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BATTLE OF LITTLE SHELL BIA delays for another 60 days decision on whether to recognize Little Shell tribe BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) The Bureau of Indian Affairs is delaying for another 60 days a long-stalled decision over whether to grant federal recognition to a small, landless Montana Indian tribe.

The roughly 4,300 members of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians are officially recognized by the state of Montana but have so far been unsuccessful in their decades-long fight for federal acknowledgment.

Bureau of Indian Affairs spokeswoman Nedra Darling says the latest delay is needed to continue the legal review of the tribe's case by the agency's solicitor.

Darling says there is no limit on the number of times the agency can extend its deadline.

On the Net: Little Shell Tribe: http://www.littleshelltribe.us/ CAR DEALER-FRAUD Former car dealer indicted on fraud charge BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) A former Billings car dealer who filed for bankruptcy nearly three years ago has been indicted on federal fraud charges and sued by an automobile finance company.

Rodolfo N. Gutierrez Jr. owned Incredible Auto Sales LLC and operated Incredible Kia. He pleaded not guilty Friday to an eight-count indictment during an arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Carolyn Ostby.

The 55-year-old Gutierrez also was sued last week by Hyundai Motor Finance Co over a $315,598 debt.

Prosecutors say Gutierrez told employees not to repay Hyundai or Little Horn State Bank for amounts loaned on vehicles that had been sold. He is also accused of failing to repay outstanding loans on vehicles that customers traded in, causing 29 customers to be responsible for nearly $243,000 in outstanding loans after Incredible Auto Sales filed for bankruptcy in October 2006.

Information from: Billings Gazette, http://www.billingsgazette.com BUTTE-FATAL SHOOTING Butte police investigating fatal shooting BUTTE, Mont. (AP) Butte-Silver Bow County officials are investigating the shooting death of a 41-year-old man at a Butte residence.

Officers say the man was shot at about 12:40 a.m. Monday and was conscious when police arrived, but died from a gunshot wound at St.

James HealthCare.

Sheriff John Walsh says investigators are questioning an adult female as a "person of interest" in the shooting. The woman, who called 911 to report the shooting, has not been arrested or charged. A handgun was recovered.

The victim's name hasn't been released.

SEMI FIRE Names of 2 killed in semi-truck crash released BELFRY, Mont. (AP) Carbon County officials have released the names of a Fromberg couple killed in a fiery semi-truck crash on Highway 72 between Bridger and Belfry.

The sheriff's department says 39-year-old Kevin Woeppel and 46-year-old Jodi Woeppel were killed in the crash at about 11 a.m.

Sunday.

The Montana Highway Patrol says the driver of the semi lost control of the truck which overturned in the front of a home near the road. Trooper Chan Berry says the rig was hauling gasoline and diesel fuel and it caught fire. The road was closed for more than six hours.

Sgt. Craig Baum says those inside the house were able to evacuate with no injuries, though the fire did cause some damage to the home.

COLUMBIA FALLS FATAL WY man dies in crash north of Columbia Falls KALISPELL, Mont. (AP) A 77-year-old Wyoming man was killed in a single-vehicle rollover on Secondary 486, about 12 miles north of Columbia Falls.

Flathead County officials identified the victim as Voney Tuttle of Lancer, Wyo.

The Montana Highway Patrol says Tuttle was southbound at about 11:50 p.m. Saturday when he failed to negotiate a right-hand curve, hit a guardrail and then rolled his Dodge pickup truck one and one-half times. The pickup came to rest on its top in the middle of the road.

A 60-year-old male passenger suffered minor injuries.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 07-27-09 1531CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list