Northern News Network Headlines

Fentanyl Deaths Rapidly Increasing Across Montana

New numbers received from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services show an upward trend of fentanyl-related overdose deaths in Montana. The number for this year only include the first half of the year through June 30th. With that said the percentage of fentanyl-involved overdoses jumped from 13.3% in 2018 to 48.1% in 2021. h...

Warm Springs Hospital Reporting Large Number Of Employee Vacancies

The state hospital in Warm Springs which serves 239 patients should employ 524 full-time personnel but approximately 40% of those positions are currently vacant. State lawmakers have received multiple concerns from staff members and they in turn took the matter up with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. It put out a re...

Three Teens Arrested For Starting Gibson Flats Fire

Three teenagers have been charged with arson connected to the Gibson Flats Fire in Great Falls last week. KMON’s Pat Frisch first reported the story and said the initial investigation quickly led to these three suspects. https://northernbroadcasting.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/12-08_1137-1.mp3

Federally Contracted Montana Business Discusses Potential Vaccine Mandate

Tuesday a federal judge blocked President Biden’s vaccine mandate for federal contractors from taking effect nationwide. Todd Donahue is the owner of the contracted Homestead Helicopters which has a federal contract to support Montana’s wildfire fighting efforts and he says this mandate would have made a difficult job even tougher. https://nor...

Report Finds Increase In Adult Obesity In Montana

The United Health Foundation’s 2021 America’s Health Rankings Annual Report finds Montana has had a 13% increase in obesity to 28.5% of adults between 2017 and 2020. Between 2019 and 2020 there was a 7% increase in flu vaccinations among Montana adults to 46.1%. Between 2015 to 2017 and 2018 to 2020, Montana had a 19% decrease in air pol...

State Legislators Meet To Discuss Election Committee

Republican state lawmakers Senator Theresa Manzella of Stevensville and Representative Brad Tschida of Missoula spoke to Montana’s Legislative Council this week to reiterate an appeal made earlier this fall for the formation of a special legislative committee to investigate alleged irregularities in Montana’s 2020 election. The council did not...