Montana/Region

Major Colorado River water user floats Arizona drought plan

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — A major Colorado River water user has proposed an interim plan for Arizona as the state faces a looming deadline to manage expected shortages. The Central

House passes bill to drop gray wolf protections

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican-controlled House passed a bill Friday to drop legal protections for gray wolves across the lower 48 states, reopening a lengthy battle over the predator species.

STATE/REGION

Man stabbed on walking path LIBBY (AP) — A 24-yearold Washington state man is charged with stabbing a Montana man nearly a dozen times while the victim was on a

$10.3B budget plan would extend Medicaid expansion

HELENA (AP) — Montana Gov. Steve Bullock on Thursday proposed a two-year, $10.3 billion budget that includes the reauthorization of a health insurance program for low-income residents and tax hikes

Wyoming student faces 9 counts of attempted murder

GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) — The 14-year-old junior high student who brought two handguns and 36 rounds of ammunition to a Wyoming school and threatened to shoot another student and staff

IN SHORT

Voter registration system funds HELENA (AP) — Montana election officials are planning to use the bulk of a $3 million federal grant on a new statewide voter registration system. Several

Study: Weak reporting on missing, murdered Native women

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Numerous police departments nationwide are not adequately identifying or reporting cases of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls as concerns mount over the level of

Groups file lawsuit to stop eastern Idaho gold exploration

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Two conservation groups say the federal government violated environmental laws by approving a Canadian company’s plan to search for gold in key wildlife habitat in eastern

As wildfires grow deadlier, officials search for solutions

BILLINGS (AP) — Creating fire buffers between housing and dry brush, burying spark-prone power lines and lighting more controlled burns to keep vegetation in check could give people a better

Former Billings officer loses certification

BILLINGS (AP) — A former Billings police officer who resigned after it was learned he had sex with a city employee at City Hall has lost his police certification. Paul