Hiker Hurt in First Yellowstone Bear Attack in 4-years

Yellowstone National Park rangers are working to confirm whether a black bear was involved in a confrontation with a solo hiker yesterday, a situation that once again highlights the effectiveness of bear spray, regardless of the bear's DNA.

Park officials say the hiker was on the Turbid Lake Trail, northeast of Mary Bay on Yellowstone Lake in an area known as the Pelican Valley Bear Management Area. The hiker said he used his spray to deter the bear, but still suffered "significant, but non-life-threatening injuries." Rescuers helped him walk out to get medical attention.

The hiker thinks it was a black bear, but authorities say, based on the description and behavior, it may have been a grizzly. The trail has been closed.

It's been 4 years since someone was hurt by a bear in the park.

Time is short to comment on the "Roadless Rule"

There are only two days left to comment on the Forest Service proposal to scrap the "Roadless Area Rule", a change that would impact some 2 million acres of public land in Montana.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins is proposing the change, which put a cap on roadbuilding on National Forest lands in the final days of the Clinton Administration. The theory is that ending the policy will open up new lands for timber harvest and other uses. But conservation groups are alarmed, and it's also raised questions about what happens to all the plans adopted by the local forests in recent years.

Over 40,000 people had commented in the first week. Comments are due Friday.

Big Missoula project is complete, celebration this week

The Missoula Family YMCA originally thought it might be hard to raise $15 million for a major expansion and upgrade after decades of planning, especially during the pandemic. But this week, the Y will celebrate the completion of a $20 million upgrade for Missoula.

"It's kind of overwhelming, if we really take a beat and process how generous this community has been. How much support there has been," says CEO Heather Foster.

🎉 Foster is inviting the community to a big block party on Thursday from 4 to 7 to celebrate and see the finished facility.

Browning woman sent to prison for school theft

A Browning woman will spend a couple of years in federal prison after she pleaded guilty to embezzling thousands of dollars from the Heart Butte School District.

Prosecutors say Jonnie Jo Fransis Spotted Eagle took $30,000 while using school credit cards and purchase orders.

Flathead chase explained

Flathead County authorities are saying the suspect they arrested after a chase and search this week was wanted for fleeing probation in Powell County.

Deputies spotted Joseph Castell, and attempted a traffic stop on Monday, but he drove away, later abandoning his car on Foothills Road. A ground and air search led authorities to believe he was hiding in a house, and after obtaining a search warrant, he surrendered without anyone being hurt.

Another Billings shooting

Billings Police are investigating yet another shooting, this time off 3rd Avenue South, where a man was injured and required hospitalization. At last word, officers were continuing to investigate and working to identify a suspect.