News you can use

Articles written by matt gouras, associated press writer


Sorted by date  Results 1 - 4 of 4

  • Judge grants Beach a new trial for 1979 crime

    MATT GOURAS, Associated Press Writer

    HELENA — There is enough evidence of innocence to order a new trial for a man who has spent nearly 30 years in prison for murder — but not enough proof yet to set Barry Beach free, a judge ruled. Beach told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Wednesday that the decision, subject to appeal to the Supreme Court, was a huge breakthrough "after 32 years of fighting the system." The case has gripped the small northeastern Montana town of Poplar since 17-year-old Kim Nees was killed in 1979 on a festive summer night at...

  • Breaking news: Senator wants border crossing closed

    MATT GOURAS, Associated Press Writer

    reaking news: enator wants border crossing closed MATT GOURAS,A ssociated Press Writer HELENA — An influential senator is recommending border officials scrap an $8.5 million stimulus-funded upgrade to a Montana-Saskatchewan border post and shut down the underused crossing. Sen. Jon Tester says the U.S. Customs and Border Protection should abandon the renovation because Canada plans to close their side in April and is not interested in sharing the new station. The Montana Democrat told The Associated Press Wednesday that it m...

  • Lawmakers see smaller shortfall as session nears

    MATT GOURAS, Associated Press Writer

    Lawmakers see smaller shortfall as session nears MATT GOURAS, Associated Press Writer HELENA (AP) — Lawmakers learned Friday that there will likely be enough money left over from this budget year to help ease a projected shortfall for the next budget period, setting up an argument on whether such a move is wise. Projections given to the Legislative Finance Committee show that if tax collections don't improve dramatically, and if state spending increases just to cover inflation, there could be a $368 million budget s...

  • Farmer Jon: U.S. Sen. spends weekends plowing fields

    MATT GOURAS, Associated Press Writer

    This image provided by the office of U.S. Sen. Jon Tester shows Tester taking a break Aug. 20, 2010 from harvesting wheat on his 1,800 acre grain farm in Big Sandy that has been in the family almost 100 years. AP Photo/office of U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, Andrea Helling This image provided by the office of U.S. Sen. Jon Tester shows Tester, with his dog Jordan looking on, works on a piece of farm equipment Sept. 4 2009 at the 1,800 acre wheat farm in Big Sandy, Mont., that brings him home from Washington D.C. nearly weekend. He...