In brief: Wolf killed near West Yellowstone

Montana wildlife officials shot a wolf near West Yellowstone because it had been frequenting campgrounds and residential areas over the past two weeks.

State Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials say the wolf was exhibiting aggressive behavior toward people and dogs and showed no fear of people. It was shot Tuesday.

Regional Wildlife Manager Kurt Alt said most wolves post no threat to people or domestic animals, but occasionally there can be problems. He said such incidents are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Montana has 420 wolves, mostly in the western portion of the state.

The Northern Rocky Mountain gray wolf population was removed from protection under the Endangered Species Act in late March.

OLYMPIA

GOP lawmaker will have surgery

The vice chairman of the state Senate minority caucus, Republican Dan Swecker, of Rochester, is in the hospital with a heart problem.

GOP caucus staff say he was taken to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia by ambulance after what seemed to be a heart attack Saturday night.

According to a caucus news release Tuesday, tests show Swecker has a congenital heart valve abnormality. An operation to fix the problem is planned today or Thursday.

Swecker underwent surgery last Wednesday for a hip replacement and went home Friday to recuperate.

According to the news release he’s in critical care but in stable condition and with good spirits.

Swecker is a former fish farmer who was appointed to the state Senate in 1995. He’s running for re-election to a fourth term this year.

RIDGEFIELD, Wash.

Vandals deflate school bus tires

Schools started two hours late in Ridgefield because vandals let the air out of the tires for all 22 school buses.

Buses from nearby districts carried Ridgefield students on Tuesday after the prank was discovered.

The superintendent, Art Edgerly, said the valve stems were removed, but the tires were not otherwise damaged.

Officials are reviewing surveillance video of the school bus parking lot near Ridgefield High School.

SEATTLE

Cabbies protest ‘green’ license

Some taxi drivers circled the King County Courthouse to protest a proposal to give 50 new licenses to Green Cab Association for hybrid gas-electric cabs.

The current drivers say the new licenses should be distributed to existing companies by lottery.

A spokesman at Tuesday’s protest, Joe Blondo, said all cab companies are moving to more fuel-efficient cars.

But the county said the Green Cab company is best-equipped to run the experimental hybrid taxi program.

BOISE

Craig plans book on energy, arrest

Idaho Sen. Larry Craig says a new book he is writing will focus on energy policy, but also cover the turmoil of 2007 after his arrest in an airport sex sting.

Craig, 62, is retiring from the Senate in January after serving three terms.

The Republican, in an interview Tuesday with KTVB, said his book will cover energy issues, but also reflect on his political career. He said the book will also examine the way events unfolded last year after he was arrested by an undercover officer in a men’s room in the Minneapolis airport.

At the time, Craig said he would resign from the Senate. He later backed down after deciding he could still be effective in Congress.

Craig said the book could be on shelves next year.