News you can use
News you can use
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A smile radiated from Sarah Laszloffy's face as she recited the oath of office on the floor of the Montana House of Representatives. At only 21 years of age, she became the youngest member of Montana's 63rd Legislature. "It was surreal," said the new Republican lawmaker from Laurel. "It's really humbling, and I can't believe that it's actually happening." Photo by Jacob Baynham/Community News Service, UM School of Journalism. Sara Laszloffy stands in hte Montana House on her first day in office. Laszloffy isn't the only...
BOZEMAN (AP) — Montana State University officials have approved a new policy expanding the ability of employees to donate unused sick leave to include women who miss work due to pregnancy. The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports (http://bit.ly/UNM2Oo) that the 40 or so Montana State leaders who make up the University Council on Wednesday unanimously approved the new policy. The previous policy said sick leave could be donated to colleagues with longer illnesses or a colleague caring for immediate family members, but not for p...
BILLINGS — An autopsy has confirmed a police officer's gunshot killed a 32-year-old Billings man who authorities say was reaching for a BB gun during a confrontation. Yellowstone County Deputy County Coroner Chad Fehr said Tuesday that Jason Shaw died of a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Police say the shot was fired by Officer Grant Morrison. Morrison confronted a combative Shaw in a residential neighborhood early Monday. He attempted to subdue Shaw with a stun gun but failed, then fired a single round after Shaw allegedly r...
HELENA — A commission drawing up new legislative districts rejected requests for changes from Republican legislative leaders, but did adopt a small bipartisan request. The panel wrapped up nearly three years' worth of work Tuesday with a split vote on the final plan. The commission drew 100 new state House and 50 new state Senate districts to align with 2010 population numbers. Commission Chairman Jim Regnier backed one last-minute change requested by a group of bipartisan lawmakers. It ensures that a Republican senator l...
From the Hi-Line delegation, Rep. Kris Hansen, R-Havre, voted yes. Rep. Wendy Warburton, R-Chinook, was excused. Rep. Clarena Brockie, D-Harlem, voted no. HELENA (AP) — The House unexpectedly flipped on a Republican proposal to bring charter schools to Montana. The chamber shot the measure down 50-49 on a vote Tuesday needed to advance it to the Senate — just a day after endorsing it in an initial vote. A Republican leader backing the measure said he was surprised that some in his caucus switched their votes, and was unc...
HELENA — Montana lawmakers said Friday they expect to seek changes to a recently completed plan to redraw the state's legislative map. The Districting and Apportionment Commission is submitting the proposal to the Legislature for comment. The proposal was nearly three years in the making, and crafts 100 new state House and 50 new state Senate districts to align with 2010 population numbers. The plan is set to take effect for the 2014 election. Commission Chairman Jim Regnier told a joint session of the House and Senate t...
HELENA(AP) — Republican-led legislative budget panels are axing the standard inflationary increases normally used as a starting point for spending bills. The joint appropriations committees were instead voting Friday to start all agency budgets at 2012 levels. Critics argue the move doesn't ensure there will be enough money to pay for current programs authorized by law. House Speaker Mark Blasdel of Somers says it will be better for lawmakers to determine how much is needed rather than relying on automatic predictions. B...
HELENA — U.S. Sen. Max Baucus is announcing priorities that include more help for jobless veterans, energy development and renewed focus on fixing the nation's debt. AP Photo/The Independent Record, Dylan Brown U.S. Sen. Max Baucus addresses the Montana Legislature Thursday afternoon,in the House Chambers in Helena. Baucus also says his New Year's resolution is to bring the troops home from Afghanistan after 11 years fighting in that country. Baucus spoke to the Montana Legislature on Thursday. The state's senior senator i...
MILES CITY, Mont. (AP) — A physician is seeking $22 million in damages after Holy Rosary Healthcare in Miles City revoked his medical staff privileges in December 2009. The Miles City Star reports (http://bit.ly/NHrDV3 ) Dr. J. Randall Rauh is suing for breach of contract, unlawful restraint of trade and interference with the physician/patient relationship. The hospital argues Rauh didn't exhaust his remedies under medical staff bylaws before suing. A jury trial is set for June 10. Rauh is an obstetrician and gynecologist w...
BILLINGS (AP) — A Billings woman whose husband was shot while apparently trying to flee the scene of a weekend standoff in a police car has been charged with burglary. Heather Lynn Brawley, 25, made an initial appearance Tuesday in Justice Court, where her bail was set at $10,000. Justice of the Peace Larry Herman ordered her to appear for arraignment in District Court on Jan. 17. Brawley and her husband were taken into custody Sunday on suspicion of breaking into a house and were placed in separate patrol cars. Daniel Brawle...
HELENA (AP) — A power struggle that has splintered the Blackfeet Indians' governing council and divided the tribe is moving beyond the reservation's boundaries. The intra-tribal political feud has been escalating for nearly a year, leading to the dismissal or suspension of several members of the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council and leaving just five of its nine members to make decisions for the governing body. The division has led to accusations of corruption by supporters of both factions and street protests outside t...
HELENA (AP) — Gov. Steve Bullock's proposed $500 million spending increase in his state budget plan could be a key issue for Republican legislative leaders. AP Photo Gov,. Steve Bullock at his innaugural ceremonies Monday. The Legislature's budget committees heard a presentation Wednesday on the budget. Bullock's plan modifies the original proposal from former Gov. Brian Schweitzer. Republican Sen. Dave Lewis of Helena says he thinks the requested spending increases over the two-year budget period are the largest in recent d...
