8-year-old Missoula girl electrocuted on 4th; Man dies in Flathead boating accident
Two deaths and numerous fires kept emergency responders across western Montana extremely busy over the holiday weekend.

Missoula may require bear-proof containers in vulnerable areas
Ken Zarling is used to seeing bears after 30 years living in the Rattlesnake Valley, though some of his encounters are more notable than others. Like the evening he decided to film a sow and her cub climbing down a tree across from his house.

Rattlesnake residents upset by cost of connecting to sewer
A $4 million project to run sewer lines into Missoula's Rattlesnake neighborhood has residents talking about, and grumbling about, the pricetag.

Departing doctors: State faces shortage of primary-care physicians
HELENA - Physician Kurt Kubicka spent a dozen years as a family doctor in Helena and served as many as 3,000 patients, but decided late last year to leave his private practice.

Departing doctors: Physicians may face legal hurdles if they leave hospitals
HELENA - When Helena physician Elaine Samuel decided to leave St. Peter's Hospital last year to work for the Veterans Administration health center in town, the hospital said she had violated a “competition” provision in her contract and owed the hospital at least $75,000.

Primary-care physician losses minimal in Billings
BILLINGS - While many Montana communities have been losing primary-care physicians, Billings has been better able to weather the storm, says one of its top hospital officials.

Dancing with honor: Ronan teen proudly accepts responsibility as Arlee Celebration's Young Warrior
ARLEE - Thousands of turquoise beads testify to the young warrior that Joe Parizeau has become.

Montana Meth Project's claims under scrutiny
BILLINGS - Supporters of the Montana Meth Project have loudly proclaimed the success of its multimillion-dollar advertising campaign.

Are echoes of the Freemen ringing in Eureka?
EUREKA - A petition to recall Lincoln County's sheriff has been rejected, but concerns are mounting that the ouster effort could signal the return of organized anti-government movements to Montana.

Petitioners vow they will make another recall attempt against Lincoln County sheriff
EUREKA - Lincoln County officials have rejected an effort to recall the sheriff there, but petitioners say they will regroup and try again.

Ovando group wary of cell tower proposal
OVANDO - As cellular phone companies expand coverage to rural communities and motorists who demand reliable service along remote stretches of highway, western Montana's mountainscape is bristling with monolythic towers.

Missoula may require bear-proof containers in vulnerable areas
Ken Zarling is used to seeing bears after 30 years living in the Rattlesnake Valley, though some of his encounters are more notable than others. Like the evening he decided to film a sow and her cub climbing down a tree across from his house.

Rattlesnake residents upset by cost of connecting to sewer
A $4 million project to run sewer lines into Missoula's Rattlesnake neighborhood has residents talking about, and grumbling about, the pricetag.

Two teens injured, one severely, in Clinton accident
Two teenagers, ages 16 and 15, were injured late Sunday afternoon when they crashed the four wheeler they were driving and careened down a 20-foot embankment near Schwartz Creek Road in Clinton.

Watch for detours around Lolo Street
Drivers who use Lolo Street in the Rattlesnake neighborhood should be alert for detours between Rattlesnake Drive and Gilbert Avenue and at the intersection with Raymond Street, starting Monday through July 24.

Dogs' plight in the Flathead sparks ‘phenomenal' response
KALISPELL - The director of the Flathead County Animal Shelter says there's been a “phenomenal” response from people eager to help with 41 huskies rescued from filthy conditions late last month.

Glacier Park chief wants wilderness made official
WEST GLACIER - Glacier National Park is known as one of America's last great wilderness areas, which is ironic, because that's exactly what it is not.

Tester mum, advocates hopeful on wilderness legislation
HELENA - Wilderness advocates and key officials say Sen. Jon Tester's office has plans to bring Montana its first new wilderness designation since the 1980s.

Sport of running takes off; 2,000 marathon racers expected
It's crunch time for organizers of the Missoula Marathon.

Counselors mobilize for rural veterans
HELENA - Military veterans in rural Montana who cannot travel for counseling will find the service coming to them once the vet centers in Missoula and Billings hire staff for two new mobile treatment units.

FWP aims to buy 70 acres along Flathead Lake
BIGFORK - The state of Montana is looking to buy 70 untamed acres along the northern shore of Flathead Lake, in a move designed to protect fish and wildlife habitat.

Missoula City Council
When: Monday, 7 p.m.

Multiple units snuff fire up Deep Creek
No day is a good day for setting off fireworks in the forest, but Saturday was especially dangerous.