News

BALLOONS FOR DEON: Family, friends gather to commemorate 18th birthday of deceased Park High Student

Published on Tue, 04/26/2016 - 4:11pm
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The sounds of a goose squawking across Livingston’s Sacajawea Lagoon masked the sobs of the friends and family of Deon Gillen Friday evening as they honored what would have been the young man’s 18th birthday.   

Gillen died of suicide in February, and his sister Katlyn Gillen wanted to celebrate his life at one of his favorite spots in Livingston near the lagoon bridge with balloons, lanterns and remembrances. 

Prince's sister says musician had no known will

Published on Tue, 04/26/2016 - 4:06pm
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MINNEAPOLIS — Prince's sister believes the superstar musician didn't have a will and has asked a Minnesota court to appoint a special administrator to oversee his multimillion-dollar estate, according to court documents filed Tuesday that could signal a looming fight over Prince's assets.

Tyka Nelson, Prince's only surviving full sibling, said in the court filing that immediate action was necessary to manage Prince's business interests following his death last week.

Man pleads guilty to fatally shooting former girlfriend

Published on Tue, 04/26/2016 - 4:02pm
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BOZEMAN, Mont. — A Bozeman man pleaded guilty Tuesday to breaking into his former girlfriend's house in violation of a restraining order and fatally shooting her as she tried to hide in her closet.

Anthony Fagiano, 35, pleaded guilty to deliberate homicide, aggravated burglary, theft and violating an order of protection in the March 9 death of Darcy Buhmann, 37. The shooting happened 17 days after he was served with the restraining order.

Murder charge in baby's death on reservation

Published on Tue, 04/26/2016 - 4:00pm

BILLINGS, Mont. — A woman on a Montana American Indian Reservation will be charged with murder in the alleged beating death of a 13-month-old girl who was under her care, a tribal prosecutor said Tuesday.

Janelle Red Dog, 42, is accused of killing Kenzley Olson and putting her body in a dumpster before reporting the girl missing on April 19.

That triggered an Amber Alert for Kenzley in Montana and North Dakota. Authorities canceled the alert after Red Dog purportedly confessed and drew a map that led them to the little girl's body.

State Supreme Court delays enforcement of medical pot ruling

Published on Tue, 04/26/2016 - 3:59pm

HELENA, Mont.  — The Montana Supreme Court said Monday it will delay enforcement of the severe medical marijuana restrictions it has upheld until Aug. 31.

In February, the court ruled in favor of provisions of a 2011 state law that limited medical marijuana providers to selling the drug to a maximum of three patients.

The Montana Cannabis Industry Association, which had challenged the legislation, has said the rollbacks would force the closure of dispensaries and leave patients without a legal way to obtain the drug.

Federal board dismisses Montana coal railroad application

Published on Tue, 04/26/2016 - 3:58pm

BILLINGS, Mont. — A federal transportation panel has dismissed a proposal for a $400 million railroad that would have hauled coal from a mine near the Montana-Wyoming border.

Tuesday's action by the Surface Transportation Board comes five months after the backers of the Tongue River Railroad suspended their application for the 42-mile line.

The board also turned down a request from southeastern Montana landowners who wanted to permanently block the railroad from re-applying for a permit.

'Scarface,' well-known Yellowstone grizzly, killed near Gardiner

Published on Tue, 04/26/2016 - 3:57pm
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"Scarface,” a well-known, often-photographed Yellowstone National Park grizzly bear, has been identified as the bear killed north of Gardiner late last year. 

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has confirmed that the male grizzly bear shot in November 2015 on Little Trail Creek was the bear known to researchers as No. 211. The killing remains under investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with assistance from FWP, according to an FWP news release. 

Hearing officer awards $175K to harassed MSU-Northern dean

Published on Tue, 04/26/2016 - 3:57pm

HAVRE, Mont. — A hearing officer with the Montana Human Rights Commission has awarded $175,000 to a dean at Montana State University-Northern who complained that the former provost sexually harassed him.

Hearing officer Terry Spear said the university owed Randy Bachmeier damages for emotional distress, the Havre Daily News (http://bit.ly/1pBytp0) reported.

The former Provost, Rosalyn Templeton, denied any wrongdoing.

Earthquake report spurs retrofitting in Utah, Nevada

Published on Tue, 04/26/2016 - 3:56pm

RENO, Nev. (AP) — A new report raising the likelihood of a destructive earthquake striking Salt Lake City in the next half century has underscored the urgency to retrofit more than 30,000 older brick homes and other unreinforced buildings at high risk of collapsing.

Governments struggle to enforce "living wage" laws

Published on Tue, 04/26/2016 - 3:51pm
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SEATTLE — States and cities whose lawmakers proudly passed "living wage" laws are finding it difficult to make sure employers actually pay their workers accordingly.

Seattle and San Francisco, and the states of Oregon, California and New York are phasing in wage increases that will grow to $15 an hour or more.