INW Headlines — 2.18.11

Niki Zupanic, public policy director for ACLU Montana, speaks on behalf of HB514 in front of the House Judiciary Committee in the Montana state capitol building earlier today in Helena, Mont. Gay rights advocates want the Legislature to expand discrimination protection statewide _ while conservative religious groups want the lawmakers to repeal Missoula’s local ordinance establishing extra protections for gays and others. Story here. (AP Photo/The Independent Record, Eliza Wiley)

• The cautious budget butchers /David Horsey, Seattle P-I
• Medicaid rallies set across Idaho Saturday /Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise
• Simpson, Labrador vote to defund health care reform /Kevin Richert, Statesman
• Idahoans push for hearing on changes to conscience bill /Ben Botkin, TF Times News
• Montana game wardens aren’t declaring war on wolves /Rob Cheney, Missoulian
• Wyoming passes mixed, same-sex marriage bill /Associated Press
• Montana Senate OKs parental notification bill /Stephen Dockery, AP
• Orbusmax Special: Montana pleads guilty to pepper-spraying mailman who pepper-sprayed dog here