Montana/Region

IN SHORT

Published on Fri, 01/31/2020 - 4:38pm

Fire warnings 

HELENA (AP) — The National Weather Service has issued a rare fire warning for parts of Montana for the first day of February.

High winds with gusts between 50 and 75 mph, along with temperatures in the 50s and 60s and low humidity are expected on Saturday across northern and central Montana.

In those conditions, any new fire starts can spread quickly and become difficult to control, weather service officials said. 

STATE SHORTS

Published on Thu, 01/30/2020 - 12:00am

Tim Fox names former lawmaker Jon Knokey as running mate BELGRADE (AP) — Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Fox named former Gallatin County legislator Jon Knokey as his running mate on

3-term lawmaker Rep. Dale Mortensen dies

Published on Thu, 01/30/2020 - 12:00am

BILLINGS (AP) — Montana Republican lawmaker Rep. Dale Mortensen has died. State House Speaker Greg Hertz confirmed Mortensen’s death Wednesday, The Billings Gazette reported. The Billings Heights three-term lawmaker was

Teachers offered incentive to retire amid budget concerns

Published on Thu, 01/30/2020 - 12:00am

HELENA (AP) — A Montana school district will provide early retirement incentives to about 40 veteran teachers to combat an anticipated budget deficit of more than $1 million, district officials

Public turns out to search for missing Great Falls woman

Published on Thu, 01/30/2020 - 12:00am

GREAT FALLS (AP) — Nearly 170 volunteers turned up Wednesday morning to search for a Great Falls woman who has been missing since walking away from a house after an

S.D. House OKs ban on gender-change treatment

Published on Thu, 01/30/2020 - 12:00am

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota House on Wednesday passed a bill that would ban gender-change treatment for children under 16, including surgeries, puberty-blockers and hormone therapy. The measure

Coyote bites woman skiing in Yellowstone Park

Published on Thu, 01/30/2020 - 12:00am
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A woman cross-country skiing in Yellowstone National Park was bitten by a coyote. On Tuesday, about 9:50 a.m., park dispatch received a call that a coyote bit a woman in

What’s next for the Keystone in S. Dakota?

Published on Wed, 01/29/2020 - 12:10am
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PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Plans for construction of the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline inched forward last week with several approvals at both the federal and state levels, but opponents

Local astronaut craves salsa, surf after record 11 months aloft

Published on Wed, 01/29/2020 - 12:01am
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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — After nearly 11 months in orbit, the astronaut holding the record for the longest spaceflight by a woman can’t wait to dig into some salsa

EPA announces $2.2 million grant for drinking water program

Published on Wed, 01/29/2020 - 12:00am

SEATTLE (AP) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a $2.2 million grant for Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington to help identify sources of lead in drinking water in schools