Polar bears serve as the poster children for climate change. But global warming also threatens many other species that don't get as much news coverage.

Moose in the Rocky Mountains become the latest climate change catastrophe icon recently, as their populations have plummeted with warming temperatures. But it's not just heat stress that is killing them off. Biologists are finding brain worms, liver flukes and ticks, as many as 150,000 on a single moose, are infecting the population to death.

Increased temperatures are allowing northern forest ticks to survive over the winter, when the blood-suckers and their eggs would normally die. This leaves an infected moose with no respite as the ticks breed again in the spring. The moose will continue to scratch and rub off its fur, develop anemia, and eventually die of emaciation.

MORE>>>Discovery

What makes a city livable? More importantly, what makes it livable for everyone? We searched the nation and partnered with Richard Florida's Prosperity Institute to run the numbers to create our inaugural list of the Best Places to Live.

MORE>>>Livability.com

A new survey shows that more folks may want to swap beaches and cities for big skies and open spaces.

Popular states like California and New York are no longer topping the "best states" list in the opinion of America's new workforce - with the latest survey showing that Montana ranks fourth in the nation.

"You can go forty minutes in any direction and do pretty much whatever you want, fish or hunt," said student Brad Harrelson.

"There are plenty of jobs and it's definitely a growing state," added Professor Paul Pope.

The Treasure State is a hot commodity, showing up as one of the best states for young adults.

"This economy has created some very steep challenges for young people, they are graduating from college with an unprecedented amount of student loan debt and they're entering a job market where the unemployment rate for young people is about thirteen percent," said senior financial analyst Richard Barrington.

MORE>>>KPAX

"Parents:  We want to inform you that three mountain lions were seen on the 2600 block of Arcadia on Sunday, October 13, 2013. These mountain lions were two blocks from Cold Springs Elementary School. Bob Wiesner from FWP is in the area tracking the mountain lions with dogs this morning. He can be reached by cell phone at 406-240-3296 with any reports about mountain lion activity.

"Please continue to send reports to Mr. Wiesner and report to www.missoulabears.org and the Missoula Bears Facebook page."

MORE>>>KECI

Rand McNally has long pointed the way to destinations for travelers, but it’s now directing those who enjoy geocaching to Helena.

The company’s Best of the Road awards, which in past years has celebrated towns for most fun, most patriotic, friendliest, most beautiful and best for food, added a category this year for best for geocaching.

Geocaching is kind of a game of hide and seek. Caches, which can be small, hand-sized containers or metal boxes about the size of a shoebox, are hidden and people use GPS devices or smartphones with global positioning system technology to try to find those caches.

A cache can be little more than a logbook, pencil or a few trinkets for people to take with them as a souvenir in exchange for something they leave behind for the next person to find. The contents of a cache can also be more elaborate.

“Geocaches on the Helena GeoTour are so rewarding that even locals swear they learn new things about their town,” the Rand McNally website noted in its praise of Helena from among five finalists.

“I was convinced by the words taken directly from the geocaching community: This is an authentically engaging place to geocache. You can feel the historical connection to the gold treasure hunters from long ago while using today’s satellites and smartphone apps. The gorgeous scenery just adds to the adventure,” a judge wrote on why Helena was honored.

MORE>>>Billings Gazette

9:12 a.m. Reportedly, a hound dog on Flathead Drive has a strong set of lungs.

10:55 a.m. A Somers resident complained that she habitually wakes up each night because another local woman likes to stay up late exploding things.

10:58 a.m. A Kalispell resident complained that someone broke into his quonset hut.


11:11 a.m. A resident of Highway 35 in Kalispell reported that her debit card and mail key had been stolen.

2:16 p.m. A wallet found in the woods was returned to its owner.

4:00 p.m. A Lakeside resident reported that the neighbors were out chopping down trees on their property line.

6:24 p.m. Numerous loose goats ran free and happy near Highway 206 in Columbia Fall. They were rounded up and returned to their pen.

8:18 p.m. Someone watched a Jeep run a stop sign on Airport Road.

9:24 p.m. A Valley Rose Lane resident called 911 to report that his drunken roommate had returned home. He didn’t want to deal with her and planned on leaving, but anticipated that she would trash the house while he was out.

More>>>Flathead Beacon

Montana has the seventh best tax climate for businesses in the 50 states in the 2014 ratings released Wednesday by the Tax Foundation.

Gov. Steve Bullock and a Montana Chamber of Commerce executive praised the state’s ratings as showing Montana is an attractive place to do business.

The director of the Montana Budget and Policy Center said the ratings fail to measure the state’s quality of life or the business climate that helps sustain it.

Montana ranked eighth in the foundation’s 2013 business tax climate index released last year.

However, a foundation spokesman said the group revised its methodology this year and applied it to last year’s rankings. Montana moved up to seventh last year under these revised calculations.

In any event, Montana was in the top 10 both years, in part because it doesn’t have a statewide general sales tax.

MORE>>> The Missoulian

Montana's responsible budgeting has given the state a surplus. It has prepared us for "floods, fires, zombies and the current federal government shutdown.

MORE>>>KTVM

One of the largest real estate deals in history of Gallatin and Madison counties is now official. The sale of Moonlight Basin marks the merger between CrossHarbor Capital and Boyne.

CrossHarbor Capital and Boyne, in partnership, are in a purchase and sale agreement with a subsidiary of Lehman Brothers.

The deal closed on October 1st and things are changing beginning with one mountain, undivided with Liberty and Headwaters for all. The single ski mountain would outdo Vail by about 400 acres.

Starting October 7th, Season Pass upgrades to all 5750 acres go from as low as $199 for Big Sky Resort passholders.

Moonlight Passholders can upgrade for as low as $549. Those who have already purchased both passes, get taken care of too.

MORE>>>KBZK

The federal government shutdown and winter weather have forced the closure of all roads connecting Cooke City to the rest of the world and turned the gateway town into a literal tourist trap. Snowstorms have caused the National Park Service to keep the Beartooth Pass closed since Sept. 24, said Al Nash, Yellowstone National Park spokesman. The most recent storm dropped between 10 and 14 inches of snow, preventing road travel to the Chief Joseph Highway, which can be used as an alternate route out of Cooke City. And Yellowstone closed Tuesday because of a congressional budget impasse that caused the federal government to shut down. Locals can travel through along the still-plowed roads of the park to Gardiner with special stickers they apply for from the park. Tourists, however, are unable to traverse the stretch, barring a medical emergency.

 MORE>>> Bozeman Daily Chronicle