The Gifford Fire burning east of Santa Maria has exploded to nearly 50-thousand acres as of late Sunday. The fire along Highway 166 is said to be only around 3 percent contained at this time. Orders for immediate evacuation are in effect in multiple zones. Three people have been injured. The fast moving fire is … Read more
A young man is facing criminal charges of manslaughter after a deadly crash in rural Nipomo on Sunday. CHP says 20 year old Dylan River Lossing, of Orcutt, was headed south on Highway 101 near Highway 166 when he sideswiped a pickup truck, causing the truck to careen into oncoming lanes. CHP has not identified … Read more
Hele Public schools leaders are giving the green light to a plan to lease property to St. Peter’s Health and Queen City Football Club. Superintendwent Rex Weltz had recommended the board lease land that the hospital is already using at the former Ray Bjork Learning Center. The hospital runs it’s Pete’s Place employee childcare out … Read more
HELENA – Helena commissioners discussed the need for a third city fire station. The Helena Fire Departments Master Plan proposes the addition of a third fire station and remote training facility, and during their August administrative meeting commissioners reviewed the infrastructure and potential location of a third fire station as a building. The fire chief … Read more
MISSOULA – A sextortion scam that resulted in a Missoula teen’s death has local law enforcement on high alert. The scam tricks teens into sharing naked photos with someone they believe they’re in an online relationship with, and then the scammers threaten to post those photos unless they get money. Waylon Scheffer, 16, of Missoula, … Read more
GREAT FALLS – Great Falls Fire Rescue will be upgrading four of their stations. Great Falls Fire Chief Jeremy Jones said about $2.9 million allocated through federal ARPA funds will be used to replace the 53 year old stations core services, such as HVAC, plumbing, and electric which have “really gone downhill.” GFFR also received … Read more
The Continental Divide Trail between Flesher Pass and Rogers Pass has been closed until Rogers Pass fire activity subsides, the U.S. Forest Service said Friday. The lightning sparked Rogers Pass fire has been burning just southeast of Lincoln since Aug. 1. Lincoln District Rangers said the trail was closed for public safety and hikers and … Read more
The Helena City Commission is mulling a potential increase to Capital Transit fares that could amount to a more than 250% rate hike. According to Helena Transportation Systems Department leadership, the rate, which currently sits at 85 cents, has not been adjusted since 1979. The city has also considered expanding the service into adjacent areas … Read more
Overcrowding at the largest jail in Montana has forced the facility’s commanders to turn away hundreds of people arrested in Billings over the past year. The Billings Police Department says Billings has outgrown its jail and noted that has been exacerbated by a staff shortage at YCDF. BPD officers have now been “forced to transition … Read more
Two more candidates have announced campaigns to be the state’s top superintendent of public schools. There are now two Republicans and one Democrat in the race. State Sen. Shannon O’Brien, a Democrat from Missoula, and Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction Sharyl Allen, a Republican in Helena, are running for the open job to lead the … Read more