GREAT FALLS – A Helena woman who admitted to helping bring pounds of methamphetamine from Las Vegas, to Montana for distribution was sentenced this week. A judge ordered Rhonda Jeanette Lapier, also known as Rhonda Trench to five years and six months in prison. The 49 year old pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges last … Read more
Montana has become one of the happiest places to live. While it doesn’t rank as the happiest, the treasure state did make the Top 10, coming in at number 8 on the list according to a mattress company survey. While Montana exceeded in the rankings of education, work/life balance, and housing the state missed the … Read more
BILLINGS – The Signal Peak coal mine near Roundup was ordered to pay a $1 million fine on Monday for repeartedly violating health and safety standards. The fine was part of a plea agreement between federal prosecutors and mine officials after it was discovered senior mine managers directed employees to illegally dispose of mine waste … Read more
For the last two years, Helena Public Schools teachers have been hard at work, supporting students through the COVID-19 pandemic. The district has also made an investment in support for the teachers themselves, by bringing in more instructional coaches. There are now 19 instructional coaches working in the district, according to a Wednesday release to … Read more
Despite climbing COVID cases, the state has not changed how it promotes vaccinations or implemented any widespread public health measures. According to reports, the omicron variant is being blamed for fueling a surge in new cases across Montana, and has pushed deaths in Montana past 3,000 lives lost to COVID-19. -0-
Margaret Stuart Youth Home in Helena has received a $35,000 ARPA grant from Lewis and Clark County Commissioners. Officials say they plan on using the federal funding to expand the facility which provides short-term crisis intervention placements and longer-term group care for children 10 to 18 years old. The nearly 6,000 foot home has seven … Read more
Margaret Stuart Youth Home in Helena has received a $35,000 ARPA grant from Lewis and Clark County Commissioners. Officials say they plan on using the federal funding to expand the facility which provides short-term crisis intervention placements and longer-term group care for children 10 to 18 years old. The nearly 6,000 foot home has seven … Read more
HELENA – An expanded state income-tax credit for donations to private-schools hit its $1 million cap for the 2022 tax year in less than three weeks into the year. The donations went to seven nonprofit student-scholarship organizations several of which were religious based. Last year, Republicans increased the maximum per-person public schools, with Democratic lawmakers … Read more
GREAT FALLS – No criminal charges will be filed in the death of an 8-year old Great Falls boy. The Cascade County Attorney’s office said on Monday that an autopsy shows Lawrence “Wubby” Mathew Lee Brasda in Great Falls died due to medical issues and the child’s death was not criminal. Police found Brasda dead … Read more
Lewis and Clark County County Commissioners remain hesitant to join the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority. The authority hopes to restore passenger rail service in the southern half of Montana, but in a recent meeting commissioners said without a clear picture of how much it will cost, and an exit strategy for counties to leave … Read more