Good morning; on the Beacon today, Flathead valley residents and auto dealers are trying to capitalize on the federal government’s “Cash for Clunkers program.” The fire season remains tame. State leaseholders are concerned about rising payments. Idaho is striking out in its quest to find states willing to take its wolves. It appears Montanans are gambling less, with revenue from video gambling machines and the lottery decreasing for the first time in a decade. And the court hearing for Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s ongoing ethics case is being delayed until September.
A woman in Stevensville is ruffling feathers with her “No Mo Bro” sign about President Obama. A mining company is looking to expand its gold exploration north of Glacier National Park. A 55-year-old man from Butte died while kayaking in the Alberton Gorge on Sunday. A family near Clancy is upset with the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation over a beetle-kill logging project. A small group of demonstrators gathered at Sen. Max Baucus’ health care summit in Bozeman, but the day passed relatively quietly. And in Columbus, two medical students, just an hour after exchanging vows, pulled over on their way to their reception and attended to a 14-year-old accident victim.