By Sage Sutcliffe
Top Montana News Stories
1. Podcast: Rationing Recreation Access with Dr. Will Rice (Micah Drew / Flathead Beacon)
The Flathead Beacon’s podcast is a great, quick way to learn about the publication’s weekly roundup of stories, plus one top story more in-depth. This week’s 21-minute episode is hosted by Micah Drew, who interviews UM researcher Dr. Will Rice about a story written by his co-worker and J-School grad Tristan Scott (’13). Teamwork at its finest!
2. What’s the story with recycling in Montana? (Austin Amestoy and Nick Mott / Montana Public Radio)
Speaking of teamwork, J-School grad Austin Amestoy (’22) and Nick Mott teamed up for the latest episode of ‘The Big Why’ from Montana Public Radio, tackling the topic of recycling in Montana. They research where Montanan’s recycling ends up and why Montana’s recycling rates lag behind the national average.
3. Edward Abbey’s Day Job (Micah Drew / Flathead Beacon)
Another quick read from Drew is a short profile (from the archives) of Edward Abbey, an environmental writer who worked as a seasonal fire lookout in national parks, including Glacier.
4. Photos: Transgender Day of Visibility Rally in Missoula (Tom Bauer / Missoulian)
(Note: some pictures in this album contain racist, homophobic and transphobic content.)
This week, hundreds of Montanans showed up at the Missoula County Courthouse for the Transgender Day of Visibility. Photographer Tom Bauer captured some of the faces, signs and sentiments of the demonstration. Counter-protestors also showed, bearing racist, homophobic and transphobic rhetoric. Several of Bauer’s photos capture the conflict between the demonstrators and the counter-protestors.
Top Environment and Science News Stories
1. I Am Haunted by What I Have Seen at Great Salt Lake (Terry Tempest Williams / New York Times)
In one of her first grafs, Terry Tempest Williams writes, “Maps and newspapers call her the Great Salt Lake, but to me, she’s Great Salt Lake.” Williams is a Westerner at heart, whose creative and opinionated writing explores many environmental, cultural and other intersectional genres. Williams’ latest opinion piece is much more than her own thoughts; she details the GSL’s history, ecology and transformation over the time she’s been around and well before. It’s an ode to what the GSL once was and a warning about what it is becoming. Hauntingly beautiful aerial photographs of the lake accompany the story.
2. What bacteria and fungi lurk in your city? Bees may have the answer. (Annie Roth / National Geographic)
“Save the bees” is a pretty common plea from folks who understand how important honeybees are for humans. Roth’s story gives “save the bees” even more standing: “DNA found in honeybee hives show that each city has a unique microbiome—and that could have big implications for human health.”
Top Student/Alumni Story
1. Hellgate Elementary makes strides for inclusion through movement (Skylar Rispens / Missoulian)
J-School grad Skylar Rispens (’19) is the education reporter for the Missoulian. Rispen’s lede gets the positive news story moving from the get-go: “Students at Hellgate Elementary are running in place, lapping around the playground and shaking their pedometers in the name of inclusion (and the possibility of another recess or a pizza party).” (Sounds like a good encouragement for college students, too.)
Kids don’t often appear as sources in educational news stories, even when the stories revolve around young people. Fortunately, Rispens interviewed a few kids for this story, getting the students’ inside scoop.
