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the candidates' montana travel plans

Last week, Great Falls Tribune Capitol Bureau Chief John S. Adams reported that Sen. Barack Obama will stop in Missoula for a rally at the University of Montana before moving on to Butte for the April 5th Mansfield-Metcalf dinner, citing high level Democratic Party sources, but Obama's campaign has not contacted the University of Montana, according to University Relations Director Rita Munzenrider.

Both Sens. Obama and Hillary Clinton have confirmed plans to attend the dinner in Butte, the Montana Democratic Party’s largest fundraiser

“Obviously it would be a cool thing to get any presidential candidate on campus," Munzenrider said of the reports of Obama's visit to Missoula, "but at this time none of the candidates have made any plans with us.” [more]

a newwest.net event

The Internet is providing the biggest change in the way people receive news and information since Gutenberg developed the movable type printing press in the 15th century, according to Dave Kansas, an Internet media pioneer who spoke at the Missoula Art Museum Monday afternoon at an event hosted by NewWest.Net.

The founding editor of the online financial news site TheStreet.com, former deputy online editor of WSJ.com and Money & Investing editor of The Wall Street Journal, Kansas discussed the evolution of Internet journalism and its relationship to traditional media. [more]

Affording Missoula

Everyday Missoulians like firefighters, teachers, young couples and single parents are finding it difficult to stay in Missoula because of a lack of affordable housing, and Thursday night Mayor John Engen led a public discussion on how best to address the issue.

The topic of affordable housing has in the past been a contentious one in Missoula, but Mayor Engen hopes to start a new and constructive conversation. Clearing up misconceptions seems to be the first step.

“I’m not interested in putting another house in someone’s back yard in the University neighborhood,” he said. “We don’t have to wreck a neighborhood to build affordable housing.” [more]

You’re invited!

Is affordable housing an important issue in Missoula? Mayor John Engen thinks so.

“If the folks who work here can’t afford to live here, then this isn’t Missoula anymore,” he says.

Residents are invited to a public discussion about housing in Missoula with Mayor Engen and four panelists this Thursday at 7:00 PM in the City Council chambers. The Mayor’s goal is to find out if affordable housing is a significant issue for Missoulians. [more]

Crème de la crème in Missoula

Paul Myers, executive chef at 515 on the Hip Strip in Missoula, is a semifinalist for a James Beard Foundation Award, one of the nation’s most prestigious honors for culinary professionals.

Thousands of entries were received but Myers made it into the top 20 for Best Chef Northwest. The top five finalists will be announced March 24 and flown to New York City to be honored at the Lincoln Center.

“I’m really honored to be in the listing,” says Myers, 37, a native of Billings. “I feel like what we’re doing is on point with those guys [in bigger cities], but I didn’t expect to get the nod out here because there’s just not as much exposure in an area like this versus a Portland or Seattle market.” [more]

join the discussion

Despite its relative vibrancy, downtown Missoula has its share of problems and concerns including the challenges brought by growth, and Wednesday night residents and professional planners sat elbow to elbow to start dealing with those issues.

Roughly 160 people gathered in the Holiday Inn-Downtown for the first of four public workshops centered around the Downtown Master Plan, the first downtown design strategy in the city's history. City Councilmember Jason Wiener was in attendance, and came away from the workshop optimistic about the downtown's prospects.

"I've been to my share of public meetings and this was not the typical crowd," said Wiener, who was elected to Ward 1 last November. "I've seen a lot of familiar faces but it was encouraging for me to see so many people who care about the downtown." [more]

fire retardant lawsuit

U.S. Agriculture Undersecretary Mark Rey, overseer of the Forest Service, calmly walked out of the U.S. District Court in Missoula Wednesday evening cleared of contempt charges.

District Court Judge Donald W. Molloy ruled that although the Forest Service dragged its feet in completing environmental analyses on the effects of fire retardant on fish, his previous court order was eventually complied with.

Judge Molloy said the issue of contempt was unfortunate, but it at least got the government agency moving. [more]

lawsuit over fire retardant

U.S. Agriculture Undersecretary Mark Rey, facing the prospect of jail time over the Forest Service's use of a fire retardant that kills fish, told U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula Tuesday, "I'm sorry."

"We're beyond the point of making excuses," Rey said, "and there's no way to put a positive face on the fact that we dropped the ball."

But Rey and the Forest Service were trying to prove -- and will continue to do so Wednesday when the hearing continues -- that the agency is not in contempt of the law and has, in good faith, complied with the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. [more]

PROCESS STARTS MARCH 5

Thirty-five firms from across the country applied to work with the city of Missoula on the Downtown Master Plan, the first design strategy for the downtown in the city's history. After a long, hard look at each of the candidates, a steering committee chose the Portland-based firm Crandall Arambula.

The firm, according to Missoula Downtown Association director Linda McCarthy, stood out on one key issue: getting the general public involved. This made them a commonsense match for Missoula.

"Crandall Arambula talked so much about these community meetings and how the public is really who should be deciding what Missoula should look like 20 years down the road," McCarthy says. [more]

big sky documentary film festival

Today’s documentary filmmakers are heading into uncharted territory and faced with trying to make a living as the landscape of the industry continues to change, according to a panel of filmmakers.

Monday afternoon, the Crystal Theatre featured “The Business of Documentary,” a panel of four filmmakers moderated by Danielle DiGiacomo as part of the annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. David Fassio, Mike Steinberg, Simon Kilmurry and Gita Saedi discussed the new features of filmmaking that continue to emerge and the old ones that endure. [more]

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