Montana/Region

Virus spread forces lockdown on another tribal reservation

Published on Mon, 08/10/2020 - 12:00am

HELENA (AP) — The Crow Tribe in Montana ordered its members to lock down for two weeks beginning Friday as tribal leaders moved to slow a sharp spike in coronavirus cases and deaths on yet another reservation in the country.

Native mascots still a sticking point in high school sports

Published on Mon, 08/10/2020 - 12:00am
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BOUNTIFUL, Utah (AP) At a mostly white high school near Salt Lake City, the steps leading to the football field are covered in red handprints, arrows and drawings of Native American men in headdresses meant to represent the mascot, the Braves. “Welcome to the Dark Side” and “Fight like a Brave” are scrawled next to images of teepees, a tomahawk and a dream catcher.

US: Border tunnel appears to be ‘most sophisticated in history’

Published on Fri, 08/07/2020 - 3:00pm
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PHOENIX (AP) — An incomplete tunnel found stretching from Arizona to Mexico appears to be “the most sophisticated tunnel in U.S. history,” authorities said. 

The tunnel intended for smuggling ran from San Luis, Arizona, to a Mexican neighborhood and had a ventilation system, water lines, electrical wiring, a rail system and extensive reinforcement, federal officials said Thursday. 

9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal denies bid to resurrect Bundy standoff case

Published on Fri, 08/07/2020 - 2:58pm
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LAS VEGAS (AP) — A U.S. appeals court refused Thursday to resurrect the criminal case against states’ rights figure Cliven Bundy, family members and others stemming from a 2014 armed standoff with federal agents trying to round up Bundy cattle near the family ranch in Nevada.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal in San Francisco denied prosecutors’ efforts to overturn U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro’s decision to stop a months-long trial in January 2018 for “flagrant” prosecutorial misconduct and her dismissal of the criminal indictment so it could not be re-filed.

Authorities arrest suspect in shooting

Published on Fri, 08/07/2020 - 2:57pm

BILLINGS (AP) — Authorities in Montana’s largest city advised residents to shelter in place and lock their doors Thursday as law enforcement officers searched for a pair of men allegedly involved in a shooting and stolen vehicle pursuit.

Wyoming Supreme Court won’t rehear university firearms case

Published on Fri, 08/07/2020 - 2:57pm

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) — The state Supreme Court won’t rehear a case in which a man said he purposefully brought a gun onto the University of Wyoming’s campus in order to challenge the school’s policy on prohibiting firearms.

Lyle Williams was cited in 2018 with open-carrying a gun on the university’s campus during the state Republican party’s annual conference.

Grand Teton seeks goat cull volunteers

Published on Fri, 08/07/2020 - 2:56pm

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Grand Teton National Park is seeking volunteers to shoot nonnative mountain goats this fall after calling off a helicopter goat shoot amid criticism from Wyoming’s governor last winter.

The new effort to eradicate the goats, deemed a threat to native bighorn sheep by biologists, has Gov. Mark Gordon’s support.

2 Keystone XL pipeline workers get virus, but work continues

Published on Thu, 08/06/2020 - 3:14pm

BILLINGS (AP) — Two people working on the Keystone XL oil pipeline have tested positive for the coronavirus in northern Montana, but the company said Thursday that construction work on the disputed project will continue after a temporary shut down of a pipe storage yard.

Calgary-based TC Energy says the first pipe yard worker in Phillips County tested positive at a local clinic on July 28, Yellowstone Public Radio  reported. Testing on six close contacts of the infected person found a second worker with the virus.

State Shorts

Published on Thu, 08/06/2020 - 3:03pm

GOP wants Dem AG candidate off the ballot

HELENA (AP) — The Montana Republican Party is asking the state Supreme Court to rule that the Democratic candidate for attorney general does not meet the qualifications for the office and should not appear on the ballot for November’s general election.

The party filed the complaint on Monday. Justices on Tuesday gave candidate Raph Graybill until Aug. 10 to respond. 

Two gunmen being sought

Published on Thu, 08/06/2020 - 2:56pm

BILLINGS (AP) — Authorities in Montana’s largest city advised residents to shelter in place and lock their doors as law enforcement officers searched for a pair of armed men.

The Billings Police Department said on Twitter Thursday morning that tactical teams were responding to the scene in the Heights area of Billings. A shelter in place warning was broadcast at about 9:30 a.m. on local radio stations.