Water Problems Still Challenging Montana State Prison

Crews with the Montana Army National Guard were planning to pump as much as 200,000 gallons of water as efforts continue to get the Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge through a water crisis that started on Friday.

A second National Guard team arrived late yesterday to expand efforts to bring city water from Deer Lodge to fill the reserve tanks at the prison.

Department of Corrections Director Brian Gootkin says it's been a "challenging situation" since water was lost on Friday. He says DOC recognizes the "urgency felt by inmates and their families to resolve this as soon as possible."

The Department of Corrections says a second leak detection company from Bozeman arrived on scene yesterday afternoon and will be joining the search to find the source of the leak.

Missoula Police help arrest a wanted killer

Missoula Police say they've arrested the suspect wanted for assaulting and killing a young Portland woman two years ago in Oregon.

21-year-old Connor J O'Brien was apprehended yesterday by the FBI's Montana Regional Violent Crimes Task Force, along with help from Missoula Police.

O'Brien was wanted for the October 2023 murder of 21-year-old Tiara Atencio, who was attacked and stabbed on the southeast side of Portland. Police say he fled the scene, and the single mother died the next day at the hospital.

Investigators rule woman's death an accidental drowning

Missoula Police are saying the woman whose body was found in an irrigation ditch early last month died from "asphyxia due to drowning."

38-year-old Leah Hartley was discovered in an irrigation ditch off Grant Street on September 3rd. Initially, investigators treated her death as a homicide, which is standard procedure until the evidence confirms otherwise.

Fielder sees "accountability" in PSC court ruling

State Public Service Commissioner Jennifer Fielder is calling a ruling giving Governor Gianforte the power to oust the Chairman of the PSC a "big win for the department and all Montanans."

A Lewis & Clark County District Court judge made the ruling last week, the latest development in a power struggle for control of the PSC swirling around an investigation into misconduct charges against Chair Brad Molnar. The fight intensified this past summer when Molnar sued Fielder and Governor Gianforte, trying to block his suspension.

In a post on her blog, Fielder says the ruling means "the days of unaccountability at the PSC are over" and that "even elected Public Service Commissioners aren't above the law."

More flights from Bozeman to California

Coming off a banner year, administrators at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport are already looking ahead to 2026, announcing new service with Southwest Airlines for next summer.

Starting June 4th, Southwest will offer flights every Saturday from Bozeman to Long Beach, California.

     ✈️ The airline also plans to expand service to San Diego 5 times a week, with flights on Mondays and Thursdays through Sundays.

Another "cold weather" fire reminder

A fire in Seeley Lake is a reminder to be careful as we transition to cold weather. Firefighters were called out yesterday to save a trailer, where an older heat tape line applied to portable water lines had caught fire. No one was injured.