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![Montana’s Minimum Wage Will Rise 30 Cents](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2011/10/minimum-wage1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Montana’s Minimum Wage Will Rise 30 Cents
The state Labor Department says Montana's minimum wage will increase by 30 cents an hour to $7.65 beginning on Jan. 1. State law requires an annual wage adjustment based on changes in inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index. On Saturday, Labor Commissioner Keith Kelly announced the increase in the Consumer Price Index was 3...
![Overhaul Of The Montana’s Workers Compensation Program Already Seeing Positive Impact](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2011/10/workers-compensation1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Overhaul Of The Montana’s Workers Compensation Program Already Seeing Positive Impact
Five months have passed since a substantial overhaul of Montana’s Workers Compensation Program took effect. Montana State Fund Vice-President Mark Barry says the changes are already impacting the budget.
In fiscal year 2011 the state fund collected about $150 million in premiums and paid out about $135 million in claims...
![Enrollment At UM Hits All Time High](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2011/10/um.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Enrollment At UM Hits All Time High
The total headcount enrollment at the University of Montana set another all-time record.
UM registrar’s office says autumn semester enrollment stands at 15,669, which is 27 more than the previous record set a year ago.
Most of the increase was at UM’s College of Technology in Missoula and the Bitterroot College Program in Hamilton...
![Grand Jury Indicts Man In 15-Year-Old Yakutat Case](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2011/10/Gavel-and-Scales.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Grand Jury Indicts Man In 15-Year-Old Yakutat Case
A man convicted of killing a woman in Montana has been indicted on murder charges in a 15-year-old Alaska case.
Robert D. Kowalski is charged with murder in the 1996 shooting death of 39-year-old Sandra Perry.
![E. Helena Man Charged In Son’s Death Struck By Car](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2011/10/car_accident.jpg?w=980&q=75)
E. Helena Man Charged In Son’s Death Struck By Car
Officials say an East Helena man who is charged in his son's drowning death is hospitalized in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle while he was either sitting or lying down in the road.
Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton says two members of the East Valley Fire Department saw the vehicle hit 26-year-old Leo Mathis at 9:45 p...
![Slate Of New State Laws Going Into Place](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2011/10/new-laws.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Slate Of New State Laws Going Into Place
The new law authorizing a crackdown on repeat drunk drivers is among a slate of new laws that went into effect Saturday.
More than 150 of the laws that the Legislature passed earlier this year went into effect on Oct. 1. Most are considered relatively small adjustments to current law.
![Judge OKs Deal On “Haze” Pollution In West](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2011/09/haze.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Judge OKs Deal On “Haze” Pollution In West
A federal judge has approved a deal requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to finalize by next year plans to reduce haze-causing pollution from coal-fired power plants and other sources in four Western states. The reductions are required under the Clean Air Act...
![40 Plaintiffs Added To Suit Against Helena Diocese](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2011/09/church.jpg?w=980&q=75)
40 Plaintiffs Added To Suit Against Helena Diocese
Attorneys have added 40 new plaintiffs to the 34 already suing the Roman Catholic diocese of Helena over sexual abuse they say they suffered as children at the hands of clergy members. Missoula attorney J.R. Casillas filed the amended lawsuit in Helena district court on Thursday...
![Deadline Looms For Proposed Initiative Referenda](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2011/09/sigs.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Deadline Looms For Proposed Initiative Referenda
The deadline is Friday for organizers to turn in signatures for proposed ballot initiatives that aim to repeal new state laws that restrict medical marijuana and expand eminent domain powers. Rose Habib, coordinator for an initiative sponsored by the Montana Cannabis Industry Association, says she is confident that enough signatures have been gathered to put the question to voters in the 2012
![Hellgate Football Player Recovering After Surgery](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2011/09/hellgate_football.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Hellgate Football Player Recovering After Surgery
Missoula Hellgate junior Luke Bewley is recovering after suffering a torn kidney on a tough hit during a game against Billings West.
Bewley was injured when he was blindsided on a special teams play in the third quarter of Friday afternoon's game in Missoula. He was throwing up on the sidelines and when he got on the team bus in so much pain that he could barely walk, a trainer called his parents