Montana/Region

Tribes bash proposed Trump budget cuts to Native Americans

Published on Thu, 05/25/2017 - 3:28pm

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Dozens of Native American tribes in six Western states are bashing President Donald Trump's proposed budget cuts to American Indian programs.

Tribal leaders in Oregon, Washington state and Idaho speaking on behalf of the group said Thursday the proposed budget guts spending on Native American education, health care and environmental initiatives.

Mel Sheldon, a councilman from the Tulalip Tribes in Washington state, says it's the "worst attack on Indian Country in recent memory."

Contamination in Montana park; highest in kids' sand box

Published on Thu, 05/25/2017 - 2:17pm

BUTTE (AP) — Tests have found elevated levels of arsenic and lead in the children's sandbox at a Montana town's city park.

The tests conducted at the Benny Goodman Park in Anaconda found that the contamination was well above levels the Environmental Protection Agency considers safe.

Anaconda-Deer Lodge County released the test sampling to The Montana Standard on Wednesday.

Only four of the 55 test pits in the park were clean.

The area where the arsenic level was the highest in the park was the sandbox.

US Census estimates show Bozeman population growth

Published on Thu, 05/25/2017 - 2:13pm

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — U.S. Census Bureau estimates show population in Bozeman and surrounding communities is growing faster than last year.

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported Thursday that officials estimate Bozeman added about 1,850 residents between 2015 and 2016, bringing the city to 45,250 people.

Hundreds honor Montana sheriff deputy killed in line of duty

Published on Wed, 05/24/2017 - 1:07pm
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BELGRADE (AP) — A Montana sheriff's deputy who was killed in the line of duty last week was remembered as a family man, a man of faith and a dedicated public servant who could be tough when he needed to be but still played dolls with his daughter.

Hundreds of law enforcement officers, family and friends gathered Tuesday to honor Broadwater County Sheriff's Deputy Mason Moore a week after he was shot to death during a pursuit near Three Forks.

Montana US House race sparks record campaign spending

Published on Wed, 05/24/2017 - 1:02pm

HELENA (AP) — Campaign spending ahead of Thursday's special election to fill Montana's only U.S. House seat continued to surge deep into record territory, with at least $17 million flowing into the race from the campaigns and outside groups hoping to influence the nationally watched contest.

The sum is especially remarkable — or alarming — because of the 85-day campaign period for a special election to replace Ryan Zinke, who resigned his congressional post to become President Donald Trump's Interior secretary.

A look at accidental child shooting cases in Montana

Published on Wed, 05/24/2017 - 12:59pm

HELENA (AP) — No charges were brought in two cases of accidental shootings involving children under 12 from 2014 through 2016 in Montana.

Nationwide, there were 152 accidents in which children under age 12 either killed themselves or were mistakenly shot and killed by another child.

Health care is key issue as Montana fills US House seat

Published on Tue, 05/23/2017 - 1:00pm
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WHITE SULFUR SPRINGS (AP) — Meagher County, Montana, may not be much different than the rest of the rural enclaves across America that voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump last fall.

The median annual household income is $38,000 — about 25 percent below the national average. Nearly 20 percent of its 1,800 residents live in poverty. And more than one in four people don't have health insurance.

ACLU files discrimination complaint against school district

Published on Tue, 05/23/2017 - 12:56pm

BILLINGS (AP) — The ACLU of Montana has filed a discrimination complaint with the Montana Human Rights Bureau on behalf of four Native Americans who said they were denied early entry to a high school basketball game in Reed Point because of their race.

Montana man arrested after grandmother fatally stabbed

Published on Tue, 05/23/2017 - 12:55pm

ANACONDA (AP) — A southwestern Montana man has been arrested on suspicion of fatally stabbing his grandmother.

The Montana Standard reports 21-year-old Tyler Smith was arrested Tuesday morning in Anaconda after his grandmother was found dead on her kitchen floor with a knife in her back.

Police Chief Tim Barkell says a downstairs neighbor called 911 at about 2:30 a.m. after hearing 64-year-old Vicki Smith scream "he's stabbing me." They reported seeing a man flee Vicki Smith's residence.

Officers arrested Tyler Smith at his mother's house.

Montana road crews hope to open Beartooth Pass on Friday

Published on Tue, 05/23/2017 - 12:52pm

BILLINGS (AP) — Crews are scrambling to clear the snowpack on Beartooth Pass on the Montana-Wyoming border in hopes of opening the highway Friday.

The Billings Gazette reports the Montana Department of Transportation started clearing the snow on U.S. Highway 212 seven weeks ago. Steve Reed, a supervisor with the transportation department, says drifts were deeper than average this year, and the snow is wet and heavy.

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