Montana/Region

Divided America: In Montana, neighbors at odds over refugees

Published on Thu, 06/09/2016 - 5:09pm
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EDITOR'S NOTE — This story is part of Divided America, AP's ongoing exploration of the economic, social and political divisions in American society.

 

MISSOULA, Mont. — For the world, the photograph of a Syrian 3-year-old in a red T-shirt and black sneakers, his lifeless body washed up on a Turkish beach, was a horrific symbol of the desperation of hundreds of thousands of refugees.

For Mary Poole, a young mother haunted by "those little shoes ... the little face," it was an inspiration.

Death in boiling hot spring shows challenges rangers face

Published on Thu, 06/09/2016 - 5:06pm

BILLINGS, Mont. — The death of a tourist who left a boardwalk and fell into a boiling, acidic spring in Yellowstone National Park shows the challenges that rangers face as they confront soaring numbers of visitors — including some who break the rules.

Ex-assistant coach gets deferred sentence for sex assault

Published on Thu, 06/09/2016 - 5:01pm

BIG TIMBER, Mont. — A former assistant football coach at Sweet Grass County High School in Big Timber has received a deferred sentence for having sex with a teenage student.

The Billings Gazette reports that 25-year-old Mitchell Buerkle was given a six-year deferred sentence at a hearing in Sweet Grass County District Court on Wednesday. He pleaded guilty to felony sexual intercourse without consent in February.

Bus passenger busted with 112 pounds of marijuana

Published on Thu, 06/09/2016 - 5:00pm

BILLINGS, Mont. — Police in Montana and Wyoming have arrested five people over the past week after finding marijuana in their luggage on Jefferson Lines buses.

A 33-year-old man was arrested at the Billings bus station Tuesday after officers found 112 pounds of marijuana in his luggage, court records said.

Montana coal production continues to drop

Published on Thu, 06/09/2016 - 4:59pm

BILLINGS, Mont. — Coal production in Montana continues to drop, with mines yielding about a third less this spring than in 2015.

The Billings Gazette reports that between January and May, Montana produced 9.6 million tons of coal, down 4 million tons compared to the same four months a year earlier.

Bud Clinch of the Montana Coal Council says Montana mines are on pace to dig about 28 million tons of coal in 2016; 42 million less than in 2015. Clinch says the sluggish mines will likely hurt state tax revenue.

Mineral County sheriff's workers end strike, await mediation

Published on Thu, 06/09/2016 - 4:57pm

SUPERIOR, Mont. — Striking employees of the Mineral County sheriff's department have returned to work now that a mediation session is scheduled.

Teamsters Local 2 spokesman Shawn Fontaine tells KGVO-AM that the deputies, dispatchers and detention officers went back to work Thursday morning. The mediation session is scheduled for June 15.

The 16 employees went on strike on May 30 seeking a larger raise and more than a one-year contract. They had been working without a contract since July 2015.

Ex-UM football player sentenced in sex assault case released

Published on Thu, 06/09/2016 - 4:57pm

MISSOULA, Mont. — A former University of Montana football player sentenced to prison in 2013 after admitting to raping an acquaintance has been released on parole.

The Missoulian reports that Beau Donaldson had been sentenced to 30 years in prison with 20 years suspended after being convicted of the 2010 sexual assault. He was released Wednesday in Bozeman.

Last year, the Montana Board of Pardons and Parole had denied Donaldson's request for parole and instead allowed him to attend a boot camp and a 100-day aftercare program.

Nothing to recover after man goes in hot spring

Published on Wed, 06/08/2016 - 5:06pm
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BILLINGS, Mont. — Rangers suspended their attempts on Wednesday to recover the body of a man who wandered from a designated boardwalk and fell into an acidic hot spring at Yellowstone National Park, another in a string of incidents raising concerns over visitor behavior.

"They were able to recover a few personal effects," park spokeswoman Charissa Reid said. "There were no remains left to recover."

Montana picks Sanders, Trump; governor candidates advance

Published on Wed, 06/08/2016 - 5:03pm

HELENA, Mont. — Montana voters added their exclamation point to a presidential primary election whose candidates were decided before polling places even opened, while the top two candidates for governor easily disposed of their token primary challengers.

Voters hand GOP conservatives, moderates split decision

Published on Wed, 06/08/2016 - 5:02pm

HELENA, Mont. — Gallatin County voters booted embattled state Rep. Art Wittich from office, one of several Republican conservatives who lost their bid for office in Tuesday's primary. But some GOP moderates who sought to bring a more bipartisan tone to the state Legislature were also rejected.

In the end, it remained unclear how Tuesday's balloting would shift the direction of the Legislature when it convenes in January.