Montana/Region

Bozeman hospital seeks dismissal of radiologists' lawsuit

Published on Fri, 12/02/2016 - 3:48pm

BOZEMAN, Mont. — Attorneys for Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital and its radiology clinic are asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit that alleges the hospital was receiving illegal kickbacks for referring patients to the clinic.

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports (bit.ly/2ghDRdm) the False Claims Act lawsuit, filed by radiologists Frank Rembert and Michael Paradise in December 2015, alleged the joint venture hampered competition and led to higher bills being submitted to government health care programs.

Some geese that landed on contaminated water in Butte die

Published on Fri, 12/02/2016 - 3:47pm

BUTTE, Mont. — Some of the more than 1,000 snow geese that landed to rest on the highly acidic water in a former open-pit copper mine in Butte have died.

Mark Thompson, manager of environmental affairs for Montana Resources, tells The Montana Standard the dead birds were spotted at the Berkeley Pit early Thursday morning. The agency no longer puts boats in the water out of concern that an unstable pit wall could collapse, so it's unclear how many birds have died.

EPA to require mines to offer cleanup assurances

Published on Fri, 12/02/2016 - 3:46pm

BILLINGS, Mont. — The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday said it plans to require mining companies to show they have the financial wherewithal to clean up their pollution so taxpayers aren't stuck footing the bill.

The proposal follows a 2015 court order for the government to enforce a long-ignored provision in the 1980 federal Superfund law.

University of Montana president to step down

Published on Thu, 12/01/2016 - 3:30pm
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MISSOULA, Mont. — University of Montana President Royce Engstrom is stepping down effective Dec. 31, as the university continues to face declining enrollments and budget cuts.

Commissioner of Higher Education Clayton Christian announced Thursday that he and Engstrom reached the decision after "careful discussion and consideration."

Migrating snow geese survive landing in contaminated water

Published on Thu, 12/01/2016 - 3:26pm

BUTTE, Mont. — Over a thousand snow geese that have landed to rest in a former open-pit copper mine in Butte this week have survived, unlike the 342 birds that died after ingesting the Berkeley Pit's highly acidic water in 1995.

The Montana Standard reports that the manager of environmental affairs for Montana Resources, Mark Thompson, says the birds arrived Monday and flew away from the site Wednesday. Montana Resources has been shooting rifles and using other noise tactics to get the birds to leave.

Prosecutors in Nevada asking for 3 ranching standoff trials

Published on Thu, 12/01/2016 - 3:25pm

LAS VEGAS — Federal prosecutors want a judge in Nevada to schedule a trio of trials for the 17 defendants jailed on charges stemming from an armed confrontation in April 2014 with U.S. officials over grazing rights near cattleman Cliven Bundy's ranch.

But Bundy and his attorney call in documents filed Wednesday for all the defendants to be tried together.

Governor issues emergency declaration for invasive mussels

Published on Thu, 12/01/2016 - 3:24pm

HELENA, Mont. — Gov. Steve Bullock has declared a natural resource emergency after aquatic invasive mussels were detected in Montana waters for the first time.

The Independent Record reports that a rapid response team will be developed in response to Bullock's executive order Wednesday. The team is comprised of three agencies -- the Montana Invasive Species Advisory Council, Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, and Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

US overhauls public land use planning; senator vows reversal

Published on Thu, 12/01/2016 - 3:23pm

BILLINGS, Mont. — U.S. government officials on Thursday finalized an overhaul of how they plan for oil and gas drilling, mining, grazing and other activities across public lands in the West.

The move by the Bureau of Land Management aims to address longstanding criticism of an often-cumbersome process that dictates development across almost 250 million acres of federal lands, primarily in 12 Western states and the Dakotas.

Wildlife officials ID hunter mauled by grizzly

Published on Thu, 12/01/2016 - 3:20pm

HELENA, Mont. — Wildlife officials have identified an elk hunter who was mauled by a grizzly on the Rocky Mountain Front west of Choteau.

The Independent Record reports that 55-year-old Paul Johnson, of Billings, was hunting on Nov. 20 when he surprised a female grizzly with cubs.

The bear attacked, leaving Johnson with multiple injuries. As the rest of his hunting party approached the bear left unharmed.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials did not pursue the bear as the attack was defensive, not predatory.

Yellowstone Park looks at large bison cull to trim herds

Published on Wed, 11/30/2016 - 4:27pm
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BILLINGS, Mont. — Yellowstone National Park biologists say more than 900 wild bison would need to be killed or removed this winter to begin reducing the size of herds that spill into neighboring Montana.

The park has an estimated 5,500 bison, the highest number since at least 2000.

Park officials meet Thursday with state, tribal and U.S. Agriculture Department representatives to discuss options for managing the animals.

Biologists say 900 would need to be removed just to stabilize population growth.