Montana/Region

Wednesday's Montana News Briefs

Snow hits parts of Montana, storm warning in effect
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A winter storm warning has been posted for portions of central, north-central, southwest and west-central Montana. Moderate to heavy snow is possible with up to a foot predicted in higher elevations.
The winter storm warning includes the Helena, Great Falls and West Yellowstone areas and is set to expire about 9 p.m. Wednesday. Winter weather advisories have been posted for areas that include Kalispell, Butte, Livingston and Red Lodge.
Western Montana jail closed because of lack of jailers

2 states warn Trump against big changes in sage grouse plan

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Two Western governors on Tuesday warned the Trump administration against making big changes in a plan to protect a ground-dwelling bird across the West, saying it would send a message to states not to bother working together to save other imperiled species.
Colorado Democrat John Hickenlooper and Wyoming Republican Matt Mead said a 2015 conservation plan designed to save the greater sage grouse was the product of long negotiation among state and federal governments, conservation groups, industry and agriculture.

FEMA chief says agency didn’t approve Whitefish pact

WASHINGTON — Federal Emergency Management Agency officials had nothing to do with approving a pricey no-bid contract to restore the power grid in Puerto Rico, the head of the agency told Congress on Tuesday.
FEMA Administrator Brock Long told the Senate homeland security committee there was “a lot wrong” with the controversial $300 million contract awarded to Whitefish Energy Holdings, a tiny Montana company from Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s hometown.

Major initiative will move Montana toward clean, healthy green economy

Rev. Ken Crouch of Billings announced that his proposed initiative, promoting renewable energy development, was determined to be “legally sufficient” on Oct. 26 by the Chief Deputy Attorney General of Montana.

Judy Martz, first female governor of Montana, dies at 74

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HELENA (AP) — Montana’s only female governor and lieutenant governor, whose fiscal success running the state was overshadowed by scandal and gaffes, has died.

Judy Martz, who had been battling pancreatic cancer, was 74.

Watchdog group targets Zinke over RV

BILLINGS — A political watchdog organization accused the dormant congressional campaign of U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on Monday of skirting contribution laws when it sold a motor home to a friend of Zinke at a steep discount.

Coal test plant coming to Wyoming in November

GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) — A company that is developing a process to produce cleaner burning coal plans to begin work next month on establishing a test plant in northeast Wyoming, a company official said.

Bozeman couple united by love for Halloween

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BOZEMAN (AP) — Lauri and Phillip Aguirre go all out for Halloween.

For the Bozeman couple, turning their entire home into a haunted house is a labor of love. True love.

Montana Briefs

Gianforte calls for lawsuit reform, more money for wildfires

DEER LODGE (AP) — U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte says blocking frivolous lawsuits and boosting emergency spending on wildfires would help restore Montana’s forests to better health.

Attorneys for Montana coal mine are due in court as layoffs loom

BILLINGS (AP) — Attorneys for a large Montana coal mine are due in court this week to press a judge to reverse an order that could prompt dozens of layoffs by blocking the mine’s plans to expand.