This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies of interest to preppers and survivalists that are located in the American Redoubt region. Today, we focus on small-town vagrants. (See the Central & Eastern Oregon section.)
Idaho
All Idaho residents need to see this. You will lose your water.
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Idaho moves ahead on plan to appraise federal land for taxes.
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Small hydropower proves to be an ally for rural communities. JWR’s Comment: I described the significance “islanding” of power utilities in my novel Survivors.
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Redoubt Surplus & Tactical has moved to a new location, “up the hill” at 32 David Thompson Drive — just south of the Three Mile Junction. Current store hours: Tue. – Sat. 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Montana
Missoula Organization of Realtors: ‘Hate speech’ prohibition ‘will withstand judicial scrutiny’.
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Frontier cancels Bozeman, Billings flights until next summer.
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As crime rates rise, Montana city blames arriving convicts.
Central & Eastern Oregon
Homelessness At Issue During November La Grande Council Meeting. Here is an excerpt:
“Changes in law and court precedent are making tackling homelessness more difficult. “There’s a lot of tools that we don’t have in our toolbox anymore to fix some of these social issues,” said Bell, referencing Ballot Measure 110. The initiative petition passed by voters in the fall of 2020 abolished Class A Misdemeanor penalties for drug possession, including one year in prison and a $6,250 fine. Drug possession is now only a Class E violation with a maximum penalty of a $100 fine that may be waived if the violator receives a health assessment. Bell went on to discuss how the 2018 9th Circuit Court ruling in Martin v. Boise created additional restrictions on homeless population management that were codified into state law in HB 3115.
Councilor David Glabe questioned the application of rules against smoking on city parks at Max Square. Parks Director Stu Spence weighed in, citing Chief Bell’s experience. “It is a park rule, absolutely, and the police have park rules at their disposal. And I know like [Chief Bell] alluded to, they’ve had some of those interactions and not been successful at the court level. So like he said, it’s complicated.”
Councilor Mary Ann Miesner asked if park rules can be modified to prohibit public camping. The discussion that followed between Councilor Miesner, Mayor Clements, Chief Bell, and Councilor Gary Lillard ultimately discerned that public camping cannot be prohibited for individuals who are homeless, unless a specific overnight camping area is maintained. Furthermore, cities must have indoor housing options available for a certain percentage of individuals who are unhoused.
Bell elaborated that difficulties enforcing overnight camping prohibitions at public parks are, “specific to homelessness. And what the courts ruled is that If a person is involuntarily homeless, then you can’t criminalize their need to be able to rest, lie down, or sleep in a public space… We have those rules, and have. And most communities, municipalities, and entities of government have had this specific ordinance that addresses what you’re talking about, and we have that. And we have for years.” Enforcing laws perceived as criminalizing these needs may subject the City to lawsuits, Bell concluded.”
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Bend-Redmond home sales slow as autumn arrives, but listings also fall; prices hold near records.
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Group gathers in front of Deschutes County Courthouse after Rittenhouse verdict. JWR’s Comment: Since when does 16 people constitute a “crowd”? Oh, and beware of young people with blue and purple hair.
Central & Eastern Washington
Rare stone found only in Central Washington.
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Undercover agents bust Burbank’s illegal horse betting operation.
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VIDEO: How Spokane police cracked 1959 cold case murder of Candy Rogers and identified her killer.
Wyoming
SEC Stops Wyoming-Based DAO From Registering 2 Digital Tokens.
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Wyoming GOP votes to stop recognizing Cheney as a Republican.
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Bill Gates is backing Wyoming’s first nuclear plant.
Send Your News Tips
Please send your American Redoubt region news tips, event announcements, and American Redoubt-based companies worthy of a mention to JWR. You can do so either via e-mail or via our Contact form.