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VA Tests Behavioral Health Program In Montana


By Corin Cates-Carney on Sep 06, 2019 06:52 pm

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is testing a new program in Montana aimed at connecting rural veterans in a behavioral health crisis to care. According to the state health department, veterans account for more than one out of every five suicide deaths in the state.

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Cool Weather Calms McClusky Fire


By Edward O'Brien on Sep 06, 2019 06:38 pm

Significantly cooler weather is helping fire crews battling a 2,900 acre wildfire burning east of Butte. Hot, dry and windy weather spurred the McClusky Fire to nearly triple in size earlier this week. But fire spokesperson Kristin Sleeper describes the McClusky Fire’s growth and behavior over the past 24-hours as minimal

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USFWS Releases National Bison Range Management Plan


By Aaron Bolton on Sep 05, 2019 05:55 pm

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the release of the first Comprehensive Conservation Plan for the National Bison Range on the Flathead Indian Reservation today. It comes after two years of public comments. The Plan is now in its final stages. On Friday, it will be published in the Federal Register, opening the last comment period for the document.

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Montana Sees Influx Of Pertussis Cases Compared To Last Year


By Edward O'Brien on Sep 05, 2019 05:50 pm

Montana now has 12 times as many confirmed pertussis cases than at this time last year. That’s according to the latest state Health Department report showing there are more than 440 reported pertussis – or whooping cough – cases in Montana. That compares to 37 cases at this time last year.

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McClusky Fire Near Butte Swells Under Red Flag Weather


By Kevin Trevellyan on Sep 05, 2019 05:29 pm

Yesterday’s hot, windy red flag weather spurred the McClusky Fire east of Butte to nearly triple in size. Fire team spokesperson Kristin Sleeper says today’s weather has been more forgiving. But the 2,887-acre blaze in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest is expected to continue growing into the evening. Firefighters are keeping track of further weather changes tonight heading into tomorrow, including potential gusty winds. “Wind directions are obviously a big concern. But any change in weather is important as it relates to fire behavior and planned operational activity," she says. Despite the wind, wet thunderstorms forecast tomorrow and Sunday should give firefighters a break. A tenth- to a quarter-inch of rain is expected tomorrow. Sleeper says 85 people are working the lightning-caused fire, which was first reported August 16th. There are also eight engines, a water tender and a helicopter, with more personnel on the way. Sleeper says rugged, snag-filled terrain makes the fire

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Montana's Outdoors: Good For...Software Developers?


By Eric Whitney on Sep 04, 2019 11:12 pm

Groups promoting the economic value of public lands in Montana held their third annual Last Best Outdoors Fest event to get their message out in Missoula yesterday. The event brought bands, beer and information booths to Caras Park downtown, and a panel of business leaders to speak at the Wilma theatre. "We aren’t just a place you can come visit, but we’re a place that you can come make a living," said Evan Tipton, who was on the panel. Tipton is the founder and CEO of TOMIS, a Missoula based digital marketing agency for tour operators. Tipton said the value of Montana’s outdoor amenities goes beyond attracting tourists, it makes it possible for companies here to attract top talent away from bigger markets, like Silicon Valley, which he competes with for employees. He says there’s great ROI - return on investment - on having an environment where business can attract talented people and grow. "Fifty percent of our employees are UM graduates," Tipton said, "so it really is bringing new

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Missing Endangered Person Alert For Tabitha Gopher


By MTPR News on Sep 04, 2019 08:04 pm

Update: 8 p.m., Sept. 4, 2019 The Missing and Endangered Person Advisory for Tabitha Gopher has been canceled. Tabitha was located and is safe, according to the Rocky Boy Police Department. -- If you have any information on Tabitha Gopher, please contact: Rocky Boy Police Department (406) 395-4513 or call 9-1-1 Help Find Montana’s Missing - Montana Missing Persons Clearinghouse (406) 444-2800 www.dojmt.gov/missing-persons

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Montana Works Toward Unified Medical Records Database


By Corin Cates-Carney on Sep 04, 2019 06:59 pm

A virtual network of patient medical records is under construction by state officials and a newly formed organization in Montana’s health care industry. Gov. Steve Bullock announced Wednesday that $19 million in federal funding is backing the developing information exchange. Big Sky Care Connect is Montana’s latest attempt to link health care providers so they can more efficiently share patient medical information.

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Fall Weather Headed To Western Montana This Weekend


By Edward O'Brien on Sep 04, 2019 05:17 pm

Enjoying these hot, late-summer days? If so, soak it in while you can. Fall-like weather is fast approaching.

