Montana/Region

Rancher teams up with Montana nonprofit to protect land

POTOMAC (AP) — Nearly 570 acres of an historic ranch in western Montana are being preserved. A conservation easement has been placed on the Hayes Family Ranch in the Potomac Valley in Missoula County. The Missoulian reports that the nonprofit Five Valleys Land Trust in Missoula recently won approval from the Missoula County Board of Commissioners to use $295,000 of taxpayer-funded money, along with $569,000 worth of federal funding and cash contributions from the landowner for the easement.

Montana town experiences 80-degree temperature swing

GREAT FALLS (AP) — The temperature in a northern Montana town changed by more than 80 degrees in a single day this week. The Great Falls Tribune reports the town of Fort Belknap recorded a temperature of 37 degrees below zero (3 degrees below zero Celsius) Tuesday morning. The temperature rose to 45 degrees (7 degrees Celsius) by the afternoon. National Weather Service says the cause of the dramatic change was a chinook wind, a warm wind blowing down the side of the Rockies. The Montana town of Loma experienced a 103-degree temperature swing on January 15, 1972.

Remains of damaged chalet hold up under record snows

COLUMBIA FALLS (AP) — A conservation group says the stone walls of a historic chalet at Glacier National Park that were severely damaged in a wildlfire last summer are holding up despite record snowfalls. The Glacier National Park Conservancy says a flyover of the backcountry Sperry Chalet earlier this month showed the walls still standing. The group raised more than $100,000 to stabilize the chalet after an August wildfire gutted the structure.

Algae problem on Montana’s Smith River prompts meeting

HELENA (AP) — Montana environmental officials say a reported increase in aquatic algae on the Smith River is interfering with recreational activities on the popular waterway northwest of White Sulphur Spings.

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality is planning two public meetings to talk about potential causes and solutions to the problem.

MSU professors open debate over center

BOZEMAN (AP) — Montana State University faculty members have opened debate on whether to establish an economics research center funded by a five-year grant from the Charles Koch Foundation.

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports the faculty senate’s decision Wednesday leads to a vote in two weeks on whether to approve the Center for Regulation and Applied Economic Analysis. The $5.7 million gift from Republican donor Charles Koch was awarded in 2016.

Teen in explosion thanks the doctors, nurses for saving his life

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CODY, Wyo. (AP) — The last time Jarom Oilar was in the room, he was fighting for his life.

A year-and-a-half later the Cody High School sophomore was back, many of the same faces around him. Only this time, everyone was smiling.

Oilar was first carried into the West Park Hospital emergency department by his father Josh on Aug. 28, 2016, and Jarom was in trouble.

He had a hole as big as a fist in his chest and a piece of pipe lodged near his heart. There was another piece in his leg and still another ripped his shoulder.

Panel endorses computer science classes

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CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A measure that would require Wyoming K-12 schools to provide all students with computer science instruction has been endorsed by a state Senate committee despite concerns from some that it could be tough for small schools to offer the new course.

The Senate Education Committee unanimously approved Senate File 29 on Wednesday. The proposal now goes to the full Senate for debate.

Idaho lawmakers advance a bill targeting federal laws

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Republican Idaho lawmakers fed up with what they see as the federal government encroaching on states’ rights advanced a proposal Wednesday that would allow Idaho to declare federal laws or regulations unconstitutional.

South Dakota, Marsy’s Law campaign reach amendment deal

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota lawmakers advanced changes Wednesday to a voter-approved constitutional bill of rights for crime victims under an agreement with the group that campaigned to pass the measure.

South Dakota would be the first state to change “Marsy’s Law” of the six that have enacted it. The House State Affairs Committee voted to move the proposal to the chamber’s floor.

Cheyenne students build “purses with a purpose” for agencies

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CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — When a woman leaves a dangerous living situation, she likely will do so without a dime to her name, facing a possible custody battle and with no solid plan to build a future.

She also likely will bring nothing with her to a shelter.

Students in the Z-Club at Cheyenne’s Triumph High are doing their part to help through “purses with a purpose.”