Damage at Malheur: $1.7M and climbing

The group that occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in January and early February caused $1.7 million in damages to the refuge headquarters with the costs continuing to climb, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe said Wednesday. Ashe was one of several officials on hand Wednesday to lead media on a tour of the refuge, including limited portions of the headquarters area where armed militants were based during the 41-day occupation. More than 20 people have been charged in connection with the siege. Media were not allowed inside the buildings at the headquarters where occupiers set up camp, or given access to the roads and trenches officials have said were cut by the occupiers using federally owned heavy equipment...more