HELENA (AP) — Just weeks after a University of Montana student claimed she was raped by the quarterback of the football team, the coach enthusiastically welcomed him back to spring drills and lauded his "character and tremendous moral fiber." The woman's lawyer, Josh Van de Wetering, quickly complained to the athletic department that the comment left his client "less than confident in the university's commitment to protect her." Since then, the case has played out against a backdrop of NCAA and federal investigations of t...
HELENA (AP) — An advocacy group told a judge Thursday that a new voter-approved law unconstitutionally requires state agencies to determine who is an illegal immigrant and turn them over to federal authorities. The plaintiffs led by the Montana Immigrant Justice Alliance asked District Judge Jeffrey Sherlock to block the law, which requires proof of citizenship or legal standing from any applicant for state services, such as unemployment benefits and assistance for crime victims. The law, which was approved by nearly 80 p...
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — The Texas prosecutor who brokered a 10-year probationary sentence for former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf said Tuesday he is working on a plea deal that would allow the Montana native to serve his sentence in his home state. Randall County District Attorney James Farren said he'll seek a seven-year sentence against Leaf for violating terms of his probation when he was arrested for drug possession in Montana last year. A Texas judge would have to approve the deal. "He would never have to come back here, w...
HELENA (AP) — Former state Sen. Corey Stapleton says he will challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Max Baucus in 2014. The Billings Republican announced his intention to run in a video on his website, www.coreystapleton.com . He says in the video that if elected, he will work to balance the budget and solve the nation's financial problems. Stapleton lost a bruising Republican primary for governor last year that was won by former U.S. Rep. Rick Hill. Hill went on to lose the general election against Democrat Steve Bullock. R...
HELENA (AP) — A new voter-approved Montana law that requires an individual to provide proof of citizenship to receive state services does not apply to the university system, an associate commissioner for higher education said Wednesday. The state constitution gives the Board of Regents exclusive authority to manage and control the university system, including setting policies and regulations, Kevin McRae said. The new law that requires proof of citizenship or legal residency for services infringes on that constitutional a...
KALISPELL (AP) — A 40-year-old Kalispell man who authorities say used his cellphone to record video of two girls taking showers has pleaded not guilty to two counts of felony sexual assault of children. The Daily Inter Lake reports (http://bit.ly/11ingwF) that Jeff Evinrude made the plea Thursday in Flathead District Court. Police say that Evinrude on May 13, 2012, hid his cellphone in a towel on the bathroom floor to record a 12-year-old girl taking a shower. Police say the 12-year-old spotted the phone and discovered it h...
BILLINGS (AP) — A Billings woman who pleaded guilty to running a kickback scheme to get military employees to order office supplies from her businesses at inflated prices has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison. The Billings Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/WyIl1l ) 32-year-old Ashley Ann Lamere was sentenced on Jan. 28 by U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull for wire fraud and bribery. Prosecutors said Lamere used the promise of bribes and gifts to get military employees to order office supplies between 2...
BILLINGS (AP) — A 21-year-old Lame Deer Man who apologized on Facebook for raping a woman has been sentenced to seven years in prison. The U.S. Attorney's Office says Jalen Jeremy Larance was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull in Billings. Larance earlier pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual abuse. Prosecutors argued in late August or early September of 2011 Larance went to the house where the woman was staying in Lame Deer to check his Facebook account on her computer. Prosecutors say he was i...
HELENA — A state senator and businessman from Conrad known as a legislative dealmaker is gathering bipartisan support for an education overhaul that would increase money for state schools — and cut property taxes. Republican state Sen. Llew Jones has long been known as a pragmatic policy wonk far more inclined to delve into complex financials than grandstand on hot-button political issues. For two years he has been turning that expertise into a one-man mission to travel the state and gather school district support for a revam...
HELENA — In the half-hour before Steve Bullock delivered his first major speech as governor of Montana, chatter filled the House chamber as legislators, state officials and members of the media speculated about what he would say. Bullock spent much of his first State of the State address discussing education. He promised to focus on job training in Montana schools, which coincides with his plan to put 2,500 people to work on construction projects at colleges and universities around the state. He again called on the L...
MISSOULA (AP) — A federal judge sentenced a medical marijuana provider on Friday to five years in prison under a plea agreement struck with federal prosecutors after a jury convicted him at trial. Chris Williams' sentencing in Missoula wraps up the prosecution of four co-owners of Montana Cannabis, one of the largest medical marijuana operations caught up in a federal crackdown that culminated with raids on more than two dozen homes and businesses in the state in 2011. U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen accepted the r...
HELENA (AP) — A Montana man whose tearful reluctance to rob a pizza restaurant earned him free food apparently made up the sob story that gained him the clerk's sympathy. David Randall Lacey, 35, entered a Papa John's pizza restaurant on Jan. 22 with a bandanna over his face and gave the clerk a note demanding money, Helena police said. He broke down crying and told the clerk he needed the money to support his wife and children, who were hungry. The clerk made him a large pepperoni pizza and some chicken wings as he waited, a...
HELENA (AP) — Kenton Hickethier has been sworn in to lead the Montana Highway Patrol. The Independent Record reports (http://bit.ly/Tqz7UT) that the 28-year veteran of the highway patrol was sworn in Friday in Helena. Hickethier will lead the largest law enforcement agency in the state with 224 troopers and 297 employees in all. Hickethier replaces Col. Mike Tooley, who has agreed to run the Department of Transportation....
