MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Montana, March 27 -- The U.S. Air Force (341st Missile Wing) issued the following news: Malmstrom raised its Health Protection Condition (HPCON) to Charlie from Bravo on March 25 in accordance with a Secretary of the Air Force directive designed to more actively combat the spread of COVID-19 across the Department of the Air Force and our local communities. HPCON Charlie indicates a substantial health threat which requires heightened measures such as stricter guideline  more

BILLINGS, Montana, March 25 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana, Kurt G. Alme, issued the following news release: U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme announced that more than $163 million in Department of Justice grants is available to help communities address America's addiction crisis. "Montana communities are struggling with methamphetamine and related violent crime. Hopefully, these funds can be used to help stop drug dealers and help prevent and treat addiction," U.S. Attorney Alme said.  more

BILLINGS, Montana, March 25 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana, Kurt G. Alme, issued the following news release: U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme announced that more than $65 million in Department of Justice grants is available to help communities combat human trafficking and serve adults and children who are victimized in trafficking operations. "Human trafficking is a reprehensible crime. Those responsible need to be held accountable and those victimized need help. We hope these funds c  more

BOZEMAN, Montana, March 27 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency - Montana Field Office issued the following news release: * * * - FSA Services Available by Phone Appointment Only * * * USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) county offices are open in Montana by phone appointment only until further notice, and FSA staff are available to continue helping agricultural producers with program signups, loan servicing and other important actions. Additionally, FSA is relaxing the l  more

KAMIAH, Idaho, March 26 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's U.S. Forest Service unit - Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests - issued the following news release: Personal use firewood cutting on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests will be free to the general public from April 1 through June 1, 2020. A personal use firewood permit will not be required during this time. Personal use firewood cutting allows you to remove downed timber or cut standing dead trees under most conditions on   more

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced a new pilot program that enables farmers in the Prairie Pothole region to receive payments for planting perennial cover for conservation use for three to five years. The new Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Soil Health and Income Protection Program (SHIPP) pilot is available to producers in Iowa, Min  more