Montana/Region

Ban on treatments for transgender kids fails in South Dakota

Published on Tue, 02/11/2020 - 4:49pm

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Legislation aimed at stopping South Dakota physicians from providing puberty blockers and gender confirmation surgery to transgender children under 16 failed to get enough support Monday in a Senate committee.

A Republican-dominated Senate committee voted 5-2 to kill the proposal, likely ensuring the issue won’t be considered by the Legislature again this year. 

REGION SHORTS

Published on Tue, 02/11/2020 - 4:48pm

Several elk hit by train

DINGLE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho Fish and Game officials say a small group of elk were hit by a train in rural Bear Lake County over the weekend.

Conservation officers said 11 elk were killed in the collision near Dingle early Sunday morning. 

Two others were injured and had to be dispatched by wildlife managers. The salvageable meat was donated to members of the community, Fish and Wildlife officials said.

Air Force discloses drug investigation at nuke base

Published on Tue, 02/11/2020 - 12:00am

WASHINGTON (AP) — Security guards at an Air Force base responsible for protecting strategic nuclear missiles in three states are under investigation for alleged marijuana use, Air Force officials said Monday. They are part of the same security force whose members were caught using the hallucinogen LSD four years ago.

ND seeks to pardon more low-level pot offenders

Published on Tue, 02/11/2020 - 12:00am

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota Pardon Advisory Board is seeking more applicants under its new policy wiping criminal records clean for people with low-level marijuana convictions.

Disease lab in Montana studying coronavirus

Published on Fri, 02/07/2020 - 5:00pm

HAMILTON (AP) — An infectious disease lab in western Montana is joining the worldwide effort to study a coronavirus that originated in China, has infected over 28,000 people and killed more than 560.

Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton received its first sample of the 2019 novel coronavirus on Wednesday, the Ravalli Republic reported.

Emmie de Wit, the lab’s principal investigator on the new virus, said researchers have already started projects and more will get underway soon.

Another vaping-related lung illness reported in MT

Published on Fri, 02/07/2020 - 4:58pm

HELENA (AP) — The Montana health department reported another case of lung illness related to vaping on Friday.

The Department of Public Health and Human Services said a person in their 20s from Cascade County was hospitalized last month. The patient, who has a history of vaping, is recovering, officials said. State officials have tallied seven illnesses and one death connected to vaping in Montana. 

South Dakota Lawmakers: Social issues grabbing ‘lots of air’ this session

Published on Fri, 02/07/2020 - 4:54pm

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — There’s one thing Republicans and Democrats in South Dakota agree on this legislative session: Social issues are getting a lot of attention.

The Republican-dominated Legislature has seen a string of bills favored by social conservatives in the first three weeks of the legislative session, including proposals to ban gender-change medical treatments for children under 16 as well as commercial surrogacy agents, and that would stop the state from recognizing gay marriage.

Paulette Jordan to challenge Jim Risch for Idaho’s Senate seat

Published on Fri, 02/07/2020 - 4:53pm

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Former Idaho Democratic gubernatorial candidate and state lawmaker Paulette Jordan announced Friday that she’s challenging two-term Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Risch.

“I’m running because we need a Senator who will work to re-engineer our government to prioritize American prosperity, protect our precious land and resources, fight for affordable, quality healthcare, and ensure a world-class education for our children,” said Jordan

University of Wyoming may now revoke honorary degrees

Published on Fri, 02/07/2020 - 4:52pm

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) — University of Wyoming trustees will now be able to revoke honorary degrees.

Reasons for revocation include conduct inconsistent with the university’s mission or values or that harms the university’s reputation.

Misrepresenting or undermining accomplishments cited as the basis for the honorary degree also may result in revocation. 

Trustees voted for the change during their January meeting, the Laramie Boomerang reports.

Flooding inundates Pacific Northwest

Published on Fri, 02/07/2020 - 4:52pm

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Severe flooding in eastern Oregon closed a major freeway on Friday, forced evacuations and stranded at least one family on their roof as other parts of the Pacific Northwest also braced for more flooding and landslides from relentless rain and rapid snowmelt.