Will Libby Mine Approval End Up in Montana Court?

If Helca Mining proceeds with plans to develop the "Libby Exploration Project", previously known as the Montanore Mine, company officials have said all activity will be confined to the company's property at the headwaters of Libby Creek in Northwest Montana.

But environmental groups are continuing to argue that the plan to explore the adit that already extends thousands of feet into the mountains could have a much wider impact on water quality, and wildlife like grizzly bears and bull trout.

Last week, word came that the Trump Administration's plan to expedite permits for the mine was being approved by the Forest Service, coming after nearly 20 years of arguments over the proposal to explore additional silver and copper deposits right next to the Cabinet Wilderness Area.

Opposition groups were already indicating they planned to fight the approval in court.

Check your CO2 detectors

A weekend incident in Butte is a reminder for everyone to check the carbon dioxide detectors in their home, after three people were hospitalized after being overcome by CO2.

Butte-Silver Bow Fire Department assisted the trio, who had been overcome by the elevated levels, sending them to the hospital for further treatment. The firefighters and Northwestern Energy were able to use gas monitoring equipment to find the source, shut down utilities, and ventilate the building.

Saving another nickel at the pumps

Another solid drop in Montana gas prices.

GasBuddy.com reports average prices for regular dropped just under a nickel a gallon, pushing the average down to $3.07 a gallon, which is 14 cents less than we were paying in mid-September. That's 11 cents a gallon cheaper than last October, but still higher than the national average, which is now down to $3.02 per gallon.

Water problems continue at Montana State Prison

Montana Department of Corrections is bringing portable showers into the state prison in Deer Lodge, as they continue to try and solve the water leak that has plagued the city since Friday.

DOC believes there's a main break in the buried line outside the prison, and has been calling in experts to try and find the problem. In the meantime, the Montana National Guard has been trucking in thousands of gallons of water for the inmates and corrections officers.

Dept of Corrections photo

The DOC will continue to work to identify potential partners and welcomes interest from parties willing to assist with this need.

Snow showers are still in the forecast

Terrain, and some stronger winds helped to keep impacts fairly minimal from the winter system that hit the Northern Rockies overnight.

❄️ Even so, it was an advanced warning to get ready for the coming season in Montana.

National Weather Service forecasters say another round of light snow could hit the region through Thursday morning, mainly impacting Lost Trail Pass and the Southern Bitterroots, and areas east to Georgetown Lake and Butte, where there could be a dusting of light snow. Cold temperatures are probably the wider spread issues, with lows in the low to mid twenties, and even the upper teens for the higher valleys.

What do you think of "truck platoons"?

The Montana Department of Transportation is asking state residents for input on a new initiative for truck platooning on state highways.

JD Knite reports...

Bozeman Police "data dashboard"

If you live in Bozeman and want the latest on crime, and how it might impact you or your family, Bozeman Police are letting you do a "deep dive" on the data, as Abby Casey explains...

Energy Summit in Bozeman this week

How much additional power will the rollout of artificial intelligence actually use in Montana?

That's one of the topics up for discussion with Governor Gianforte and the Montana Chamber of Commerce host the 2nd annual "Big Sky, Bright Future Economic Summit in Bozeman Thursday. Much of the summit will focus on "unleashing" American-made energy in Montana. But some of the discussion will also cover "innovative ways" of meeting the power crunch that's forecast with AI data centers, while also accounting for Montana's future population growth.