Earthquake shakes up Central Montana

A midday earthquake rattles the Great Falls region and is one of the larger quakes in the state in several months.

Initial data from the Earthquake Study Center at Montana Tech shows the quake struck at 12:41 pm and measured 4.2 magnitude. It was centered 8 kilometers northeast of Black Eagle, and at a depth of just over 22 kilometers.

People reported feeling the quake throughout Cascade County, but as far north as Kevin on the north, and as far south as Helena. Some reports came in from Whitefish and Lewistown.

New bridge for Noxon?

There may be a lot of people breathing a sigh of relief in Noxon soon, because it looks like funding to replace the ancient bridge across the Clark Fork may finally be on the path to approval.

Word coming this week that $10-million to go toward the bridge replacement is in the latest appropriation bill approved by the House last week. The Daily Interlake reports Representative Ryan Zinke shares that news with Mineral County commissioners, who say that could cover about half of the construction cost if the money gets final approval in Congress.

READ MORE: Help Needed for a Failing Montana Bridge

Gallatin County squashing ICE rumors

Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer says his department remains committed to the Missouri River Drug Task Force, the combined effort that his office has commanded since the early 1990s.

While Helena has decided to temporarily step aside from the task force over concerns about immigration enforcement, Springer says the MRDTF is focused on identifying criminals "distributing and manufacturing large quantities of illegal drugs", saying officers will continue to use "every resource available to do that." He says that effort is focused on arresting and removing criminals "from our neighborhoods", be they cartel or gang members, or local and legal residents.

Also in Flathead County…

Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino is reassuring Northwest Montana residents that when officers ask for ID during a contact, it's done "solely to ensure proper identification for public safety purposes, not based on race, color or creed."

Heino says FCSO will continue to "work closely" with federal partners on "serious criminal investigations" while deputies work to keep the peace and protect the "constitutional rights of all individuals."

      He adds Flathead County isn't currently housing any federal detainees because of issues of jail capacity and "reimbursement considerations."

Missoula lawmaker looks at law enforcement rules

Senator Ellie Boldman (D-Missoula) says she's going to explore the development of a package of bills designed to clarify how law enforcement operates in the future, given the concerns now over immigration enforcement.

Boldman tells the Daily Montanan those measure could include specifying how local, or federal officers identify themselves, limit the wearing of masks, and how they can approach places like schools and churches.

The next session is still a year away, but Boldman says she'll use that time to talk with Montanans to develop the legislation.

Missoula man will get prison for high desert murders

A Missoula man is being ordered to spend the rest of his life in prison for the murders of two people in the California high desert in a case stemming from marijuana trafficking.

Federal prosecutors had accused Cory Spurlock of murdering Will Larsen and his wife after he became suspicious Larsen was cooperating with federal authorities investigating the murder of another man. That victim's mother had mentioned Larsen in a podcast discussing her son's disappearance. Spurlock was convicted of following the Larsens into the desert along Highway 395, where he stabbed and shot them, taking Larsen's money and leaving their bodies along the highway in November 2020. He was also convicted on drug charges and for trying to arrange the murders for hire.

Tribute to a Montana broadcasting legend

Legendary Great Falls broadcaster Norma Smith, known during her long on-air career as Norma Ashby, is now a honoree with the "Montana Spirit Award."

Governor Greg Gianforte and Lt Governor Kristen Juras honored Smith in Helena yesterday, with the Governor saying her life "represents the very best of our state."

Smith grew up on her family's ranch, going to class in one of those one-room schoolhouses. After getting her journalism degree from the University of Montana, she worked as a photo editor for Life magazine in New York.

She came back to Great Falls and decided to try her hand at television, with KRTV's "Today in Montana" live show in 1962. Over the next 26 years, she became one of the most well-known personalities in Montana, hosting 7,000 live shows, interviewing over 26,000 guests, and producing 21 documentaries.

But in addition to many awards, she also played a central role in the C.M. Russell Art Auction and other community initiatives, even becoming an honorary member of the Blackfeet Tribe.