Montana News Roundup: Details Limited as Manhunt Continues

Investigators continue to share limited information about the shooting of four people in an Anaconda bar, and the search for the killer is now entering its 6th day.

During a press conference yesterday, leaders of the task force said many of those details are "operational information" that could compromise the search and investigation, possibly putting officers' lives at risk. There's also some concern about releasing information in case Brown is getting any outside help.

But Anaconda Deer Lodge County Attorney Morgan Smith is promising that more information will be released.

"When you're seeing lights and sirens pass your house, we're understanding that you want answers; however, we ask that you remain patient and know that the investigation is ongoing," Smith stated. "There's information law enforcement cannot release to the public for the potential of jeopardizing an ongoing investigation, and there's information that law enforcement cannot release for fear of creating additional safety risk to law enforcement officers or to the community at large."

"When the dust settles and our community is safe again, we will answer all of the questions that we are able to." -Anaconda Deer Lodge County Attorney Morgan Smith

"In the meantime, we ask that you take information that you see on social media with a grain of salt. We ask that you refrain from sharing information that you do not know to be true."

They say there's been no evidence of Brown breaking into homes and cabins, and he's still considered armed and dangerous.

Smith says the effort remains focused on the heavily wooded areas west of town.

"This manhunt has involved individuals from 38 local, state, and federal agencies, and coordination of hundreds from all of those agencies has been a very difficult task," Smith explained. "They are responding to every call to every tip, and they're tirelessly searching the area where this suspect is believed to be. Any call that comes in of a potential sighting of Michael Paul Brown, or a suspicious person in an unexpected place, or a concern that you can't reach a loved one, and you have a concern that they have been harmed."

"Every single one of those calls has been responded to."

     As we reported yesterday, the FBI has increased the reward for information leading to Brown's arrest to $10,000, with tips encouraged by calling 1-877-WANTED2. 

Big fire backing off

Firefighters say they've been able to get 40% containment already on the Tullock Fire, which started yesterday, 18 miles north of Hardin and grew quickly as it was blasted with 50-to-60-mile-per-hour winds.

The fire scorched over 1400 acres, but crews were able to stop its forward progress last night. That's currently the largest active fire in the state.

     The second largest blaze, the Pryor Dump Fire, is 85% contained at just over 1000 acres.

SNAP food restrictions don't apply in Montana

While additional states are moving to prevent the use of SNAP benefits to buy pop and candy, Montana remains outside those restrictions.

Monday, the Trump Administration approved waivers from six more states that want to keep those on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program from using their stamps for processed food. Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, West Virginia, and Louisiana join six additional states that already took the step earlier this year, including Utah and Idaho, where there are restrictions on both soda and candy.

     A proposal to take a similar step in Montana failed in the Legislature last spring.

READ MORE: SNAP cuts coming in Montana

Butte bike rider dies

A 42-year-old man from Butte has died from injuries he suffered in a motorcycle crash last week on I-90.

Montana Highway Patrol says the victim was riding on I-90 near Butte when he lost control going around a slight left-hand curve. The bike went off the road, and the rider, who wasn't wearing a helmet, ended up in the right-hand lane. He wasn't wearing a helmet, and troopers believe both drugs and speed were factors in this latest fatal crash.

Court ruling doesn't impact Montana wolves

The latest federal court ruling over taking wolves off the Endangered Species List won't have an impact here in the Northern Rockies, due to previous lawsuits and Congressional action that removed the wolves from ESA protection.

Tuesday's latest ruling in U.S. District Court in Missoula found Judge Donald Malloy, who's been at the center of most of the fights over wolf protection for 25 years, deciding the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service violated the Endangered Species Act by moving to delist grey wolves elsewhere. Malloy faulted federal biologists for not following "best available science" in considering what to do with wolves in other states.

      Wolves in Montana and Idaho haven't been protected since Congress took action in 2012. Wyoming wolves were removed after further court rulings in 2017.