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HUNTLEY FIRE Voters OK bond to rebuild Huntley Project school BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) Yellowstone County election officials say voters have approved a $9.75 million bond request to rebuild a Huntley Project school that was destroyed by arson fires last September.

Yellowstone County Elections Administrator Duane Winslow said that as of 8:00 last night, 977 voters cast their ballots in favor of the plan while 523 opposed it. There were still 22 ballots to count, but they wouldn't be enough to change the outcome of the vote.

The money will be used for an approximately 90,000-square-foot building that will house the junior high and high school in separate two-story wings. The school also will have a gymnasium and a commons area.

Four teens have been implicated in the Sept. 18, 2008, fires that destroyed the high school, displaced hundreds of students and caused millions of dollars in damages.

(Information from: Billings Gazette, http://www.billingsgazette.com ; KTVQ-TV, http://www.ktvq.com ) REHBERG-BOAT CRASH Prosecutor weighs charges in boat crash HELENA, Mont. (AP) The Flathead County prosecutor says he is awaiting evidence from the boat crash that injured Congressman Denny Rehberg and four others before deciding whether to file charges against the driver of the vessel.

County Attorney Ed Corrigan says the investigation continues, and that prosecutors are not at a point where they can decide what, if any, charges might be filed against state Sen. Greg Barkus of Kalispell.

Corrigan says that his office is not looking at any charges against Rehberg or the three others passengers in the boat. One passenger, Rehberg's state director Dustin Frost, remains in the hospital with a serious brain injury.

Corrigan says he is focused on whether there is some basis for significant felony charges against the driver.

The boat slammed into the rocky shore of Flathead Lake late Thursday.

GRIZZLY KILLED Grizzly bear with history of breaking into cabins in Swan Valley euthanized KALISPELL, Mont. (AP) Wildlife officials have captured and euthanized an older male grizzly bear with a history of breaking into cabins in the Swan Valley area southeast of Kalispell.

Tim Manley with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks says the bear was looking for food when it broke into at least 10 cabins and one trailer in the area over the last two years. The grizzly, which was captured Monday and euthanized Tuesday, broke into two cabins late last week in the Cold Creek drainage near Condon.

The bruin, which is estimated at more than 20 years old, was captured in April 2004 and was ear-tagged, lip-tattooed and radio-collared. Manley says DNA analysis linked it to the cabin raids over the years.

DOG KENNEL RAID Most dogs seized from breeder adopted BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) About 70 of more than 200 dogs seized from a Yellowstone County breeder last year are still waiting for adoption.

Fifty-five English shepherd dogs of all ages remain under the care of the county and a private training group. Another dozen are at a clinic along with a handful of Labrador puppies.

Volunteers say the adoption process has gone well since it started less than two months ago, and that almost all of the dogs are now adoptable.

The dogs had belonged to Linda Kapsa, of Ballantine, who pleaded no contest to aggravated animal cruelty after the dogs were found on her property without adequate food, water, shelter and care last December. She was given a 20-year suspended sentence and was fined.

(Information from: KULR-TV, http://www.kulr8.com ) DRUGSTORE robbery Helena drug store burglary suspect arrested HELENA, Mont. (AP) Police in Helena have arrested a 28-year-old man in the robbery of a local drug store.

Police say they arrested Kendrick Michael Smith of Helena late Monday on felony charges of robbery and possession of dangerous drugs.

The drug store was robbed of about $8,000 of prescription medication on Saturday by a masked man armed with what was believed to be a handgun.

Helena Police Chief Troy McGee said investigators believe a BB gun was used in the robbery but no weapon has been recovered.

Smith is being held in the Lewis and Clark County Detention Center in lieu of $100,000 bail.

(Information from: Independent Record, http://www.helenair.com ) BAUCUS-health care Baucus touts reform to AARP members HELENA, Mont. (AP) U.S. Sen. Max Baucus is telling AARP members worried that a health care overhaul would hurt their government benefits that Medicare recipients are helped under his plan.

Baucus is leading a Senate panel with Democrats and Republicans working on a bill he feels is better than more liberal offerings out of the House.

In general, he says, they are trying to reduce the cost of health insurance, give tax credits to make sure lower income people can buy it, and lower the overall cost of health care. They propose to pay for it with savings negotiated with the health care industry, cuts in federal spending and a tax on high-cost insurance policies.

Baucus tells almost 10,000 AARP members over a telephone town hall Tuesday that such changes will help make Medicare better too.

ANACONDA TEACHERS No teacher strike in Anaconda ANACONDA, Mont. (AP) Schools were open in Anaconda on Tuesday after a possible strike by teachers was avoided.

The teachers union and district reached a tentative agreement on budget issues after hours of closed door negotiations late Monday night.

The threat of a strike had divided the small community, which is about 20 miles northwest of Butte in southwest Montana.

(Information from: KTVM-TV, http://www.ktvm.com ) (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 09-02-09 0231CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list