Montana State

Great Falls, MT

Montana Free Press

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

Massachusetts State

Writers represent independent, third-party users who have joined our contributor program and self-verified their accounts. Writers are expected, like all users, to adhere to our Community Standards.

writer

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

Anaconda, MT

Even before setting off on a six-day, seven-night trek through the Anaconda Pintler Wilderness, Darren Wilson and the six hikers accompanying him knew there might be fire ahead. Wilson, a Hamilton resident who works as a biomedical equipment technician with a budding musical career under the name Dag Zaggenz, understood the significance of Stage Two fire restrictions: Conditions could not have been more prone to wildland fires.

How hikers quashed a budding wildfire

After a nearly 21-year career with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the agency’s lead fisheries expert has resigned. Eileen Ryce, a fisheries biologist with a PhD, said inadequate support from her superiors while she ran a division that touches on two areas of critical interest in Montana — water and wildlife management — led her to resign.

FWP ‘fish chief’ Eileen Ryce resigns, citing lack of support from upper management.

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’

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

Community Voices represent independent, third-party users who have joined our contributor program but not yet verified their accounts. Community Voices are expected, like all users, to adhere to our Community Standards.

community_voice

Camilo Díaz

(MA) Get ready to become acquainted with a little lap dog who is ready to take over your bed, home, heart, and life! Easy Money is a Chihuahua mix pup with a unique name. Until recently, Easy Money was an owned pup who was very well-loved. Sadly, tragedy struck and Easy Money's owner passed away. His owner's family was no longer able to take care of him, and so he was surrendered to Great Dog Rescue New England's care. Though he is now living safely with a foster, he is hopeful to find a new home soon, where he will finally be able to settle down into a new life.

Little Chihuahua Who Lost His Owner Is Now Searching For New Family

HELENA — With roughly $1.5 million in pandemic-era education funding set to expire next month, Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen announced a plan Tuesday to route those federal dollars directly to classrooms across Montana. The spending strategy, crafted in partnership with the nonprofit crowdsourcing platform DonorsChoose, will let...

OPI announces last-ditch spending strategy for federal COVID-19 funds

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

This story is excerpted from the MT Lowdown, a weekly newsletter digest containing original reporting and analysis published every Friday. Despite dry conditions across the state this week, the Grouse and Miller Peak fires remain the only two Montana fires of more than 800 acres that continue to grow. With smaller fires continuing to crop up around Montana, a hot and wet forecast offers both relief and risks for responders.

The Montana Wildfire Report: July 26–Aug. 2

Mississippi State

Contributors represent independent, third-party users who have joined our contributor program and self-verified their accounts. They have also demonstrated their experience writing hard news for other outlets. Contributors are expected, like all users, to adhere to our Community Standards.

contributor

Caledonia, MS

Mississippi News Group

Written with artificial intelligence assistance. State Auditor Shad White announced today that Megan Berry, the former Treasurer of the Caledonia Park Commission (CPC), has been arrested on charges of embezzlement.

Former Park Commission Treasurer Arrested for Embezzlement

North Carolina State

Chapel Hill, NC

Town Talks

A solid education is crucial, often leading to better job opportunities and higher salaries. While educated individuals can be found across the country, some regions have a particularly high concentration of educated residents.

These 2 North Carolina Cities Are The Most Educated In America

Florida State

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

A highly anticipated update to how Yellowstone National Park manages bison is setting the stage to expand the animal’s range in Montana, tribes and conservationsts say. After years of work, Yellowstone released its new bison management plan this summer. More than 27,000 people commented on the document, which calls for more bison compared to the previous plan from 24 years ago. It also incorporates management changes that have been put into effect over the past two decades, including a surge in bison hunting near park boundaries and a new program to transfer live, disease-free bison to tribal nations.

Yellowstone National Park plan sets the stage for bison expansion in Montana

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

Atlanta, GA

A 40-year-old man has been sentenced to over 28 years in prison for distributing significant amounts of fentanyl and other controlled substances to dealers in the Middle Georgia region. Authorities revealed that investigators uncovered evidence linking the drugs provided by the defendant, 40-year-old Lagary Williams, also known as "Frog," from Atlanta, to a fatal overdose.

Atlanta Man Sentenced to 28 Years for Supplying Deadly Fentanyl Linked to Fatal Overdose

Helena, MT

“Helena This Week” is reported and written By JoVonne Wagner. Send your Helena news and tips to jwagner@montanafreepress.org. Schwerin stands next to his aircraft in Presidio, Texas, on July 30, 2024. Credit: Sara Schwerin. A Montana teen pilot is seeking to set a world record as the youngest person...

Setting records for a cause

NewsBreak

Global company prepares to take on statewide public assistance contract

A global private company is beginning to release details about how it plans to handle its new $15 million state contract to deliver employment assistance and...

Global company prepares to take on statewide public assistance contract

Comments / 0