Montana/Region

Judge rejects tribal immunity claim, will allow lending suit

Published on Fri, 05/20/2016 - 3:33pm

HELENA, Mont. — A federal judge in Vermont has rejected Montana tribal officials' claims of sovereign immunity and said that he will hear a civil case alleging the tribe's online payday lending company illegally preys on poor borrowers.

U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford's order Wednesday to proceed with the lawsuit against Plain Green LLC's leaders and non-Native American backers is a setback for lenders who use tribal sovereign immunity to offer high interest short-term loans in states with laws that bar or cap such loans.

Convicted killer Frank Dryman denied parole for 1951 murder

Published on Fri, 05/20/2016 - 3:31pm

GREAT FALLS, Mont. — A man who skipped out on parole after being released early from a life sentence for a 1951 murder conviction and was returned to custody in 2010 has been denied release for the second year in a row.

The Great Falls Tribune reports that the Montana Board of Pardons and Parole denied Frank Dryman's request for release Thursday. The 85-year-old, who is on oxygen and has other health conditions, had asked to be moved to an assisted living facility for U.S. veterans.

Businesses ask Supreme Court to reinstate exempt well rule

Published on Thu, 05/19/2016 - 3:07pm
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HELENA, Mont. — Real estate businesses, building contractors and well drillers asked the Montana Supreme Court on Wednesday to reinstate regulations that opponents say allowed a flurry of dense residential subdivisions to spring up without regard to sensitive water basins.

The Montana Association of Realtors, Montana Building Industry Association and the Montana Well Drillers Association want the Supreme Court to overturn a judge's 2014 ruling that struck down state regulations over which small water wells are exempt from permitting requirements.

Billings appearances by Bill Clinton, Trump scheduled

Published on Thu, 05/19/2016 - 3:05pm

BILLINGS, Mont. — Details on the Billings campaign appearances on behalf of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have been released.

Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to speak at Will James Middle School at 7:30 p.m. Friday on behalf of his wife's campaign.

Trump's campaign announced the presumptive Republican nominee will hold a rally on Thursday, May 26 at 4 p.m. at Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark.

Drought concerns persist in parts of Montana

Published on Thu, 05/19/2016 - 3:04pm

HELENA, Mont. — A wet and cooler spring has eased drought concerns over much of Montana, but extreme drought conditions remain along the Rocky Mountain Front after two straight winters of low snowfall and warm temperatures.

The recent spate of warm temperatures triggered an early snowmelt that could mean lower flows in some rivers and streams through the summer, if May and June rains fall below normal.

Oil company asks judge to toss criminal charges over spill

Published on Thu, 05/19/2016 - 3:03pm

HELENA, Mont. — An oil company should not have been criminally charged for an accidental oil spill in Montana that its employees took immediate steps to fix when it was discovered in 2011, attorneys for the company said in their request to dismiss the charges.

Woman sentenced for breaking baby's leg at day care

Published on Thu, 05/19/2016 - 3:02pm

BOZEMAN, Mont. — A former Gallatin County day care provider who admitted to breaking the leg of an infant she was watching has been given a three-year deferred sentence.

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports Erin Renee Cooper pleaded guilty Wednesday to criminal endangerment as part of a plea deal that dropped her initial charge of felony assault on a minor.

Cooper had admitted she "used too much pressure" while changing the six-month-old boy's diaper in January 2015.

Justices say no constitutional right to speedy sentencing

Published on Thu, 05/19/2016 - 3:01pm

WASHINGTON — A unanimous Supreme Court has ruled that a delay in imposing a prison sentence does not violate the Constitution's right to a speedy trial.

The justices on Thursday upheld the sentencing of Montana defendant Brandon Betterman, who waited in jail for 14 months before being sentenced on a bail-jumping charge.

The court was being asked for the first time to extend the right to a speedy trial that is part of the Sixth Amendment to the sentencing phase of a case.

New horned dinosaur species discovered in Montana by amateur

Published on Wed, 05/18/2016 - 3:33pm
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BILLINGS, Mont. — A novice fossil collector's lucky find in a remote Montana badlands more than a decade ago has turned out to be a new kind of spectacularly-horned dinosaur, researchers announced Wednesday.

The bones unearthed near Winifred, Montana represent a previously-unknown species of dinosaur that lived 76 million years ago.

Montana officials seek stay on campaign contribution limits

Published on Wed, 05/18/2016 - 3:30pm

HELENA, Mont. — Montana officials said they will ask a federal judge for an immediate stay on a Tuesday ruling that allowed political parties to contribute unlimited amounts of cash to campaigns.

In seeking the stay, state Commissioner of Political Practices Jonathan Motl said he worried about the chaos that could result if political parties launch a spending frenzy.