Visions for Montana's economy clash in fight over Initiative 186

Editor's Note: Students at the University of Montana’s School of Journalism are once again providing coverage of Montana election contests for the state’s news organizations.

The student’s election work is being supervised by professors Lee Banville and Dennis Swibold. Professor Courtney Cowgill will direct our legislative coverage. All three are veteran political reporters.

The controversy over ballot Initiative 186 seems to be about two competing visions for Montana’s future economy, and water quality underlies them both.

The ballot measure, if passed, would amend the state’s 1971 Metal Mine...