Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-05-26 Public Comment - L. Harris - Dark Skies Chronicle Letter to the Editor - 6_4_26From:Lou Ann Harris To:Bozeman Public Comment Subject:[EXTERNAL]Dark Skies Chronicle Letter to the Editor - 6/4/26 Date:Friday, June 5, 2026 4:29:32 PM Attachments:Chronicle LTE 6426.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear City Commissioners, I wanted to make sure you saw my Dark Skies LTE that was in the June 4th edition of theBozeman Chronicle. Sincerely, Lou Ann HarrisCo-Chair Conservation Committee Sacajawea Audubon SocietyBozeman, MT Bozeman Daily Chronicle - 06/04/2026 Page : A06 June 5, 2026 6:38 am (GMT -6:00) Powered by TECNAVIA Cats and dogs treated better by HOV than ICE treats detainees While driving to the May Galla- tin County Commissioners’ meeting, it occurred to me that the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office makes transfers to both the Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter (HOV) and to ICE. As a HOV volunteer, I’m familiar with their treatment of those entrusted to their care, so I felt able to compare that to the care that the people transferred to ICE by the sheriff’s department receive. All animals transferred to HOV receives a complete medical evaluation and any medical issues identified are treated. ICE does not do this for all their detainees. Each dog and cat at HOV has its own kennel. ICE detainees do not have pri- vate rooms. Kittens and puppies are kept together at HOV; ICE tears families apart. At HOV, the animals receive nutri- tious food that is tailored to their specific dietary needs. Once again, ICE does not meet this standard. In 2025, there were 31 unanticipated deaths at ICE detention facilities, the highest number since 2004. There have been 18 deaths so far this year (this infor- mation is from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detainee Death Report). During that same time period, there have been no unanticipated deaths at Heart of the Valley. Our sheriff’s department transfers liv- ing beings to both HOV and ICE, yet ICE cannot meet the standards of care that HOV provides to animals. Surely our fellow human beings deserve at least the same level of care as our cats and dogs. Please contact the Gallatin County Commissioners office to demand an end to the sheriff’s department 287g agree- ment with ICE. Barbara Tylka Bozeman Ideally, political parties would analyze through lens of distributive justice Recent media commentary, includ- ing in The Wall Street Journal and guests on CNN, suggest that Democrats simply need to “find a message that sells.” This misses the mark entirely. The real crisis in our politics isn’t a lack of clever marketing; it is a systemic fail- ure to prioritize the common good over hyper-partisanship. To rebuild trust, political parties must stop tailoring empty slogans to frac- tionated special-interest groups just to secure votes. Instead, they need to ana- lyze modern domestic issues — such as affordable housing, persistent inflation, the widening wealth gap, the centraliza- tion of farm ownership, and the rapid rise of AI — through the lens of distrib- utive justice. There will always be legitimate, philosophical disagreements on how to achieve the common good. For instance, classical debate centers on whether the free market is best equipped to sort out the returns for capital versus labor, or whether the government must step in to mediate that balance. If our political parties frame contem- porary challenges around these funda- mental principles, they can offer voters a meaningful choice. True leadership lies in convincing the public that the vision of one party or candidate versus others serves the entire country overall, rather than treating governing as a perpetual advertising campaign. My friends suggest I’m an idealist. I am glad I have friends. Michael Nash Bozeman Protect birds, bats and insects by reducing light pollution As a bird lover, I anxiously await the arrival of our migrating and nesting birds in the Gallatin Valley. Most of these birds winter in Central and South America, and Mexico. They fly hundreds and thousands of miles to reach their nesting destinations in various habitats of our area. However, human impacts have reduced safety for successful migration and nesting. One of those impacts is light pollution. What people don’t realize is that most birds migrate at night, when winds are calmer and there are less predators to eat them. THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2026OPINIONLETTERS TO THE EDITOR: CITY DESK@DAILYCHRONICLE.COMBOZEMAN DAILY CHRONICLE LETTERS JASON BELCOURTGuest columnistThe BLM’s recent decision to revoke American Prairie’s bison grazing permits is more than a bureaucratic action. It is a direct blow to the future of tribal food sovereignty, tribal land access, and the inherent rights of Indigenous nations to steward the lands that were taken from us.It is a