Jon King

Iran is threatening to close the Straits of Hormuz, again. News came out last week that the Keystone XL pipeline was turned down. But what does all of this mean for the price of gas at the local pump? Petroleum analyst Patrcik Dehaan explains the current situation.

1.6 Million dollars of Federal relief money will find its way into the hands of farmers and ranchers hurt by last summers floods. The grant money was made available by the United States Department of Agriculture's Emergency Conservation Program after the passing of the Agriculture Appropriations Act, which set aside $122.7 million for national relief aid. Among other services, The Emergency Conservation Program aid money will help to remove debris, restore livestock fences and other conservation structures, as well as grade and shape farmland damaged by the flooding.

Missoula police were on the search for a suspected bank robber who was brought to the city by Greyhound bus on January 14. The suspect, Craig Allen Huthmacher, was wanted by the US Marshals Service and the Glendale Arizona Police Department for armed robbery of a bank on January 7, 2012. Mr. Huthmacher was arrested this afternoon while pulling into his driveway back in Arizona

A small earthquake rattled Missoula this morning. The earthquake is reported to be a magnitude 3.2 and there have been no reports of damage so far. The earthqake occured around 7:15 according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Follow this link to see the seismograph for yourself.

The heavy snowfall in Missoula and the surrounding communities was by no means a normal event, but just how extraordinary was it? Meteorologist for the National Weather Service, Trent Smith tells us about Tuesday, the snowiest day of the storm.

The Missoula Downtown Association (MDA) is preparing to host its annual Membership Awards Dinner. The banquet will cover the accomplishments of 2011 and honor the 12 individuals it has selected for the coveted Downtown Award. The membership will also ratify new individuals that have been asked to serve on the board and confirm the officers for the coming year. Tickets are $35 per person and sponsor tables are available for groups of 10 and 5 at the cost of $500 and $250 respectively. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, January 25 from 5 to 8 pm at the Doubletree Hotel in Missoula.

Missoula Rural Firefighters are actively fighting a structure fire at 750 Snow Bowl Road. The public is asked to stay away from the area. The only information we have at this time is that the west side of the residence is engulfed and that firefighters are doing all they can to mitigate the damage.

Montana is set to receive a new 20,000 watt wind farm just outside the town of Shawmut by the end of 2012. The wind turbines are from Goldwind, a Chinese government backed windmill manufacturing firm from Urumqi, Xinjang that competes directly with General Electric. Goldwind already has 6,000 turbines running worldwide and has plans for projects in multiple U.S. States including Ohio, and Rhode Island.

The snow is going to keep falling and although there is now less likelihood of freezing rain on Friday, the thick accumulation of snow isn't going to make morning commutes that much easier. Warning Coordination Meteorologist at Weather Service Missoula, Marty Whitmore explains how much snow we can expect by the time the storm runs out.

The Flathead Valley Chapter of the Grizzly Scholarship Association is bringing Coach Robin Pflugrad, Director of Athletics Jim O'Day, and other UM staff members out to Kalispell to celebrate the Montana Football team's class of 2012. The event will run a video showing off the teams signees this year and will offer hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar to those in attendance.