Montana News
Knudsen misconduct charges; Prison overcrowding; Grizzly bear killed near Libby
Briefs: Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is set to appear before an oversight board to address 41 charges of professional misconduct; State lawmakers Tuesday finalized recommendations to ease overcrowding in the Montana State Prison; Food-conditioned grizzly killed near Libby.
- Broadcast on:
- 19 Sep 2024
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- other
With Montana News, I'm Eleanor Smith. Montana Attorney General Austin Knudson is set to appear before an oversight board to address 41 charges of professional misconduct. The commission on practice scheduled Knudson for a hearing October 9th at 9am at the Montana Supreme Court. The commission said Knudson has assaulted the integrity of the Montana Supreme Court in communications and public lawsuits defending the state legislature. Knudson says he's not violated any rules of professional conduct. He says his criticism of the state's high court is protected speech. His motion to dismiss the case was denied. Knudson is currently seeking re-election to be Montana's top attorney. He faces Democrat Ben Alke, early voting starts October 7th. Montana wildlife officials euthanized a grizzly bear near Libby Tuesday. Montana Fish Wildlife and Park says it received multiple reports of a two-year-old male breaking into chicken coops, greenhouses, and sheds on residential properties in the silver butte area. Officials said the bear became conditioned to human food sources and posed a safety risk. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved euthanizing the bear. State lawmakers Tuesday finalized recommendations to ease overcrowding in the Montana State prison. Inmate counts in Montana have increased 65% since 2000, but facilities to house those inmates have not expanded at the same rate. The committee issued four recommendations. One proposes working with a private prison to help build a new facility. Another would work with Yellowstone County to house female inmates on land initially dedicated to the construction of the Yellowstone County detention facility. The last two recommendations propose expanding construction at the state prison to include two new residence units as well as upgrade the existing facilities to accommodate them. In Missoula, I'm Elinor Smith.