reminder that, in 2026, federal officials and the State of Montana still struggle to accept that tribal nations are sover-eign governments — not interest groups to be managed.For tribes across Montana, buf-falo are not livestock. They are rel-atives. They are teachers. They are central to our health, our identity, and our survival.When the state targets buffalo restoration — whether on Amer-ican Prairie lands or tribal lands — it is targeting Indigenous resur-gence itself.THE REAL ISSUE: CONTROL OVER LAND The actions by the BLM and the State Land Board are not just about American Prairie. It is about who has the right to decide how land is used. For decades, tribes have relied on the ability to lease land — state, federal, and private — to rebuild herds, expand food systems, and restore ecosystems damaged by a century of extractive agriculture. When the state revokes grazing rights for buffalo, it sends a chill-ing message: If tribes or conserva-tion partners use land in ways the state dislikes, those rights can be taken away.This is not hypothetical. Tribes across Montana have already faced:• Sudden restrictions on graz-ing leases.• Political pressure to limit buf-falo expansion.• Inconsistent permitting deci-sions.• State interference in wildlife management.These actions undermine the very foundation of tribal sover-eignty: The right to govern our own food systems, our own lands, and our own futures.BUFFALO ARE CENTRAL TO TRIBAL FOOD SOVEREIGNTYFood sovereignty is not a slo-gan. It is the right of Indigenous peoples to define our own food systems — what we grow, what we harvest, what we raise, and how we feed our people. Buffalo restoration is one of the most successful Indigenous-led food sovereignty movements in North America. Buffalo provide:• Nutrient-dense, culturally grounded food.• Sustainable grazing that restores prairie ecosystems.• Economic opportunities for tribal ranchers.• Youth programs and cultural education.• Community health benefits.When Montana blocks buf-falo grazing, it is blocking tribal nations from feeding ourselves in the way our ancestors intended. This is not just a policy dispute. It is a public health issue. It is a cul-tural survival issue. It is a sover-eignty issue.BLM’S DECISION SETS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENTIf the federal government can revoke grazing rights for buffalo on American Prairie lands today, what stops it from revoking tribal leases tomorrow?What stops it from:• Restricting tribal buffalo herds.• Limiting tribal access to state lands.• Interfering with tribal wildlife programs. • Undermining tribal conserva- tion partnerships. This is why tribes across Mon-tana — Chippewa Cree, Blackfeet, Fort Belknap, Fort Peck, Crow, Northern Cheyenne — should see this decision as a warning.The state is signaling that Indig-enous land use is acceptable only when it aligns with non-Native political interests.That is not sovereignty. That is conditional permission.BUFFALO RESTORATION IS A PATH FORWARD — NOT A THREATThe fear being spread about buffalo is rooted in outdated myths and political pressure from a small but loud minority. The truth is clear:• Buffalo do not threaten cattle markets.• Buffalo grazing improves soil health and water retention.• Buffalo herds attract tourism and economic development.• Buffalo restoration is sup-ported by science, history, and Indigenous knowledge.Most importantly, buffalo res-toration is a path toward heal-ing — of land, of people, and of relationships between tribal and non-tribal communities. Montana should be embracing that future, not fighting it. A CALL TO ACTIONTepiniwew, Inc. stands with all tribal nations working to restore buffalo and rebuild Indigenous food systems. We call on Mon-tana to:• Respect tribal sovereignty in all land-use decisions.• Protect tribal access to graz-ing leases without political inter-ference.• Recognize buffalo as cultural and ecological relatives, not live-stock.• Work with tribes — not against us — to build a sustainable future.Buffalo restoration is not a threat to Montana. It is a gift. It is a chance to repair the land and honor the first peoples of this place.Montana can choose partner-ship. Or it can choose conflict. But tribal nations will continue restor-ing buffalo — with or without the state’s permission — because our sovereignty does not come from Helena.It comes from our ancestors, our treaties, and our inherent rights as Indigenous nations. Jason Belcourt is Tepiniwew executive director and an enrolled member of the Chippewa Cree of Rocky Boy. SARA JOHNSON Guest columnist The Custer Gallatin National Forest proposed the Bear-Palmer “Forest Health” Project on the northern border of Yellowstone National Park, near Gardiner. The project would clearcut 824 acres, commercially log most trees on 802 acres, and leave small, iso- lated clusters of trees on 500 acres, for a total of 2,126 acres, which will then be intentionally burned. The agency claims the goal