Montana/Region

Montana's economic health emerges as election factor

Published on Wed, 09/07/2016 - 4:29pm

HELENA, Mont. — Struggles in the energy industry have contributed to Montana taking in less revenue than budget writers had anticipated, making the state's economic health a campaign issue in this year's elections.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte says in campaign stops that his opponent, Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock, has led the state to steep revenue declines and to the erosion of the state's $350 million rainy day fund.

Body of kidnapped Montana woman found near Spokane

Published on Wed, 09/07/2016 - 4:27pm

HELENA, Mont. — A woman who was kidnapped at a Montana rest stop in broad daylight was able to talk with her husband by cellphone several times and even talked with police, but she was dead by the time authorities found her car 325 miles away near Spokane International Airport, Montana authorities said.

Rita Maze, 47, of Great Falls called her husband Tuesday evening and said she had been struck on the head at an Interstate 15 rest stop north of Helena and that she was in the trunk of her car, Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton said Wednesday.

Closed entrance cost Yellowstone visitors in August

Published on Wed, 09/07/2016 - 4:26pm

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. — The closure of Yellowstone National Park's south entrance because of wildfire in neighboring Grand Teton National Park cost Yellowstone some visitors in August.

The National Park Service counted 841,036 visitors to Yellowstone in August. That's down 1.5 percent from August 2015. Yellowstone saw large over-the-year increases during the previous four months this year.

Bow hunters give up kill to grizzly bear

Published on Wed, 09/07/2016 - 4:25pm

BUTTE, Mont. — A father and son who were bow hunting for elk in the Big Hole Valley ended up surrendering their kill to a hungry grizzly bear.

The Montana Standard reports the hunters called 911 shortly after noon on Sunday and told a Beaverhead County sheriff's deputy and a state game warden that they shot a cow elk and were following the blood trail to the animal when a grizzly bear began to parallel them. They said the bear was huffing and growling so they backed off.

Jobs report: Montana wages low, but rising

Published on Tue, 09/06/2016 - 3:42pm
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HELENA, Mont. — Montana's wages are still among the lowest in the nation, but they are rising faster than the national average despite declines in the energy industry, according to a report released Tuesday.

Jobs and wages have emerged as key issues in this year's governor's race between Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock and Republican challenger Greg Gianforte. Both candidates addressed jobs and wages in separate public appearances Tuesday as their campaigns kick into high gear two months before the Nov. 8 election.

Grizzlies seen for first time in a century in Upper Big Hole River area

Published on Tue, 09/06/2016 - 3:40pm

BUTTE, Mont.  — State wildlife biologists are trying to figure out whether grizzly bears spotted this year in the Upper Big Hole River area for the first time in about a century came from Yellowstone or northern Montana.

Grizzly bear sightings have been confirmed on several occasions this summer in the area.

Kevin Frey of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks confirmed photographs and tracks seen this summer are of a grizzly bear.

Cooler temps, rain, help calm park fires

Published on Tue, 09/06/2016 - 3:37pm

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. — Cooler temperatures and rain have helped to calm wildfires burning in Yellowstone National Park.

Firefighters extinguished one new fire that was started by lightning on Sunday near Tower Junction. A second lightning-caused fire east of Tower Junction was being allowed to burn because it was in a remote area.

There are five fires burning in Yellowstone.

Handyman pleads guilty to killing Deer Lodge woman, son in stolen silver case

Published on Tue, 09/06/2016 - 3:36pm

DEER LODGE, Mont. — A handyman and probationer has pleaded guilty to killing a 57-year-old Deer Lodge man and his 79-year-old mother during a confrontation over thousands of dollars in stolen silver.

Powell County Attorney Lewis Smith says 53-year-old David Wayne Nelson pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of deliberate homicide for the October 2015 deaths of Greg Giannonatti and 79-year-old Beverly Giannonatti.

McCone County resident dies of West Nile virus

Published on Tue, 09/06/2016 - 3:34pm

HELENA, Mont — A McCone County resident is the first Montana resident to die from complications related to West Nile virus so far this year.

State health officials said Tuesday that the case brings to six the number of West Nile cases reported in Montana. Four were in Dawson County and one in Garfield County.

The Department of Public Health and Human Services said the victim was an adult who had not traveled outside the state over the past month. No other information was released.

Yellowstone open for Labor Day weekend, but campfires banned

Published on Fri, 09/02/2016 - 3:47pm
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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. — All major Yellowstone National Park tourist attractions, entrances and roads are open for the long Labor Day weekend despite four wildfires, but visitors will be prohibited from making campfires and will see smoky haze in some parts of the park, a fire official said Friday.

Bone dry conditions prompted the ban of charcoal and wood fires, disappointing some people who have called ahead of visiting while planning their trips, said Yellowstone fire spokesman Bill Swartley.