A year ago, the BC Ferries cruise ship MV (MV = Motor Vessel) Queen of the North dating from 1969 went down at Gil Island inside British Columbia.  The ship had full lifeboats, but sadly two people -  Shirley Rosette and Gerald Foisy - were unable to get off of the sinking ship and are presumed drowned.  Next Tuesday (the 27th) BC Ferries is releasing its internal inquiry into the sinking and the Canadian national government inquiry is due soon as to the causes.  Although the ship took an hour to sink, a 23 March 2006 Vancouver Sun report by Janet Steffenhagen noted that, "the Queen of the North was flagged several years ago as one of three northern B.C. ferries in need of replacement because of their outdated, single-compartment design."  (The RMS Titanic had compartments going partway up the ship.)

Chris Peterson/Glacier Geographic/Muse You Can Use took his camera with him to the Plains, Mont., area, where the Bighorn play. The main danger to these wonderful animals are the vehicles whizzing past at 75 mph and more (it's Montana, after all) on a road that separates the river from the mountains.

They're Ba-a-a-ack: WSU young Repubs return to the campus Glenn Terrell mall to lobby for one language here and here. Tom Forbes/Palousitics commentary (w/video) here.

1. Yellowstone grizzly bears still awakening from their winter slumber may not have heard Thursday's news: they're being taken off the endangered species list. Federal officials made the announcement Thursday morning, hailing the grizzlies' return as a source of national pride here.