Latest Montana news, sports, business and entertainment:

ALEXANDER FATAL Patrol identifies motorcyclist in fatal crash (Stations: NOTE Montana interest.) ALEXANDER, N.D. (AP) The North Dakota Highway Patrol has identified a 28-year-old motorcyclist who died in a crash in western North Dakota.

The Patrol says Christopher Hove of Glendive, Mont., was traveling southbound on North Dakota state Highway 68 near Alexander at about 4:25 Saturday afternoon when he collided with farm equipment that was being towed by a northbound pickup turning left into a field.

The pickup driver was not injured.

MONTANA-BORDER CROSSINGS Tester wants more transparency on border upgrades KALISPELL, Mont. (AP) Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester has sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, asking for more transparency about the millions of dollars projected to be spent in Montana upgrading security checkpoints along the Canadian border.

Tester sent the letter last week following questions on how money in President Barack Obama's economic stimulus plan was being spent on border security upgrades.

That includes $15 million that Tester helped land for the sleepy Whitetail border crossing that a government priority list ranked as marginal.

Facing criticism, Napolitano said earlier this month that she would not start any new border construction projects and would review how her department selected projects to be funded.

Tester says the Montana ports need improving but it should be done efficiently.

(Information from: Missoulian, http://www.missoulian.com ) HUNTERS-GRIZZLIES Montana official warns of grizzly bear encounters GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) A Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks official is warning hunters pursuing deer and other game to be alert for grizzly bears.

Mike Madel says the state's robust grizzly bear population has been following river corridors farther east from the Rocky Mountains and he recommends hunters avoid dense riparian areas and instead hunt the fringes.

He also says hunters should carry bear spray because it can be used quickly and accurately and is more effective than guns at preventing bear attacks in surprise encounters.

Madel says grizzlies have been moving into new territory where some people might not expect to find them.

(Information from: Great Falls Tribune, http://www.greatfallstribune.com ) MONTANA coal Land Board tackles Otter Creek coal HELENA, Mont. (AP) State officials will be talking today about developing vast tracts of state-owned coal in southeastern Montana, but any decision on the much-discussed issue is unlikely to come soon.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer has been outspoken with his opinion that the state could get more money by waiting to lease its 610 million tons of coal, spread over 9,500 acres near Ashland. And none of the other four statewide elected officials that make up the Land Board are pushing to move more quickly.

Private industry has been pushing for development of the tracts.

Development could also open the door to a dramatic expansion of the region's coal industry.

Environmentalists and some Montana property owners are fiercely contesting the project.

The Land Board will be taking public comment on the issue during a meeting today.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 09-21-09 0231CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list