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Bitterroot Prescribed Burns Begin Saturday


By Kevin Trevellyan on Sep 04, 2019 05:00 pm

Fall is here, and the Bitterroot National Forest’s first seasonal prescribed burns could begin Saturday in the Lake Como/Lost Horse area. The planned blazes allow managers to remove excess forest fuels and downed timber. Though few relish the smoke, Bitterroot Forest spokesman Tod McKay said prescribed burns are critical in preparing for the next fire season.

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Red Flag Warning For Most Of Montana


By Kay Erickson on Sep 04, 2019 04:51 pm

Large swaths of Montana and Wyoming are facing critical fire danger today.

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EPA Opens Comment Period On Proposed Anaconda Superfund Changes


By Nora Saks on Sep 04, 2019 04:28 pm

Wednesday the EPA released the changes it wants to make to the existing 1998 legal cleanup plan for a 170 square mile portion of the Anaconda Smelter Superfund site. The proposed changes are aimed at better protecting creeks from contaminated runoff and erosion.

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Burning Coal Seams Ignite Fires On Northern Cheyenne Reservation


By Olivia Reingold on Sep 04, 2019 03:52 pm

Burning Coal Seams Ignite Fires On Northern Cheyenne Reservation Fire crews on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation have counted 80-plus coal seam fires. This season, some are new and have caused grass fires, while others date back decades.

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"Long Streets Project" Looks At Montana Jobs, Nativity Through Data Journalism


By Jess Sheldahl on Sep 04, 2019 03:51 pm

interview with Eric Dietrich A recent news article found that parts of Montana with more people who were not born in the state have higher job growth. Eric Dietrich wrote the story for Montana Free Press as one of the state’s only data reporters. He spoke with YPR News' Jess Sheldahl about how he takes data and turns it into stories for the Long Streets Project .

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Fewer U.S. Households Are Going Hungry. But Cuts In Food Aid Loom


By Pam Fessler on Sep 04, 2019 01:20 pm

Millions of families in the U.S. struggled to get enough food to eat last year, but conditions appear to be getting better as the economy improves. In a new report released Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says that about 11 percent of households — just over 14 million — had trouble putting enough food on the table last year and that in about 4 percent of households, someone went hungry because there was not enough money to buy food. While the numbers are high, they have steadily dropped in recent years and the government says that the level of what it calls food "insecurity" is finally back to where it was before the Great Recession began in 2007. "That's good news," says Rachel Merker of First Focus, a group that advocates for children and families. But she and other anti-hunger advocates worry that the new numbers will be used to justify cuts in government aid. They say that hunger is still a problem, especially among certain vulnerable groups. "It's important to note

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The Other Twitterverse: Squirrels Eavesdrop On Birds, Researchers Say


By Nell Greenfieldboyce on Sep 04, 2019 12:39 pm

Squirrels eavesdrop on the casual chitchat of birds to figure out when it's safe enough to be out in the open and foraging for food. Researchers have found that a squirrel becomes incredibly vigilant when it hears the shriek of a red-tailed hawk, but it will relax and resume its food-seeking behavior more quickly if the predator's call is immediately followed by the easygoing tweets of unconcerned birds. The findings, described in the journal PLOS One , add to a growing body of research that animals take advantage of all available "public information" when trying to assess threats in their environment. "Lots of animals listen in on the alarm calls of other species," says Keith Tarvin , a behavioral ecologist at Oberlin College in Ohio. "This has been found in a variety of squirrels — ground squirrels, tree squirrels. It's been found in monkeys. It's been found even in lizards." While other researchers have focused on how animals tune into other species for warnings of danger, his team

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Man Dies In Officer-Involved Shooting In Missoula


By Associated Press on Sep 03, 2019 06:17 pm

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — A 35-year-old man was shot and killed by Missoula police officers responding to a report of possible drug activity.

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Man Dies In Glacier Park From Apparent Heart Attack


By MTPR News on Sep 03, 2019 06:13 pm

A Whitefish man died inside Glacier National Park Monday, apparently due to a heart attack. A Park press release says that at 3 p.m. Monday rangers responded to a 911 call for an unconscious man just west of Lake MacDonald Lodge, he was a passenger in a car on Going-to-the-Sun Road.

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Montana Wool Growers Want More Funding For Livestock Depredation Investigations


By Aaron Bolton on Sep 03, 2019 06:08 pm

U.S. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt canceled a planned visit to Montana this week. Bernhardt had planned to meet with Montana ranchers and farmers about grizzly bear conflicts along the Rocky Mountain Front as part of his visit.

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Montana Counties Share $750,000 For Election Upgrades


By MTPR News on Sep 03, 2019 05:46 pm

The Montana Secretary of State's Office has decided how to distribute $750,000 in federal grant money to upgrade voting equipment across the state's 56 counties. A statement by Secretary Corey Stapleton Tuesday shows the amount of each sub-grant will range from $3,500 for the smallest counties to nearly $46,000 for Missoula County. The money is matched by an equal amount contributed by the counties.

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