Here is the latest Montana news from The Associated Press

LIBBY, Mont. (AP) Funeral services are tentatively scheduled Monday for a Libby soldier who was killed in a military training accident off the coast of Virginia. Sgt. 1st Class James Stright was the crew chief aboard a helicopter that crashed on the deck of the U.S. Navy ship Arctic. He was based in Savannah, Ga.

Washington (AP) Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says an independent panel supports controversial and expensive upgrades of little-used border crossings, including two in Montana.

The panel says the spending on the smaller northern border crossings were spelled out federal stimulus package.

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) The state Board of Regents says the new president of Montana State University will make $280,000 a year, plus benefits. Waded Cruzado will take office at the beginning of January. She also gets use of a house, a car and a deferred compensation package that's still being negotiated.

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) The California con man who offered to take over an empty Montana jail has testified that he had no money, none of the corporate backing he once claimed and no law enforcement or military experience. Michael Hilton appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom today to answer to a $700,000 civil judgment from 2001.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 10-30-09 1749CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list