News

Fence work is proposed

Published on Wed, 05/18/2016 - 2:09pm

The Montana Department of Transportation is proposing to replace old fencing along Interstate 90 east and west of Livingston. 

 The project begins at the Hopper interchange at mile marker 324 west of Livingston  and extends east ending near the Springdale interchange at mile marker 354, an MDT news release said. 

MDT is accepting public comments on the proposal. 

Fairy Falls trailhead to close for trail construction

Published on Wed, 05/18/2016 - 2:08pm

The Fairy Falls trailhead located just north of Old Faithful will be closed for trail construction.

In early June, Yellowstone National Park trail crews will begin constructing an official trail and overlook to replace the many existing social trails on the hills south of Grand Prismatic Spring, a Yellowstone news release said. 

During construction, three areas will be closed to the public:

•The hills immediately south of Grand Prismatic Spring.

FWP to hold wolf hunting season meeting in Gardiner

Published on Wed, 05/18/2016 - 2:07pm

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will hold a public meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. in Gardiner on Tuesday, May 31 to discuss setting a wolf season for the upcoming year. 

The meeting will be held in the auditorium of the Gardiner High School.

At its May 12 meeting, Montana’s Fish and Wildlife Commission approved for public comment a 2016-2017 wolf season with no changes to the 2015-2016 season. 

When the Yellowstone is high, the Mighty Mo’ performs

Published on Wed, 05/18/2016 - 10:13am
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My pal Nick said the fish wouldn’t take my oversized streamer.

He even laughed as I hoisted the fly over the edge of the boat.

I reached for my thermos and refilled my coffee cup while studying the big black and red streamer, which I purchased a few years back at a fly shop in downtown Missoula.

Disease's spread blamed on elk, not bison or feed grounds

Published on Tue, 05/17/2016 - 3:05pm

BILLINGS, Mont. — Researchers say Montana elk are to blame for an animal disease spreading into new areas around Yellowstone National Park.

The finding disputes conventional wisdom that said park bison and wildlife feeding grounds in Wyoming were responsible.

Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey and other institutions traced transmissions of the disease brucellosis following a recent spike in livestock infections.

US judge strikes down Montana campaign contribution limits

Published on Tue, 05/17/2016 - 3:02pm

HELENA, Mont. — For a second time in four years, a federal judge has ruled that Montana's campaign contribution limits are unconstitutional.

Tuesday's ruling by U.S. District Judge Charles Lovell could open the gates to a flood of money just three weeks before the state's June 7 primary.

The ruling, which came a day after Lovell announced he would decide the case without holding a trial, was a clear setback for the state's Commissioner of Political Practices, who defended the strict limits that voters enacted in 2011.

63 Indian reservations join land program

Published on Tue, 05/17/2016 - 3:01pm

BILLINGS, Mont. — U.S. officials on Tuesday added 63 American Indian reservations to an initiative that seeks to return millions of acres of reservation land to the control of tribes and warned that the $1.9 billion program is running out of money.

Reservations in 16 states in the West and Midwest are joining the Interior Department's "Land Buyback Program."

The Associated Press obtained details in advance of a planned public announcement.

Wildfire-fighters warn 2016 could be bad in California

Published on Tue, 05/17/2016 - 3:00pm

California could face a dangerous and difficult wildfire season in 2016 despite a relatively wet winter, federal officials warned Tuesday.

Most of the rest of the nation is expected to see an average summer, but even that means thousands of wildfires, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said after a briefing from the U.S. Forest Service, which is part of his department.

A five-year drought has left 40 million dead and dried-out trees in California, including 29 million that died last year alone, Vilsack said.

Commission recommends increased funding for child protection

Published on Tue, 05/17/2016 - 2:59pm

HELENA, Mont. — The Division of Child and Family Services is facing an alarming caseload increase with inadequate resources and training, causing staff to burn out and quit, the Protect Montana Kids Commission found after a six-month study of the agency.

The commission is recommending the legislature increase funding for child protection and for the court system, prosecutors and public defenders' offices to help handle the increasing number of child abuse cases.

Powell hospital files for bankruptcy to deal with lawsuits

Published on Tue, 05/17/2016 - 2:58pm

POWELL, Wyo. — Officials say the hospital in Powell has sought bankruptcy protection in response to about 20 lawsuits over surgeries performed by an orthopedic surgeon who used to work there.

The Powell Tribune reports that Powell Valley Healthcare's board of directors approved filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Monday. The board said in a statement the lawsuits from former patients of Dr. Jeffrey Hansen prompted the bankruptcy filing.

In court filings, Hansen and the hospital have denied any wrongdoing or negligence.