of the logging and burning project is to remove dead/dying trees to reduce insects such as the moun- tain pine beetle, Douglas-fir bee- tle, and the spruce budworm. But these native insect popula- tions also feed various species of woodpeckers, which drill nest- ing cavities for other birds, includ- ing forest owls, which will be significantly impacted by the project. There are 15 species of owls in Montana. In the project area there are four owl species that require “snags,” which are standing dead trees, for nesting: The great gray owl, boreal owl, northern pygmy owl, and northern saw-whet owl. The great gray owl nests on top of broken snags, and boreal owls require large snags at least 25 inches in diameter, while the northern pygmy and northern aaw-whet owls can use snags at least 12 inches in diameter. So what happens to these owls in the project area when the For- est Service cuts down all the dead trees to supposedly remove the insects? First, there will be a direct loss of woodpecker populations due to loss of the insects on which they feed. That means a reduction in the number of cavities wood- peckers drill in snags, which will reduce or eliminate nesting habi- tat for the cavity-nesting owls. The Custer Gallatin Forest Plan “suggests” that logging will maintain four snags per acre, but it also allows substitution with green trees. The Bear-Palmer proposal is silent on snag reten- tion in units and instead claims that green trees will be retained for “future recruitment of snags.” The project’s required snag size of at least 6 inches in diameter is well below the size needed for the forest owls. To make matters worse, snags aren’t required to be left in each logging unit. Instead, they can be “averaged out” across all log- ging units, meaning snags may be retained on only a small portion of all units, or none if green trees are counted as snags. The Custer Gallatin Forest Plan says “known” forest raptor nests will be protected from distur- bances, but does not require any specific population monitoring of forest owls nor surveys for forest owls in logging units. Instead, the monitoring plan says population monitoring will be of “land bird species/assemblages associated with forest vegetation.” What this means is unknown, as is how it will “protect” forest owl nests without surveying and monitoring for forest owls. Currently, many national for- ests use the Integrated Monitor- ing in Bird Conservation Regions as substitution for forest moni- toring of birds. Since this large- scale monitoring program cannot measure impacts of local logging projects, it effectively eviscerates agency requirements to measure impacts of logging projects on wildlife — including forest owls — in the Bear-Palmer project area since the proposal does not indi- cate that any forest owl surveys will be done. For perspective, the Caribou Targhee National Forest plan in Idaho requires 1,600 acres of for- est habitat to be protected for great gray owls around each of their nests and 3,600 acres around each boreal owl nest. But the Bear- Palmer logging and burning pro- posal alone will destroy nesting habitat for forest owls on 2,126 acres. The bottom line is if the Bear- Palmer project is approved, it will not leave sufficient habitat to pro- vide adequate nesting and forag- ing for owls. Sara Johnson, Ph.D., is the director of the Native Ecosystems Council and a former Forest Service wildlife biologist. EDITORIAL BOARDSam Worthington, publisherJeff Welsch, managing editor Kallie Kujawa, community memberCharles Rinker, community memberShelby Bouma, community memberDaniel Bierschwale, community member Mike Hope, community memberBuck Taylor, community memberAttack on buffalo is an attack on tribal sovereignty Bear-Palmer logging, burning project will devastate forest owls More LETTERS I A7 Bozeman Daily Chronicle - 06/04/2026 Page : A07 June 5, 2026 6:39 am (GMT -6:00) Powered by TECNAVIA BOZEMAN DAILY CHRONICLE THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2026 | A7 Bright outdoor lights from our homes, businesses, gas stations and parking lots are lighting up the night sky. The artificial light causes confusion for migrating birds, attracting them into urban areas where they can collide with buildings. Outdoor lighting also affects insects, upon which birds rely to feed themselves and their nestlings. The good news is that relatively simple solutions exist to reduce light pollution, but it takes all of us to make it work. You can adjust your lights downward, use motion sensors instead of leaving lights on all night, use a warmer color temperature bulb, or simply turn off unnecessary lights. It will save energy costs, too. Together we can protect birds, bats and insects by reducing light pollution in our community. Lou Ann Harris Sacajawea Audubon Society Bozeman Forstag developed a nearly 4% lead over Busse of Kalispell by 10 a.m, with all but 13 of the 346 precincts reporting. Forstag had 25,854 votes to