Fire investigators have begun the work of physically examining the remains of a fire that destroyed a block of downtown Miles City on March 23rd. The state fire marshall, Miles City Fire & Rescue, the Miles City Police Department and representatives from several property and casualty insurance carriers are expected to be on the scene for the two day investigation.

Defense lawyers in the environmental crimes trial of W.R. Grace & Co. plan to call their final witness next Wednesday, and hope to hand the case over to jurors soon after. Assuming closing arguments will take a full day, the jury could begin deliberations as early as May 8th. The government alleges that Grace and four former executives conspired to hide health risks posed by asbestos in vermiculite extracted at a Libby mine the company closed in 1990.

Just a day after the 61st legislative session adjourned, Governor Brian Schweitzxer vetoed six bills yesterday, as dozens of bills are hitting his desk. Schweitzer has said he could veto more bills, and has not ruled out line item vetoes in the state's main budget.bill. He vetoed one bill during the session.

Using jet fuel created from camelina seeds developed by Sustainable Oils of Bozeman, a new study says jet fuel made with the oilseed crop could cut grenhouse gas emissions by 84%, compared with jet fuel from petroleum. The study's finding is expected to be used by the aviation industry, as it weighs a number of alternative fuels with the potential to cut costs and curb emissions.

The state of Montana is appealing tothe state supreme court, a 2008 ruling by Helena District Judge Dorothy McCarter, that says Montanans have a constitutional right to physician assisted suicide. With the ruling, Montana joined Oregon and Washington as states that allow dying patients to end their lives with a doctor's assistance if their suffering becomes too great to bear.

State lawmakers brought the 2009 legislature to a quiet close yesterday at 2:32 o'clock, approving an $8 billion, 2 year state budget, a federal stimulus package worth nearly $1 billion, a key property tax abatement, a fully funded Montana Healthy Kids Program, and a 3% increase in state spending for public schools in each of the next two years.

U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula is considering motions to dismiss charges in the W.R. Grace & Co. asbestos case, but has not yet ruled on the defence motions for dismissal. He has acted on a motion from the prosecution, dismissing charges against of the five former executives on trial, because of a lack of evidence.

Legislative committees have hammered out details of a bipartisan budget compromise that gives both Democrats and Republicans something to vote for when it hits the full legislature today, the 90th, and final day lawmakers are constitutionally allowed to meet. The budget, stimulus and property tax reappraisal bills must be passed by the house and senate, before they go to the governor for approval, or not.

So far, no cases of the swine flu that has been spreading across North America have arisin in Montana. State health officials say it most likely will be here, but, there is no need for panic, because the strain of influenza is spread the same way, and carries with it the same risks as normal seasonal influenza.

The public health emergency declaration in the United States, in response to the recent swine flu outbreak in Mexico, has not affected Montana, yet, as so far, there have been no confirmed cases in Montana, but state health officials are watching the situation as it develops, and have been keeping in touch with federal health officials.