Dan Boyce

With the price of solar panels falling, more municipalities and homeowners are installing them. But having solar panels doesn't mean you won't lose power in a blackout — at least not yet.

Colorado Gov. Hickenlooper has declared a compromise to avert a fight over oil and gas drilling. It's meant to solve fracking-related disputes, but it also serves Democrats' political interests.

The oil fields of western North Dakota are bringing vast economic opportunity to a region that just 10 years ago was in decline. Yet, this vitality is rough around the edges and high art and culture are rare commodities. One organization is trying to change that by sending two professional writers into towns most impacted by the boom to conduct creative writing workshops.

The oil rush in and around North Dakota has brought an influx of mostly male workers flush with cash. Law enforcement agencies and activists say that's creating ample opportunity for organized crime — and that more must be done to prevent women from being forced into prostitution.

A small herd of genetically pure bison, free of cattle genes, have recently arrived at the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in northern Montana. Some tribal members hail the bisons' arrival as a return of an important cultural heritage, but others, including native ranchers, say the new herd is unwelcome.

A year ago, Montana opened the nation's first clinic for free primary healthcare services to its state government employees. It was pitched as a way to improve employee health but faced political opposition. A year later, the state says the clinic is saving money and diagnosing a host of issues.

Wolf hunting is legal in Montana but the population has continued to grow dramatically. So wildlife officials are doing away with the statewide kill limit, and nearly doubling the length of the season. The newly expanded season begins Sept. 1 and runs through the end of February.