Author: Brian Bennett

Reduced Hours Along Northern Border in Effect

As of today due to a significant reduction in privately owned vehicle and pedestrian traffic along the northern border.  U.S. Customs and Border Protection has temporarily reduced the hours of operation at six ports of entry in Montana. The reduced hours will remain in place until April 30th or until the Trump administration lifts current trav...

DPPHS Concerned About Decrease in Child Abuse Calls

Department of Public Health and Human Services officials are concerned about a sharp decrease in the number of calls to the child abuse and neglect hotline in the past several weeks related to the current COVID-19 emergency. From March 8th through the 14th the week prior to the required closure of public schools a total of 765 calls a week wer...

Butte – 6 Accidental Heroin Overdoses

Police, Firefighters, and A1 ambulances in Butte have responded to at least six medical emergencies involving people who have accidentally overdosed on heroin in the past few days and one overdose is believed to have resulted in a death. The heroin is apparently much more potent than usual and might also contain the drug Fentanyl.

Lake County Death Under Investigation

Lake County Sheriff’s deputy Ross Holcomb of Ronan was found dead in his home Saturday according to Lake County Sheriff Donald Bell in a press release issued Sunday. The Missoula County Coroner’s Office is investigating the death.  A preliminary investigation indicates suicide. Ross served the Lake County Sheriff’s Office since June 2017. He w...

Billings – Building Permits Up

In March, the City of Billings issued 554 building permits worth a total of $21,436,788 in construction value. According to the Big Sky Journal that brought the year to date number to 1028 compared to 252 last year. Last March 118 permits were issued.

Bozeman – Library Adds to Virtual Services

The Bozeman Public Library is adding to its virtual services online after being temporarily physically closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The library has also extended the due date for materials checked out before the shutdown to May 31st and it may be extended further.

Billings Business Mountain Mudd Expresso First State Recipient Of Paycheck Protection Program Funds

The nationwide rollout of the $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program is underway and the owner of Mountaina Mudd Espresso in Billings appears to be the first business owner in Montana to qualify meaning 50 employees will continue to get paid for the next eight weeks and the crew will likely stay intact after the coronavirus pandemic ends. Se...