News

States dig in against directive on transgender bathroom use

Published on Fri, 05/13/2016 - 4:00pm
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RALEIGH, N.C. — Politicians in Texas, Arkansas and elsewhere vowed defiance — and other conservative states could follow suit — after the Obama administration told public schools across the U.S. on Friday to let transgender students use the bathrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity.

The federal government's guidance was met with tearful praise from parents of transgender students.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona found in contempt of court

Published on Fri, 05/13/2016 - 3:58pm
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PHOENIX — A judge found the longtime sheriff of metro Phoenix in contempt of court Friday for disobeying his orders in a racial profiling case, bringing the lawman who calls himself "America's Toughest Sheriff" a step closer to a possible criminal contempt case that could expose him to fines and even jail time.

Italian woman, 116, seen as last living person born in 1800s

Published on Fri, 05/13/2016 - 3:54pm
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VERBANIA, Italy — Surrounded by relatives and friends, Italy's Emma Morano greeted with a smile the news that she, at 116, is now the oldest person in the world.

Not only that, but Morano is believed to be the last surviving person in the world born in the 1800s, with a birthdate of Nov. 29, 1899. That's just 4 ½ months after Susannah Mushatt Jones, who died Thursday in New York, also at 116.

Lebanon's Hezbollah most senior commander killed in Syria

Published on Fri, 05/13/2016 - 3:42pm
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BEIRUT — The top military commander of Lebanon's Hezbollah was killed in an explosion near the Syrian capital of Damascus, the Shiite guerrilla group said Friday, the highest-level casualty yet in its intervention in the raging civil war next door.

The death of Mustafa Badreddine strikes a heavy blow to the militant group and underscores how its deployment in Syria backing President Bashar Assad has widened its circle of enemies beyond traditional foe Israel to include Sunni extremists and conservative Gulf monarchies.

Panel rejects move to triple wolf harvest near Yellowstone

Published on Fri, 05/13/2016 - 3:39pm
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BILLINGS, Mont. — A proposal to triple the number of wolves that hunters and trappers can kill just outside Yellowstone National Park was rejected Thursday by Montana wildlife commissioners.

Wildlife managers had recommended increasing the 2016 wolf quota for a hunting district near Gardiner from two animals to six. Agency officials had cited complaints from hunters and outfitters that the predators were eating too many elk.

Spokesman Ron Aasheim says the quota won't be final until the wildlife commission votes again in July.

Motorcyclist killed in crash with truck near Bozeman

Published on Fri, 05/13/2016 - 3:36pm

BOZEMAN, Mont. — A 50-year-old woman from Elgin, Illinois died when her motorcycle collided with a semi-trailer on U.S. Highway 191 near Big Sky in southwestern Montana.

The Montana Highway Patrol says the woman was southbound on a curve late Thursday morning when her motorcycle crossed the center line and collided head-on with the semi.

Gallatin County authorities said Jessica Gibb died at the scene.

The crash remains under investigation.

Montana officials defend stand in School Choice battle

Published on Fri, 05/13/2016 - 3:35pm

HELENA, Mont. — The Montana Department of Revenue defended its exclusion of religious schools in the state's School Choice program, saying that it was on sound legal footing in denying tax credits for donations to private scholarship funds later used at faith-based schools.

Helicopter used in search for woman

Published on Fri, 05/13/2016 - 3:34pm

A Malmstrom Air Force helicopter was used in a search Friday morning for a woman who police said walked away from the scene of an accident after driving the wrong way on the interstate. 

The woman, 28, from Missouri, was located — cold and wet — around 9:30 a.m. Friday walking up the on-ramp of exit 352 after a Springdale rancher reported seeing a woman who matched her description apparently hiding near some haystacks on his property, Park County Undersheriff Clay Herbst said Friday. 

Medical marijuana supporters appeal Montana restrictions

Published on Fri, 05/13/2016 - 3:33pm

HELENA, Mont. — Advocates for medicinal marijuana in Montana are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a state court decision that drastically restricts the availability of the drug.

Fish and Wildlife Commission OKs agency land purchase

Published on Fri, 05/13/2016 - 3:33pm

HELENA, Mont. — The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission on Thursday approved a proposal for the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks to purchase nearly 9,500 acres of land from the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation for $11.1 million.

The land is located within the Sun River, Beartooth and Blackleaf wildlife management areas in Lewis and Clark, Cascade and Teton counties, the Great Falls Tribune (http://gftrib.com/1s2FjWi) reported.