Governor Brian Schweitzer

( Reuters ) - Montana has given final approval to the controversial Canada -to- Texas Keystone XL oil pipeline, even though the project still faces obstacles with the federal government and Nebraska , the governor said on Thursday. Governor Brian Schweitzer told Reuters that an important component of the project for Montana is an "on-ramp" to feed oil from his state into the proposed pipeline. "This country needs conflict-free oil," he said in a phone interview. "Montana's National Guard is...Read Full Story

 Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer & Mona Petro Springfield, IL Winners Pizza-On-A-Stick pretty much says it all August 2011 Illinois State Fair Highlights W hile visiting the Capitol Building in Springfield, IL last week, we had the pleasure of meeting Brian Schweitzer, Governor of Montana. A wonderful fellow, the Governor chatted with us in the parking lot amidst a light morning drizzle just before we headed out for Race Day at the Fairgrounds. (Governor...Read Full Story

MATTHEW BROWN The Associated Press Associated Press Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer turned heads when he announced he was sending out state wildlife agents to kill wolf packs any time they attack livestock or drive down elk numbers. Yet there's been no immediate change in how the state deals with problem wolves. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokesman Ron Aasheim said Friday the agency is awaiting a response from federal officials on a...Read Full Story

SALMON, Idaho ( Reuters ) - Montana's governor created a panel on Wednesday to review the risks of oil pipelines running under the state's rivers, a move prompted by the spill of thousands of gallons of oil into the Yellowstone River . Governor Brian Schweitzer said in an executive order that his Oil Pipeline Safety Review Council will advise him on the status of all pipelines running underneath Montana's rivers and streambeds. Schweitzer told the panel to assess the risk of ruptures and...Read Full Story

HELENA, Mont ( Reuters ) - Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer on Wednesday vetoed a bill that would have repealed the state's seven-year-old, voter-approved law legalizing marijuana for medical purposes. Critics of the broadly written law, approved as a ballot measure by 62 percent of voters in 2004, say the statute has been used by some as a pretext for recreational pot smoking and even for illegal drug trade. The supply chain of pot-growing facilities and storefront dispensaries allowed...Read Full Story