Busse’s 22,952, with Russ Cleveland a distant third at 15,067, and Matt Rains at 5,476. Busse thanked his wife, Sara and two sons for their love and support before asking for unity ahead of the November election. “Now is the time to come together and fight for the Montana we all want to see,” Busse said. “That means helping Sam Forstag defeat radio shock jock Aaron Flint.” Also Tuesday, long- time conservative fire- brand radio host Aaron Flint defeated Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen and Flathead doctor Al Olsze- wski in the GOP 1st Con- gressional District pri- mary. Flint had 50% of the vote, compared to 23% for Jacobsen and 20% for Olszewski. Democrat Alani Bank- head and Republican Kurt Alme are squaring off for one of Montana’s two U.S. Senate seats in Novem- ber, after both handily won their primary races. Alme’s triumph was called shortly after the polls closed at 7 p.m. and Bank- head’s race was called about 90 minutes later. With 672 of 728 pre- cincts reporting, Bank- head had 44% of the vote to 33% for Livingston’s Reilly Neill. Seth Bodnar is running and an Inde- pendent and Kyle Austin will be the Libertarian in the race. On the eastern side, Republican incumbent Troy Downing ran unop- posed. In November he will faces Democrat Brian J. Miller and Libertarian Patrick McCracken. Closer to home, Caleb and Jedediah Hinkle won their races for legislative seats by comfortable mar- gins over more moderate candidates — Belgrade incumbent Shelley Vance and longtime Belgrade mayor Russ Nelson. Caleb had 2,526 votes to Vance’s 902 for Senate District 34 and Jedediah had 1,073 for House District 67 to Nelson’s 448. On the Democratic side, Reps. Kelly Kortum and Becky Edwards were neck and neck for Senate District 32 representing Bozeman with all eight precincts full reporting. Kortum won by 79 votes, according to the Secretary of State’s website, 1,430 to 1,351. For county attorney, with 100% of the votes in, Democrat Audrey Crom- well had 13,727 votes and Republican Jordan Salo had 10,673. Tuesday’s winners advance to the Nov. 3 gen- eral election. Gallatin County: Some voter turnout for certain races exceeds expectations by 105%, according to AP. State Senator District 34 Caleb Hinkle (R) 2,526 votes vs. Shelley Vance (R) 902 votes State Senator District 67 Jedediah Hinkle (R) 1,073 votes vs. Russell C. Nelson 448 votes County Attorney Audrey Cromwell (D) 13,727 votes, Jordan P. Salo (R) 10,673 votes Auditor Jill Ther- rien (D) — uncontested 13,182 votes Clerk & Recorder / Surveyor Eric Semerad (D) 13,581 votes, Roger Blank (R) 10,441 votes County Commis- sioner, District 1 Zach Brown (D) 13,632 votes, Daniel Hill (R) 10,521 votes County Commis- sioner, District 3 (unex- pired term) Tracie Gib- bons (D) NA, Colter Met- calf (R) 10,602 Justice of the Peace, Dept. 1 Rick West — uncontested 23,927 votes Justice of the Peace, Dept. 2 Bryan Adams — uncontested 24,192 votes Sheriff / Coroner Dan Springer (R) — uncon- tested 11,247 votes Superintendent of Schools John Nielson (D) 13,261 votes, Deanna Campbell (R) 10,328 votes Treasurer / Assessor Stephen Ball (D) 13,059 votes, Maureen Horton (R) 10,329, vs. Terrence Smith (I) Conservation Dis- trict Supervisor, Areas 1, 2 & 3 Loren Blanksma vs. Jason Camp vs. Sher- win Leep. OBITUARIES The valley’s preferred funeral service provider for more than 100 years. www. dokkennelson.com 113 S. Willson Ave. 406.587.3184 Letters/from A6 Primaries/ from A1 Shannon Beyl Poole passed away May 24, 2026 after an extended illness. Shannon was a loving mother to her two grown children, Christian and Laurén Poole. They were the light of her life.   Born July 10, 1973 in Bozeman, MT to Bill and Bonnie Beyl, Shannon was a graduate of Bozeman High School (‘91) and Montana State University (‘96). There she earned a double degree in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing that led to a career which took her to many cities throughout the US and Europe. Shannon was known and loved by many for her quick wit and humor and glamorous personal style, collecting a vast array of designer shoes and handbags throughout the years.   Shannon is survived by her children Christian and Laurén Poole, mother Bonnie Beyl, brother Shaun Beyl (Elizabeth), niece Bryn Beyl Smith (Garrett) and grand-niece (Ridley).  