Montana State

Belgrade, MT

Gallatin County, MT

Montana Free Press

BOZEMAN — The man law enforcement officials say is responsible for the long-unsolved death of 15-year-old Danielle Houchins at a popular fishing access site a few miles south of Belgrade nearly 28 years ago has been identified. Investigators, family members and other sources with direct knowledge of the details...

Gallatin County sheriff says 28-year-old cold case solved

Massachusetts State

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Dianna Carney

Sandy Paws Rescue Inc., a foster-based rescue in Massachusetts, has recently introduced a tiny six-pound dog named Alistair who is looking for his forever home. At only one year old, this little boy is a sweet dog who is thought to be a Maltese, "but we can’t make any guarantees that he would be suitable for those with allergies," explains the nonprofit animal rescue.

Meet The Tiny 6lb Dog Looking For Love

Great Falls, MT

After his Great Falls gun store was raided by IRS agents last summer, Tommy VanHoose said he felt he was targeted for political reasons due to the kinds of guns he sold. But according to charging documents made public by federal prosecutors Friday, the raid came after VanHoose spilled the beans to an undercover agent about under-reporting more than $1 million of income to the IRS. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Montana released a grand jury indictment charging VanHoose with five counts of submitting a false tax return.

Great Falls gun shop owner who drew national attention following IRS raid charged with tax fraud

Montana’s relatively modest 2024 fire season escalated quickly over the weekend with the rapid growth of the Remington Fire and an increase in fires across the state’s western half. The Remington Fire is burning over more than 100,000 acres in southeast Montana, threatening to single-handedly double the total...

Remington Fire grows into the largest fire of the season while blazes continue in western Montana

This excerpt is published by agreement with The Permissions Company, LLC on behalf of Milkweed Editions, milkweed.org. Copyright © 2024 by Chris La Tray. All rights reserved. It may not be republished without the express consent of The Permissions Company, LLC. Chris La Tray wil host book release events...

‘They were always here’

This story is excerpted from the MT Lowdown, a weekly newsletter digest containing original reporting and analysis published every Friday. As of Aug. 1, the Office of Public Instruction’s employment portal listed 853 active job postings for licensed public school positions in Montana. The postings include openings for teachers, counselors, administrators and paraprofessionals in school districts across Montana, and may capture some redundant listings or positions that have recently been filled.

Teacher head count comes up short again

This story is excerpted from the MT Lowdown, a weekly newsletter digest containing original reporting and analysis published every Friday. Over the last week, Montana’s rainy weather held off new fires and rapid growth of those already burning. Though a large number of personnel continue working to contain blazes across the state, no fires grew at a substantial pace.

The Montana Fire Report: Aug. 10–16

Maine State

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Sagadahoc County, ME

Lewiston, ME

The Maine Monitor

Editor’s note: This story contains references to suicide. When a bill to strengthen Maine’s yellow flag law went into effect earlier this month, Sagadahoc County Sheriff Joel Merry said he felt a sense of relief.

Law enforcement officers can now get a warrant to take someone into protective custody

This story is adapted from the MT Lowdown, a weekly newsletter digest containing original reporting and analysis published every Friday. The long-running, oft-litigated saga of the Arctic grayling population in the upper Missouri River basin took another step forward last week after a federal judge ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to take a closer look at grayling population dynamics in the Ruby River and consider what will happen to grayling in the Big Hole river if a voluntary conservation agreement there isn’t renewed.

Judge orders more analysis amid debate over threatened status for Upper Missouri grayling

Helena, MT

When families, hospitals and other nursing homes call Wes Thompson to see if he can take new patients, his instinct is to try and help. The senior care home he runs in Glasgow, Valley View Home, is licensed for 96 beds and includes a secure unit for patients with dementia. The walls are adorned with decorations and typed memos about patient safety. Residents walk the carpeted, air-conditioned halls or sit in small groups, chatting with staff or watching television.

How one rural nursing home keeps its doors open — and hopes to grow

The MT Lowdown is a weekly digest that showcases a more personal side of Montana Free Press’ high-quality reporting while keeping you up to speed on the biggest news impacting Montanans. Want to see the MT Lowdown in your inbox every Friday? Sign up here. Within two days of...

Health care in the middle of nowhere

Tennessee State

Wise River, MT

Brandi Bartscher bustled around the back room of H Bar J Saloon and Café, looking over long rows of paper bags for the last time that day. Over the last few hours, she and a small team of friends and family members had prepared and neatly organized 350 meals. It was Wednesday, which meant this was one of the last mass assemblies she would perform. She flitted back and forth between the backroom and bar, busy with the dual responsibilities of restaurant owner and dinner-bag organizer.

Feeding the firefighters

Florida State

Lake Panasoffkee, FL

Akeena

Catfish Johnny’s, a beloved seafood restaurant known for its fresh catches and lively atmosphere, faced a temporary shutdown following a state inspection. This popular dining destination, which has delighted locals and tourists alike for 33 years, was briefly closed after the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) flagged multiple violations.

Florida’s Favorite Seafood Spot Closed After State Inspection

“Great Falls This Week” is reported and written by Matt Hudson. Send your news and tips to mhudson@montanafreepress.org. Outsourced November election printing likely to cost more. Elections officials scrambled to find an alternative service earlier this year when the county printing office’s sole employee quit while the school district’s...

Costly closure of the county print shop

Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville Today

Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said he will consider more DUI patrols if voters legalize recreational marijuana use in Florida. Voters will consider Amendment 3 in November. It would allow adults 21 or older to possess, purchase or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical purposes.

More DUI patrols possible if marijuana issue passes

This story is published by agreement with the Associated Press. It may not be republished without the express permission of the Associated Press. At least 973 Native American children died in the U.S. government’s abusive boarding school system, according to the results of an investigation released Tuesday by officials who called on the government to apologize for the schools.

‘A forgotten history,’ remembered

Georgia State

Winder, GA

Daily Coffee Press

A 50-year-old former jailer has been charged by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) with cruelty to inmates and violation of oath of office. On Sunday, July 21, the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office requested the GBI to investigate an incident involving one of their jailers, Lolita Lightner of Winder, Georgia.

Former Jailer at Georgia County Jail Arrested

Sandy Paws Rescue Inc., a foster-based rescue in Massachusetts, has recently introduced a tiny 8lb dog named Bingo who is looking for her forever home. Bingo is a 3-year-old Shih Tzu mix with an adorable appearance and a sweet disposition. However, she needs a patient and understanding owner who recognizes that "dogs are not toys, and not all dogs love to be picked up right away," explains Sandy Paws Rescue Inc. This little lady requires some decompression time upon arriving at her new home to settle in comfortably.

Meet The Sweet Little Lady Looking For Love

Two years ago when Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks quietly unveiled a proposal to put Habitat Montana funds toward 30- and 40-year conservation leases, proponents described it as a “new conservation planning tool” while opponents warned of a “sea change” that could weaken one of the state’s most popular habitat protection programs.

Habitat conservation in Montana undergoing a ‘sea change’

NewsBreak

Weigh in on what we should ask Montana’s candidates

This story is adapted from the MT Lowdown, a weekly newsletter digest containing original reporting and analysis published every Friday. As our team here at MTFP...

Weigh in on what we should ask Montana’s candidates

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