Montana/Region

Sage grouse court order trims energy lease auction

Published on Tue, 11/12/2019 - 3:43pm
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RENO, Nev. (AP) — U.S. land managers have withdrawn more than 500 square miles of public land from a swath of eastern Nevada where oil and gas drilling leases are set to go to auction.

The move came after a judge blocked a Trump administration attempt to curtail protection of habitat for endangered sage grouse in seven states.

The acreage pulled from Tuesday’s auction amounts to more than half of what the Bureau of Land Management initially planned to offer in Nevada.

Fewer Yellowstone wolves equals no wolf-on-wolf deaths

Published on Tue, 11/12/2019 - 3:42pm

BILLINGS (AP) — For the first time in 24 years, Yellowstone National Park wildlife managers have found no evidence of wolves killing each other.

The Billings Gazette reports that the park’s annual report on wolves says seven wolf deaths were recorded 2018, but none were wolf-on-wolf deaths and none died from major diseases. Three wolves were shot by hunters outside the park.

At the end of 2018 there were at least 80 wolves in nine packs with seven breeding pairs in Yellowstone. That’s down from the previous five years and the lowest number of wolves since 2012.

Town’s voters pass 1% tax increase

Published on Tue, 11/12/2019 - 3:41pm

WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont. (AP) — Residents of West Yellowstone voted to renew the town’s 3% resort tax and temporarily increase it to 4% to fund infrastructure projects.

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports nearly 88% of voters approved renewing the 3% tax, which helps fund law enforcement, road maintenance and other services.

The additional 1% was sought to build a new wastewater treatment facility, replace water and sewer lines, install a water storage tank and make improvements to streets and sidewalks.

STATE SHORTS

Published on Tue, 11/12/2019 - 3:41pm

Playing up name, Bullock connects to New Hampshire history

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Montana Gov. Steve Bullock has signed up for the New Hampshire primary, joking that he deserved a discount on the filing fee for sharing a name with the man who started the state’s tradition more than a century ago.

Bismarck priest prepares for new role as bishop in Helena

Published on Tue, 11/12/2019 - 3:40pm
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By Amy R. Sisk
The Bismarck Tribune

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — During Mass one recent morning at St. Mary’s Central High School in Bismarck, the Rev. Austin Vetter gave students a challenge.

He told them, when they pray at home, to open themselves up to what Jesus wants for them — and to be prepared for whatever that could entail.

“It may be way different than your own little dream,” he said, then offered an example from his personal life. “I had no idea that I would be bishop.”

Study: Microplastics in majority of Ore. shellfish

Published on Tue, 11/12/2019 - 3:39pm

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A Portland State University study found tiny pieces of plastic in the vast majority of razor clams and oysters sampled along the Oregon coast and noted that the primary source of contamination was from fibers used in synthetic textiles.

REGION SHORTS

Published on Tue, 11/12/2019 - 3:38pm

Billings school district needs to cut about $4M in spending

BILLINGS (AP) — The Billings school district needs to cut about $4 million in planned spending to avoid a deficit.

Superintendent Greg Upham said Monday his proposals won’t compromise safety, will impact academic achievement as little as possible and lean toward reducing rather than eliminating programs.

Film probes history of Native Americans in the US military

Published on Mon, 11/11/2019 - 12:05am
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Before Chuck Boers joined the U.S. Army, the Lipan Apache member was given his family’s eagle feathers. The feathers had been carried by his greatgreat-great-grandfather on

STATE SHORTS

Published on Mon, 11/11/2019 - 12:00am

Judge sentences Bozeman caregiver for defrauding woman BOZEMAN (AP) — A judge has sentenced a Montana woman to 20 years in prison for stealing $300,000 from a quadriplegic person in

Medicaid expansion work requirements delayed

Published on Mon, 11/11/2019 - 12:00am

HELENA (AP) — The work requirements that state lawmakers added to Montana’s Medicaid expansion program as a compromise to keep the program alive won’t go into effect in January as