The temporary head of the Bureau of Land Management will continue as acting director through May 5th. William Perry Pendley has carried out the director’s duties since last summer. The agency has not had a permanent director under the Trump Administration.
Butte – Resident Cited for Not Adhering to Governors Directive
Butte Police Officers responded to a residence Sunday where approximately 15 people were gathered at a house party. The tenant had been warned twice before that having large gatherings were in violation of the Governor’s stay at home order and not congregate in large groups. The unidentified Butte resident was cited for not adhering to the dir...
Missoula – County Health to Open Drive-Through Testing Center
The Missoula City-County Health Department plans to open a drive-through testing center at the Missoula County Fairgrounds today and will accept patients through this Thursday. The goal is to offer service at least from Monday through Friday next week. The center will not provide on-demand testing but rather only if a nurse determines one is ...
Kalispell – City Council Declares State of Emergency
Monday evening the Kalispell City Council declared a state of emergency for the city due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The overall guiding reason for the declaration was to access funding to address the outbreak if necessary. The meeting was held via online video conferencing.
Billings – Glimmer of Good News
Yellowstone County’s public health officer told the Billings City Council Monday evening the closure of dining areas bars and casinos and the state order to stay inside appear to be making a difference in the fight against COVID-19. John Felton said there’s evidence we’re getting good results and have successfully pushed down the curve. It wa...
Keystone Pipeline Construction Underway in Montana
TC Energy said Monday it has started construction across the U.S. – Canada border on the Keystone XL oil pipeline at a border crossing in northern Montana. A hearing on a request to block the Canadian company’s work is scheduled for April 16th before U.S. District Judge Brian Morris in Great Falls.
Billings – Virtual Art Walk Drew a Crowd
Montana’s stay at home order forced the cancellation of the Billings Art Walk but some of the art can be seen online. Stapleton Gallery in downtown Billings put a virtual art walk on its website. According to Gallery Owner Jeremiah Young the virtual tour drew more than the few hundred that would visit on a normal art walk night. Young said he ...
Fatal Crash North of Columbus
One man is dead and two others injured after a rollover crash north of Columbus, MT Sunday afternoon. The accident occured on a gravel section of Big Timber Road just west of Rapelje. The vehicle lost control and rolled several times before coming to a stop. Speed and alcohol are suspected factors in the crash.
Senator Tester Urges Perdue to Provide Flexibility to Farm Service Loans
Senator Jon Tester today sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. He is urging the Trump Administration to grant farmers more flexibility in their Farm Service Agency loans in order to ensure the continuity of the country’s food supply and support rural areas during the coronavirus pandemic by providing critical relief to produc...
Whitefish – City Council Prohibits Lodging Reservations
Whitefish City Council passed an emergency ordinance prohibiting motels, hotels, short-term rentals, and other lodging facilities from accepting reservations or walk-ins for non-essential purposes during the COVID-19 emergency for stays through April 30th. Violation of the ordinance may result in revocation of the business license issued by th...