Shannon was preceded in death by her father Bill Beyl. Close family and friends will hold a private gathering in her memory. SHANNON BEYL POOLE Poole Margaret Ann Nelson (McEnaney), known as Peg or Peggy, passed peacefully on January 25, 2026. Born November 20, 1942, in Helena, Montana, she was the daughter of Dorothy (Warren) and Bill McEnaney and a proud fourth-gen- eration descendant of Helena’s Irish and English pioneers. She married Leland Roy Nelson in 1966, and they raised their family in Bozeman before later moving to Powell, Wyoming. A beloved teacher, devoted volunteer, and woman of deep faith, Peg was known for her warmth, optimism, and gracious spirit. She is survived by her son, Troy Nelson (Sarah); daughter, Tara Nelson; brother, Jim McEnaney (Maureen); grandchildren, Allie Stone (Andrew), Sydney Nelson (Jason), and Ian Nelson; and great-grandson, Orin Stone. A memorial service will be held in Powell, Wyoming, on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at 11:00 am at Hope Lutheran Church, Powell, Wyoming. Peg will be laid to rest at Sunset Hills Cemetery Friday, June 12, 2026 at 4:00 pm (Parkcol/North Face). MARGARET “PEG” NELSON Nelson Kenneth J. Schmidt died June 2, 2026 from a battle with sarcoma cancer. He was born August 8, 1944 in Rugby, ND to Nick & Phili- pine (Volk) Schmidt. He is #4 of 12 siblings, 3 brothers and 8 sisters. He attended grade school in ND and then when the family moved to Bozeman in 1960, he graduated from Rosary High School in 1963 and complet- ed one semester at MSU in accounting. He enlisted in the Army National Guard for 3 1/2 years. Ken married the love of his life, Marcia on July 20, 1967. Soon after marriage, he learned the carpet trade and they moved to Idaho Falls, ID for work. They had 2 children, Brenda and Kevin, and in 1973 moved back to Montana to build and run the Red Baron Drive In in Belgrade. Ken laid carpet and Marcia ran the Red Baron. Later they sold the Red Baron and went into the ice cream business and ran the Dairy Queen in Bozeman for several years with brother Ralph. Ken is a jack of all trades. There is nothing that he can’t fix; cars, houses, farm equipment, appliances and most gadgets. He had horses for many years and spent countless hours working on their farm near Manhattan. The family enjoyed many gatherings there. Later they moved into town, one-level home, where he could still watch the deer in the back yard. Ken was involved in a few bands in the valley. The latest one was “Blue Spurs Country” and they played music at the Senior Centers in the area and anywhere they were invited to play. Dad sang and played along with 3 other members. He loved his time work- ing at Duke’s farm and café. There was always something to do to remind him of his time as a boy growing up on the farm. Dad enjoyed coffee with the coffee group almost every day. Many of these friends were bowling buddies as well. He was recognized for “50” years a member of the Gallatin USBC in 2021. Anyone who knew Ken, loved his quiet spirit, firm hand shake, hug and how much he loved and cared for his family. He will be greatly missed by many. He is preceded in death by his parents, father and mother -in-law and a niece. He is survived by his wife, daughter Brenda (Randy), Son Kevin (Chelle) grand- daughters Kelle (Aaron), Carissa, Taylor, Grandsons Caleb (Jade), Kyler (Heidi) Great Granddaughter Janessa , Great Grandsons Kaden, Casmer, step Great Granddaughter Leighton, step Great Grandson Bryson, brothers Ralph (Carol), Joe (Becky), Jerry (Joyce), sisters Sylvia (Robert), Mary Ann, Patti, Linda (Ken), Shirley (Jerry), Margie (Ray), Diane (Tim), Donna Mae. There will be a Celebra- tion of Life at Dokken Nelson in Belgrade at 1:00pm June 9, 2026. Join us for “Coffee with Ken” afterwards. Arrangements are in the care of Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service. www. dokkennelson.com KENNETH SCHMIDT “No researchers should believe their positions, credentials, or pro- fessional status place them above the law,” said Jennifer Runyan, spe- cial agent in charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, in the release. “The alle- gations in this case are serious. They involve the dangerous and unlawful smuggling of deactivated Mpox virus into the United States and alleged efforts to mislead our federal agents. I am grateful for the outstanding and diligent work of the FBI Detroit JTTF, FBI Billings’ Missoula Resident Agency, the U.S. Customs and Bor- der Protection team at Detroit Metro Airport, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services — OIG, for keeping our communities safe.” Munster and Kwe face a maxi- mum sentence of five years in prison if convicted. The investigation is being con- ducted by the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Customs and Border Pro- tection Detroit and the U.S. Depart- ment of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “We have zero tolerance for any- one who attempts to exploit our research frameworks, circumvent our border enforcement processes, or deceive investigators,” said CBP Director of Field Operations Marty C. Raybon in the release. “Along with our law enforcement partners, we will remain fiercely vigilant in neutralizing biological threats—or otherwise— and continue to hold accountable those who jeopardize the safety and security of the Ameri- can people.” Monkeypox/from A3 “In November 2025, a RML employee’s personal protec- tive equipment was breached by a bite, and the employee was exposed to Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), which is a severe, tick-borne viral disease