Bitterroot Mine on the Federal Fast Track

An effort to develop a "rare earth elements" mine at the headwaters of the Bitterroot River has popped up on the Trump Administration's list of projects that could be "fast-tracked" through the federal permitting process.

U.S. Critical Minerals has been working off and on for the past couple of years to explore the mining potential for "rare earth" and "gallium" deposits on Sheep Creek, using a provision for that activity under U.S. Forest Service rules.

Now, the Sheep Creek project is showing up on the "FAST 41" dashboard with the "environmental review and permitting status" as "planned." No date is listed for completing that process, and the government site indicates a "permitting timetable will be posted on or before December 2nd."

Buckle down, here comes the Montana cold

If you've been wondering where the snow and cold are, we might have found it, with National Weather Service forecasters looking at the chance for our first "Arctic blast" of the winter this coming Thanksgiving Day weekend.

While most of November has been marked by dry, mild weather, the latest trends are persistently showing more typical late fall weather through this coming week. That's starting with some winter weather conditions along the Divide, and higher elevations across North Central Montana today, followed by a break with colder morning temperatures Tuesday, and the next push of stormy weather returning Wednesday.

     ️ This coming weekend, temperatures will probably plunge to below zero west of the Divide and some of the first significant snowfall of the season.

READ MORE" Montana's Thanksgiving Travel Forecast

Investigation underway after woman killed during a high-speed chase

The Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office is handling the investigation into a weekend chase that resulted in the death of an older Helena woman when the suspect's car crashed into her home.

Montana Highway Patrol says that during the pursuit on Lake Helena Drive, the 52-year-old driver lost control of his car, smashing into the home's bedroom, killing the woman and seriously injuring a 76-year-old man, in addition to the suspect.

In a statement, MHP said:

"Deciding whether to pursue a motor vehicle is among the most critical decisions made by troopers. It is a decision that must be made quickly and under difficult, often unpredictable circumstances. The safety of Montanans and the traveling public is always the top priority for troopers when engaging in a pursuit."

Gas prices remain flat, more expensive than last Thanksgiving

Average gasoline prices in Montana have fallen 0.3 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.99 a gallon, according to GasBuddy's survey of 615 stations in Montana on Sunday.

Prices in Montana are 4.4 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 6.2 cents per gallon higher than a year ago.

      The national average price of diesel has increased 0.8 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $3.77 per gallon.

Airplane molester sent to prison

A New Jersey man who admitted to sexually assaulting a woman passenger on a flight from Bozeman to Dallas will spend 8 months in a federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.

Judge Dana Christensen passed sentence on 40-year-old Bhaveshkumar Shukla for one count of "abusive sexual contact." Prosecutors say he repeatedly rubbed the victim's upper leg throughout the flight, even though the victim repeatedly demanded that he stop.