Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt seems to be acting like the Chicken Little of the Missouri River. Blunt is asking for an independent review of the use of the Missouri River, a step we ask all the other Missouri River Basin states to block.

Gov. John Hoeven has requested federal disaster aid for 11 counties to help repair flooding damage to public works, caused by last month's heavy rains. Repair estimates exceed $1.6 million, with most of the money needed to repair roads, the governor said.

By RICHARD HINTON North Dakotans again pushed for drought conservation measures Thursday night as U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials took comments in Bismarck on its 2006-07 draft annual operating plan for the Missouri River system. Gov.