Kentucky officials have shot down the idea of a bear hunting season. Despite numerous complaints of bears having lost their fear of humans, bear-vehicle collisions and other anecdotal evidence, wildlife officials say there's no reason to start a bear hunting season. Officials say there are now approximately 1,000 Kentucky black bears, a self-sustaining population now spreading into other states.

A thirty-seven year old biologist from the National park Service has died of pulmonic plague.  Autopsy performed on Eric York, indicates that the scientist has been infected with pulmonic plague, which he likely contracted after performing an autopsy on a mountain lion, which also may have been killed by the disease.   According to the officials from the National Park Service, York called in sick three days after performing autopsy on the animal and was found dead in his home three days later. Although Mr. York was the only person to come in direct contact with the animal.  As a precaution, forty-nine individuals thought to have come within a six-foot distance of York received prophylactic antibiotics. 

Former operators of a central North Dakota hunting lodge have been put on probation and ordered to repay $90,000 in what authorities say is the largest prosecution of federal wildlife violations in North Dakota history. Prosecutors say the case involved the illegal killing and transport of ducks and geese and included hunters from 28 states. Lodge owners Ted Mertz, 42, and his father, Orlan Mertz, 72, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to misdemeanor violations of the Lacey Act, which makes it illegal to transport illegally taken wildlife. The Sheyenne Valley Lodge west of Goodrich, which has since been sold, pleaded guilty to a felony violation of the federal law. Seven guides earlier reached plea deals and 94 hunters from across the United States paid a total of about $20,000 in fines for misdemeanor violations.

Odebrecht Construction Inc. in New Orleans, Louisiana has received a $41.8 million firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a hurricane protection levee in New Orleans, Louisiana. Work is expected to be complete by Oct. 30, 2008.

One gun company is taking the first stand against California and their nearly-impossible to enforce firearms microstamping legislation. STI International is best known for their full-out competition pistols, but their carry pistols are also top shelf. They're now off the shelves in California. STI International's Paulette Skinner explained the reasoning behind the decision not to sell STI firearms to either law enforcement or civilians in the state:

"The law is not going to stop criminals, it is only going to hurt law-abiding citizens in the state." And, as Skinner explained, "We felt we had to take a stand against this law." STI International is the first gun company to take a definitive step against California officials and their anti-firearms legislation. Since the legislators apparently refuse to let logic or facts enter into their decision-making processes, it may be time to take steps that get concerned Californians involved the only place they seem to notice: the ballot box.