barack Obama and leading Republicans. But Montana’s sole U.S. House member, Republican Denny Rehberg, said he plans to vote against the deal when it hits the House floor this week. County commissioners with federal land slated to be designated wilderness in Sen. Jon Tester’s controversial forest bill blasted his move to insert the measure into a massive spending bill this week. Bozeman’s Bridger Bowl has been a successful ski resort, in part because it’s a nonprofit. DirecTV Inc. has settled a consumer protection dispute about how it tells customers about cancellation fees and other contract terms.