More Charges Expected in Great Falls Murder Case

Cascade County detectives are continuing to pull together information following the arrest of one man, two weeks after the murder of 25-year-old Terrill Johnson.

But right now, Sheriff Jesse Slaughter says that the suspect, 21-year-old Lane Gibson, arrested on a warrant yesterday, is only accused of trying to influence a potential witness about his whereabouts early on the morning of January 9th.

Sheriff Slaughter says Gibson took that step after learning a criminal investigation was underway. And he promises detectives are continuing to work the case and that additional charges may be filed.

"This investigation is still ongoing. We are making progress. I hope in the next day or two to have more updates in this case. But we're working hard and we're trying to bring this horrible tragic incident to justice." -Cascade Co Sheriff Jesse Slaughter

Judge blocks record release in Anaconda murder case

Efforts to learn more about the case against a man accused of killing four people at an Anaconda bar last summer have hit another dead end, with a judge denying a media request to unseal court documents.

The Montana Free Press reports District Court Judge Jeffrey Dahood is denying a request from half a dozen media organizations to make more of the charging documents against defendant Michael Brown public. The case details have been kept secret since Brown was arrested after an extensive manhunt following the slayings.

While some documents were revealed last summer, the judge said the media hadn't proven why additional documents should be made public before Brown's trial.

BACKGROUND: Arrest Made in Montana Killings

Homeless counts underway in Montana cities

This is a critical week for helping the homeless across Montana's cities as the annual "point-in-time" surveys are underway. The numbers are gathered by United Way and other advocacy and volunteer groups to provide a snapshot of how those without a place to live are coping. Most importantly, the numbers can be critical for advocating for shelters and other limited resources.

In most cities like Missoula, Billings, and Bozeman, those totals have climbed above 500 people in each city in recent years.

     Most jurisdictions have seen upwards of a 20% jump in homeless residents in more recent tallies, with some estimates placing the increase as high as 89% between 2007 and 2023.

Gianforte sees licensing reform for employment rules

Governor Greg Gianforte is also launching a licensing reform task force, an initiative aimed at streamlining Montana’s occupational licensing requirements and lowering barriers for Montanans looking to enter the workforce.

The Governor is hoping the effort will get rid of "outdated regulations," saying, "whether you work in construction or serve as a health care provider, you shouldn’t have to spend months or years fighting with bureaucracy just to earn a living."

    ️  Gov. Gianforte appointed Sarah Swanson, Commissioner of the Montana Department of Labor & Industry, to chair the task force, which follows up on legislation from the 2025 session.

Daines sees need for Minneapolis ICE report

Montana Senator Steve Daines hopes Congress resolves the debate over ICE procedures and avoids a government shutdown.

But in an interview on Fox Business News yesterday, Daines also expressed concerns over ICE procedures, claiming death threats against ICE agents are up "8000%", showing how tough the job is, but also saying the shootings in Minneapolis need to be fully investigated.

"This investigation is still ongoing. We are making progress. I hope in the next day or two to have more updates in this case. But we're working hard and we're trying to bring this horrible tragic incident to justice." -Senator Steve Daines