News you can use
News you can use
Sorted by date Results 1182 - 1206 of 2820
MISSOULA (AP) — A 46-year-old Arizona man has been returned to Montana to face charges he raped a woman in Missoula in late 2003. Kenneth Edward Whatley is charged with sexual intercourse without consent. He was being held in the Missoula County jail with bail set at $250,000 and was to appear in Justice Court Monday afternoon. According to jail records, Whatley was returned to Montana on Sunday night. Court records say Whatley is suspected of breaking into a house on Dec. 5, 2003 and raping a woman. The State Crime Lab n...
HELENA (AP) — Montana lawmakers on Monday looked at a proposal that would require cities to help enforce anti-immigration laws, which supporters argue is necessary to prevent what has happened in other states. The measure from Republican David Howard of Park City would prohibit cities from establishing policies that they won't enforce illegal immigration. He told the House Judiciary Committee on Monday that House Bill 50 ensures local governments will enforce federal law. Howard said that cities elsewhere have made it a p...
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...
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) — Flu outbreaks are spreading across Montana, with one death reported and 57 people hospitalized so far, a state health official said Friday. Influenza cases have been reported in all but 18 of Montana's 56 counties, and the number of cases is expected to increase for at least a few more weeks, said Department of Public Health and Human Services spokesman Jon Ebelt. "It does seem to be shaping up to be our worst flu season since 2009," he said. Montana is one of 47 states where flu is considered widespread, in w...
MISSOULA (AP) — A judge has sentenced a former University of Montana football player to 30 years in prison with 20 years suspended for raping a female friend in his apartment. Beau Donaldson pleaded guilty in September to sexual intercourse without consent after admitting to the 2010 rape in a phone call monitored by police. The Missoulian reports (http://bit.ly/13oJ5YG ) Donaldson began to cry as District Judge Karen Townsend handed down the maximum sentence sought by the prosecution. He will be eligible for parole after 2...
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...
0MISSOULA (AP) — A parolee suspected of running over a Missoula police officer who was trying to arrest her is being held under guard in the hospital where she is being treated for a gunshot wound, the Missoula County sheriff's office said Tuesday. Dawnette Eaton, 47, was shot when Lt. Rich Stepper fired at her car after she backed over another police officer, Deni Poling, on Monday night at a fast-food restaurant and dragged Poling under the vehicle, police said. Poling's injuries included a fractured hip, fractured leg and...
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...
BILLINGS (AP) — A standoff ended with the death of a handcuffed burglary suspect who hit a Montana police officer with his own patrol car before the officer opened fire, authorities said. The 29-year-old man was in the back seat of the idling patrol car Sunday afternoon when he somehow climbed into the front seat and started driving, police said. "The suspect was able to slip out of his handcuffs or get them in front of his body, climb over the caged partition and into the driver's seat," Billings Police Chief Rich St. J...
HELENA — Steve Bullock says he is "incredibly humbled" to take office as the state's 24th governor. The former attorney general was sworn in Monday with his lieutenant governor, former National Guard commander John Walsh. Bullock replaces outgoing Gov. Brian Schweitzer. Both are Democrats. The 46-year-old governor says he plans to build on Schweitzer's legacy improving schools and the economy. But Bullock also says he plans to improve relationships with Republican legislative leaders taking office Monday to start work on t...
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...
HELENA — Lawmakers filled the Capitol building this week, marking the beginning of Montana's 63rd Legislature. The 90-day session convenes under a new governor, Democrat Steve Bullock, who previously served as Montana's attorney general. Republicans control both houses of the Legislature – leaving the legislative and executive branches split between the parties, just as it was in 2011. GOP lawmakers outnumber Democrats 29-21 in the Senate and 61-39 in the House. Photo by Amy Sisk The Montana State Capitol will be the sce...
State Sen,. Greg Jergeson, D-Chinook, voted for the measure to severely restrict use of drones. Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, voted no. HELENA — Lawmakers in at least 11 states are looking at plans to restrict the use of drones over their skies amid concerns the unmanned aerial vehicles could be exploited to spy on Americans. The American Civil Liberties Union says state legislators are proposing various restrictions on local authorities' use of the technology. Concerns mounted after the Federal Aviation A...
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...
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....
