Mike Judge has been named interim Public Works Director of Great Falls while the city completes its search for a permanent replacement and he assumed his roll April 1st. The position became vacant after the former director Jim Rearden retired after 33 years of service. His last day was March 31st.
Flooding Concerns Along Missouri River
Flooding last year along much of the Missouri River’s 2,300 miles battered the river’s levee system, flooding towns and farmland and causing multiple closures to the nation’s interstate highway system. The forecast this year isn’t much better. The Missouri begins in southwestern Montana where the Gallatin, Madison, and Jefferson rivers converg...
Billings – Planning Department Moves to Online Services Sooner Than Planned
With building season ramping up the Billings planning department is finding alternative ways to issue permits. The department had been in the process of moving to a more online based system for its services before COVID-19 hit. Now it’s forced to move those plans along a little faster.
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...
With 40 Positive COVID-19 Cases In Yellowstone County Commissioner Pitman Comments On Getting Masks
With 40 positive cases of COVID-19 in Yellowstone County Commissioner Denis Pitman says the search for medical supplies including masks is an ongoing effort. https://northernbroadcasting.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Untitled-30.mp3
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.