that can lead to life-threatening hemorrhages and carries a fatality rate of up to 40 percent,” the letter reads. “This biosafety incident required the exposed employee to quaran- tine at a specialized medical facil- ity to monitor symptoms and prevent disease transmission. Additionally, in February 2026, a RML employee was potentially exposed to CCHF while han- dling laboratory mice due to a hole in their personal protective equipment.” Sheehy asked Bell to review the November 2025 and February 2026 incidents at RML, includ- ing the details of each event, the purpose of the research and the pathogens being used, and the biosafety and the lab’s biosecu- rity procedures. He also asked Bell to review RML’s safety, secu- rity, and oversight policies, and RML’s personnel management practices, including background checks, oversight, and clearance processes for staff who handle high-risk pathogens or have access to sensitive materials and the facility. The letter also asked Bell to review NIH protocols for employees under investigation, including facility access, employ- ment status, and coordination with law enforcement, and any recommendations to ensure these protocols protect against potential security risks. “In light of the seriousness of these incidents and the risks posed by potentially rogue sci-entists, I urge your immediate attention to this matter,” the let- ter reads. “The Hamilton com- munity and our nation deserve assurances that Rocky Mountain Laboratories is operating under thorough oversight, that proper safety and security protocols are being followed, and that person- nel handling hazardous biologi- cal materials are being properly vetted and supervised.” Sheehy/from A3 ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK — Oil prices rose Wednesday following the latest flare-up in fighting to threaten the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, and U.S. stocks retreated from their records. The S&P 500 fell 0.5% from its all- time high. The Dow Jones Indus- trial Average was down 466 points, or 0.9%, with an hour remaining in trading, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.8% lower. Weighing on the market was a climb of 1.9% for the price of a barrel of Brent crude oil, the international standard, which brought it back to $97.81. It rose after both the United States and Iran said they launched retaliations for earlier attacks or attempted ones. Palo Alto Networks helped drag the S&P 500 toward its first drop in 10 days, and it fell 5.8% even though it reported profit for the latest quar- ter that topped analysts’ expectations. Investors may have been looking for even more after its stock came into the day with a surge of 61.3% for the year so far, more than quintuple the S&P 500’s already big 11.2% rise. Macy’s slipped 0.9% after swinging between gains and losses earlier in the day. The iconic New York depart- ment store reported profit for the lat- est quarter that blew past analysts’ forecasts. The retailer said an over- haul of its merchandise and better customer service is resonating with customers. Stocks felt pressure from rising yields in the bond market, which climbed with the price of oil. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.49% from 4.46% late Tuesday and from just 3.97% before the war began. High yields worldwide are threat- ening to slow economies and under- cut prices for stocks and all kinds of other investments. They have already forced the average long-term U.S. mortgage rate to its most expensive level in nine months, and they could curtail companies’ borrowing to build the artificial-intelligence data centers that have supported the U.S. economy’s growth recently. More expensive loans can hurt smaller companies in particular because many need to borrow to grow. The Russell 2000 index of the smallest U.S. stocks fell 1.3%, more than the rest of the market. Reports released Wednesday on the U.S. economy came in mixed. One from the Institute for Supply Manage- ment said that growth for U.S. con- struction, agricultural and other ser- vices businesses accelerated by more last month than economists expected. That’s an encouraging signal for the economy, but the survey also showed businesses are feeling the pinch of higher prices caused by tar- iffs and more expensive oil. “This is the definition of inflationary pressure starting to affect us,” one company in the accommodation and food ser- vices industry said in the survey. Still, stocks remain near their records, even with all the pressure on the global economy created by higher inflation. Oil prices remain below their peaks from earlier in the fighting, and hope seems to be remaining on Wall Street that the United States and Iran will ultimately agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil tank- ers. That would improve the global flow of crude and hopefully lower its price. Oil prices climb back toward $100, and U.S. stocks halt their record-breaking rally