Montana News Roundup: PSC Will Analyze Unannounced Power Hike

The cost of eggs may be moderating, the cost of cooking them isn't, with Northwestern Energy forging ahead with a major hike in power rates, and doing so without approval by the Montana Public Service Commission.

The Montana Free Press discovered the utility had filed documents showing rates going up just over $17 dollars a month for the average customer, the first word of the change, which was reportedly done without notifying customers or the PSC.

     🔌 That's just over $200 per year.

Northwestern had filed for the rate hike last summer, but the request had never seen a final vote as the panel ordered more study. The Free Press report says the increase falls under a little-known wrinkle in the law which allows for the rates to be changed IF the PSC hasn't acted on the request in 9 months.

There is a rate hearing scheduled for June 9th, and a Northwestern spokeswoman says the utility plans on presenting its case for the rate hike with full transparency.

Off to prison for Missoula sex trafficker

The woman convicted last week of running a sex and labor trafficking operation out of a Missoula message parlor is headed to prison for 10 years.

Yabin Bow heard that sentence when she appeared in a Missoula County District Courtroom yesterday. She's also been fined $10,000 and won't be able to open a new business without approval in the future.

READ MORE ABOUT THE CASE

Hill County murder investigation

A 20-year-old Hill County remains in custody on a $1 million bond as authorities continue to investigate the fatal shooting of a woman in the small town of Hingham Friday.

Deshawn Leeallen Chapman was arrested following a search after the Hill County Sheriff said he had fatally shot a woman that evening.

     Yesterday, the victim was identified as 39-year-old Tiffiney Niehoff.

At last word, investigators were continuing to search for the pistol used in the shooting, and reminding people not to disturb the gun if they find it.

It's only May and 4 grizzlies are dead

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is already reporting four grizzlies have died in confrontations with people this year.

The latest shooting of a bear happened last week, when two property owners looking for mushrooms say they were charged by a grizzly with a cub outside Choteau.

It's hard to know whether the rate of grizzly mortalities is high when compared with past years, because the state just implemented a new "dashboard" to track bear deaths. But two of the grizzlies were killed in Teton County.

Montana Tuesday Trivia

     How much were you paying for eggs in 2000? Answer below 🔻

Knudsen says Gallatin County needs ICE

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen says the reason he's interested in seeing ICE officers be allowed to detain more illegal immigrants in Bozeman is because of the increase in what he says is "cartel activity."

Appearing on Montana Talks last week, Knudsen said the additional enforcement in the Gallatin is needed because the cartels are going after the money in a "very affluent community."

Knudsen says the deal federal agents were developing with the Gallatin County Sheriff would have helped with additional holding space for detainees and brought revenue to the county. But he calls Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell a "lightweight" for moving to block the contract, saying the strategy is, quote, "light on policy and light on legal rationale."

Montana Tuesday Trivia Answer

There isn't a specific price for ONLY Montana, but in 2000 a dozen eggs only cost an average of .91 cents a dozen. However, the U.S. Inflation Calculator shows that's the equivalent of $2.03 right now, still waaaay cheaper. 🍳