5 Things to Know in Montana for July 16

Your daily look at news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today.

HEALTH OVERHAUL

About 30,000 more Montanan are enrolled in a health insurance plan than were before the new federal health plan's enrollment period took place. State Insurance Office Deputy Commissioner Adam Schafer told a legislative panel Tuesday that his office surveyed the state's largest insurance companies to learn whether the number of uninsured decreased after the federal health care overhaul. The increased enrollment leaves about 165,000 Montana residents without health insurance.

INMATE-THROAT CANCER

A former Yellowstone County jail inmate is suing the county alleging his throat cancer went undiagnosed for nearly a year. The lawsuit says Fred Miller complained at least 17 times about a lump in his throat, severe pain and bleeding in 2009 and 2010, but wasn't properly diagnosed or treated with anything besides salt water gargles and ibuprofen. He is seeking $1.5 million in damages. County officials declined comment.

HIT MAN-CHARGES DROPPED

A murder-for-hire charge filed against a Kalispell man has been dismissed because a recorded conversation between the man and his cellmate was of poor quality and could not be enhanced by the FBI. Flathead County Attorney Ed Corrigan says the judge also ruled prosecutors couldn't introduce evidence of prior conflicts between Matthew Heuer and his ex-wife. Heuer is serving a five-year sentence with the Department of Corrections for firing a gun at his neighbor.

MILES CITY DROWNING

Officials in eastern Montana have released the name of a 15-year-old boy who drowned while trying to swim to an island in a small lake near Miles City. Custer County Sheriff Tony Harbaugh says Richard Smith of Trenton, Utah, drowned Monday afternoon at Spotted Eagle Lake.

BIG SKY POLLS

Eastern Washington is favored to defend its Big Sky Conference football title, according to polls of coaches and media members that cover the league. Montana is ranked second and Montana State third in the preseason polls, which were released Tuesday during the league's summer meetings in Park City, Utah.