Helena officials eye increase in water rates

(Information in the following story is from: Independent Record, http://www.helenair.com)

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The Helena City Commission plans to consider water rate increases on Monday.

Officials tell the Independent Record the commission will look at resolutions to increase water rates to cover inflation, improvements and other needs.

Officials say the increases would cost a typical property owner about $29 annually.

The commission will meet at 6 p.m.

CABIN DISPUTE

Ski club will no longer maintain donated cabin

(Information in the following story is from: Ravalli Republic, http://www.ravallirepublic.com)

HAMILTON, Mont. (AP) — The Bitterroot Cross-Country Ski Club says it will no longer operate or maintain a cabin it donated to the U.S. Forest Service after agency officials put the cabin up for rent on a national reservation system.

Club members tell the Ravalli Republic that club members volunteered to build and maintain the cabin with the understanding it would remain free and open to the public during the winter.

The group says the agency's decision to rent the cabin violates the original agreement.

The group made its announcement last week, a few days after the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest supervisor officially made the cabin available for rent.

The group donated the cabin at Chief Joseph Pass to the Forest Service in 2001.

COAL PROTEST

Land Board shrugs off coal protest's request

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The weeklong coal protest at the Capitol doesn't seem to be having much impact on the state officials in charge of leasing the state's resources for development.

The protesters generally oppose coal development, but specifically want the Land Board to reject development of the massive Otter Creek coal tracts despised by environmentalists who argue its use will irrevocably harm the environment.

The board of five statewide elected officials decided in a split 2010 vote to lease the coal to St. Louis-based Arch Coal Inc. for $86 million up front — and Gov. Brian Schweitzer says the issue is settled. He says the state has no places to give Arch Coal its money back.

None of the other elected officials on the Land Board say the protests have changed their mind.

RUBY RIDGE-20TH ANNIVERSARY

20 years after Ruby Ridge, there's forgiveness

KALISPELL, Mont. (AP) — Twenty years ago, federal agents laid siege on a cabin on a remote Idaho mountaintop called Ruby Ridge.

The deadly standoff helped spark an anti-government patriot movement that grew to include the Oklahoma City bombing.

Sara Weaver lost her mother and brother in August 1992. Both of them were killed by government agents. Today, she says she has finally left the anger behind, finding religion — and forgiveness.

Her father, Randy, was wanted by federal agents after he was suspected of selling a government informant two illegal sawed-off shotguns. To avoid arrest, Weaver holed up on his land.

These days, the remaining Weaver family members live near Kalispell, Mont.

Sara Weaver says her father is a doting grandfather.

MONTANA STATE-RESEARCH

MSU sets new record on research spending

(Information in the following story is from: Bozeman Daily Chronicle, http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com)

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — Montana State University officials say the school has set a record for spending on research.

Officials say the school spent $112.3 million in the past year, an increase of $10 million from the year before.

MSU President Waded Cruzado tells the Bozeman Daily Chronicle that the record means the school has increased its competiveness.

Researchers at the school study such things as fuel cells, brucellosis vaccines for bison, human infectious diseases and crop pests.

Last year for the fiscal year that ended June 30, the Bozeman campus spent $102.7 million, a drop from the previous record of $109.5 million.

UM ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

UM close to naming athletic director finalists

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — University of Montana officials say finalists for athletic director will be named in the next several days.

Montana University System spokesman Kevin McRae tells the Missoulian that the search has been trimmed to a handful of candidates.

McRae says the University of Montana received more than 60 applications in its nationwide search.

The school is looking to replace Jim O'Day, who was fired March 29 along with head football coach Robin Pflugrad amid a sexual assault scandal at the university, with some reported assaults involving players on the school's football team.

McRae says the quality of applicants for the job suggests the school's reputation remains strong despite the scandal that has prompted three investigations by federal governmental agencies and the NCAA.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.