On today's morning newscast: An independent review of a half-dozen infant and child autopsies by a former Montana associate medical examiner has found serious deficiencies in how they were conducted.
A District Court judge has heard arguments on the constitutionality of the state's method of lethal injection. State attorneys and representatives for Montana's two death-row inmates debated yesterday whether an execution drug risks undue pain and suffering.
In general fires in northwestern Montana are being held in check by the thick layer of smoke over the area. The Sheep fire that’s been threatening the town of Essex just south of Glacier National Park for a week now hasn’t grown significantly. Essex remains on pre-evacuation alert, but Fire Information Officer Jonathan Moor says conditions for the last few days have been favorable enough that fire crews have been able to clean up ground fuels that could drive the fire into Essex.
The federal government says it will strip Montana of a child abuse prevention grant if the state doesn't start releasing information about children who die of abuse and neglect, but Montana officials say a state confidentiality law prevents them from releasing the information. Montana officials sought a change in the law earlier this year, but no bill was passed before the legislative session ended.
Plans to visit Missoula this weekend, but don't have a room booked yet? If so, you're either out of luck or you'll be paying a premium. The Garden City will host not only the first University of Montana home football game of the season, but also the hugely popular River City Roots Festival.
On the Kootenai National Forest, one wildfire is burning within 1/2 mile of the Ross Creek Cedars, a popular scenic area home to massive cedars up to 1,000 years old. Fire officials say there's a reason these cedars have persisted so long. They believe the area's microclimate, natural barriers surrounding the grove, and the efforts of firefighters will keep the cedars protected.
A Missoula County Justice of the Peace has set bail at $100,000 for a man accused of breaking into his estranged wife's house and attacking her with bear spray.
A Columbia Falls fiberboard production line will open a bit later than expected after a small explosion and fire shut it down late last week. A bearing failure is blamed for last Thursday's incident at the Plum Creek Timber Company plant.
State wildlife officials killed a young female mountain lion in a northeast Missoula neighborhood after receiving reports it was frequenting a residential area.