My Page: Matthew Frank
From The New West Blog
Yellowstone Wrestles with Wireless
Yellowstone National Park is considering a wireless communication plan that could lead to more cell towers, backcountry webcams, wireless internet access in stores and hotels -- and, opponents say, a compromised wilderness experience.
“People go out into the wild to be in nature,” says Bill Boteler of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. “They don’t go out to be surrounded by cell phone towers and gadgets.”
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From The New West Blog
Video: ‘Still Howling Wolf’ from High Country NewsHigh Country News has just released a short film, Still Howling Wolf, describing the 13-year-long effort to reintroduce gray wolves in the Northern Rockies and exploring the passionate and complicated feelings the animals inspire:
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watching the polls
Obama’s Momentum Reflected in New Colorado PollA new poll released Monday by Rasmussen Reports has Barack Obama up 6 points over John McCain in Colorado, 51 percent to 45 percent, up from Obama's one-point lead a week ago and McCain's two-point lead two weeks ago. [more]
From The New West Blog
Senate May Take Up Broad Public Lands Bill in NovemberA collection of bipartisan bills that would protect land and rivers and limit energy development around the West -- the Omnibus Public Land Management Act -- may make it to the Senate floor in November, the Jackson Hole News&Guide reports. [more]
From The New West Blog
Amtrak to Consider Restoring Western Routes
With Wednesday's passage of a veto-proof $13 billion Amtrak funding bill, Amtrak will consider restoring two bygone Western routes, the Pioneer and North Coast Hiawatha.
The Pioneer, from 1977 to 1997, connected Seattle and Chicago via Oregon, Southern Idaho, Utah and Colorado. The North Coast Hiawatha, from 1971 to 1979, diverged from the Empire Builder and ran through southern Montana and North Dakota.
Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo and Montana Sen. Jon Tester introduced the amendments.
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Biden and Palin
Amid a Swirl of National Affairs, Two Rock-Steady Debaters
A record viewing audience watched the nationally televised vice-presidential candidate debate Thursday night, Oct. 2. They got a good show. When it was over, things stood just about where they were before the debate began — that is, with Obama-Biden holding a 5 percent lead nationally over McCain-Palin (as per the most recent Gallup Daily tracking poll).
Neither candidate made a major blunder Thursday. Both did a good job of representing their presidential candidates' views. Sen. Joe Biden, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, showed his knowledge on overseas issues and also was able to cite legislative history on domestic issues of which Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin lacked knowledge. But Palin held her own on foreign, domestic, and economic policy. She was poised, well-briefed, and exceeded expectations about her performance.
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watching the polls
McCain Up 8 in Montana, Poll ShowsA new poll released Thursday by Rasmussen Reports has John McCain up 8 points over Barack Obama in Montana, 52 percent to 44 percent, a narrower advantage than the few polls conducted in recent weeks have suggested. [more]
From The New West Blog
Montana GOP Challenges Eligibility of 6,000 VotersThe Montana Republican Party this week challenged the eligibility of 6,000 registered Montana voters in seven counties that have historically been Democratic strongholds, the AP reports.
It means those who are registered to vote in Missoula, Butte-Silver Bow, Lewis and Clark, Deerlodge, Glacier or Hill counties and who filled out a change-of-address card with the U.S. Postal Service in the past 18 months will likely have to verify their correct address before the Nov. 4 election. Most of the voters being challenged are registered in Missoula County.
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U.S. Sen. Max Baucus has accused White House and Environmental Protection Agency officials of orchestrating a “conspiracy” by squashing a decision to declare a public health emergency in Libby three years after it was revealed more than 200 people died and another 2,000 fell ill because of asbestos exposure.
On Sept. 25 the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) held a hearing to discuss a report released the previous day by Baucus, D-Mont., that describes a scenario in which top-level officials from the national Office of Management and Budget prevented the EPA from declaring Libby a public health emergency. Such a declaration would have authorized the EPA to do extensive clean-up work along with providing Libby residents increased health screening, basic services like oxygen – which many people need because of asbestos-related complications – and long-term medical health care.
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From The New West Blog
As Mill Closes, An Idaho Timber Town Redefines Itself
In the tiny timber town of Priest River in Idaho's panhandle, the JD lumber mill is closing. The final shift is Friday, and about 200 jobs in a town of less than 1,800 people will be lost. It's another mill casualty resulting from the deeply troubled housing industry.
But, as Marylyn Cork of the Bonner County Daily Bee reports, the current economic upheaval will only force the timber-dependent community to prove its resiliency once again.
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