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>> GENNA’S NEWS LEADER. THIS IS THE MTN NEWS. >> NEWS FOR THIS THURSDAY. I’M HAILEY MONACO. LET’S GET RIGHT TO OUR TOP STORY IN A LANDMARK DECISION. A DIVIDED U.S. SUPREME COURT HAS UPHELD A TENNESSEE LAW RESTRICTING SOME MEDICAL TREATMENTS FOR TRANSGENDER MINORS. THAT LAW WAS CHALLENGED BY BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND 3 FAMILIES ARGUING THE TREATMENTS ARE LIFE-SAVING FOR TEENS DIAGNOSED WITH GENDER DYSPHORIA. IT’S A DECISION NOT COULD HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT HERE IN MONTANA, ONE OF 26 & OTHER STATES WITH RESTRICTIONS ON GENDER AFFIRMING CARE. OUR DAVID JAY TYPES DEEPER INTO WHAT THE RULING MEANS FOR THE TREASURE STATE. >> THE U.S. SUPREME COURT RULED 6 TO3 THAT A TENNESSEE LAW PROHIBITING PUBERTY BLOCKERS HORMONE THERAPY AND SOME SURGERIES DOES NOT VIOLATE THE 14TH AMENDMENT AND DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE BASED ON 6 CHILDREN DESERVE PROTECTION FROM OUR STATES. NOT EXPERIMENTATION. MONTANA FAMILY FOUNDATION SAYS THIS RULING IS GOOD FOR CHILDREN WHILE THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION CALLS THIS A DEVASTATING LOSS. >> GENERAL CONCERN ABOUT THIS ATMOSPHERE ANTI-TRANSGENDER U.S. CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS WROTE FOR THE MAJORITY STATING ROLE IS NOT TO JUDGE THE WISDOM, FAIRNESS OR LOGIC OF THE LOBBY FOR US. WE LEAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING ITS POLICY TO THE PEOPLE, THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. >> STATES SHOULD BE EMBOLDENED TO TO PASS LEGISLATION THAT PROTECTS CHILDREN FROM YOUR REVERSIBLE CONSEQUENCES. UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK WE’RE GOING TO SEE AN EPIDEMIC OF CHILDREN EXPERIENCING THESE CONSEQUENCES LATER ON IN LIFE AND LEST DATES MAKE MOVES TO PROTECT THEM. NOW. >> DISSENTING JUSTICE SONIA SOTOMAYOR WROTE THAT WITH THE DECISION. THE COURT ABANDONS TRANSGENDER CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES TO POLITICAL WINS. THESE DECISIONS SHOULD BE MADE BETWEEN AN INDIVIDUAL. >> THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO BUSINESS INSERTING ITSELF INTO THAT MEDICAL REAL. >> DECEMBER, THE MONTANA SUPREME COURT AGREED WITH A LOWER COURT TO THE LAW PROHIBITING MINORS WITH GENDER DYSPHORIA FROM GETTING SURGICAL AND MEDICAL TREATMENTS IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. AND NOW THERE IS SOME DISAGREEMENT ABOUT HOW THIS U.S. SUPREME COURT RULING WILL AFFECT MONTANA LAW. >> THE LEGISLATURE IS NOT GIVING UP IN THE STATE OF MONTANA IS NOT GIVING UP ON MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE DEFINITIONS. THAT MAKES SENSE THAT ARE OBJECTIVE, THAT IS IMMUTABLE. YOU CAN’T CHANGE IT AND THAT WE’RE GOING TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM THESE DANGEROUS EXPERIMENTS. WE ENJOY A GREATER CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS AND OUR STATE CONSTITUTION THEN EXIST UNDER THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION. >> AND SO GENDER AFFIRMING CARE FOR TRANSGENDER MINORS REMAINS LEGAL IN THE STATE AND WILL FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. 26 STATES HAVE LAWS WAS RESTRICTIONS ON THESE PROCEDURES. >> IN BILLINGS, DAVID, JAY MTN NEWS. >> JUST VERY QUIET ON DOPPLER RADAR. YOU SEE A LITTLE ACTIVITY MOVING OUT OF EASTERN MONTANA TOWARDS THE DAKOTAS. BUT WE EXPECT THE SYSTEM TO REALLY START TO AMP UP A LITTLE BIT FOR THIS AFTERNOON. AT LEAST SOME CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THAT COULD CREATE SOME GUSTY WINDS. ANYTHING IN THE GREEN SHADED REGION. BASICALLY ALL THE SOUTHERN HALF OF MONTANA EXTENDING OFF TOWARDS THE DAKOTAS. THE POSSIBILITY OF STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS WITH WIND BY FAR BEING THE NUMBER ONE THREAT. BUT THERE IS IN THE LIGHT GREEN SHADED AREAS, INDICATIONS IT PRETTY MUCH ANYWHERE IN THE REGION COULD SEE SOME STRONG STORMS TOMORROW AREAS ACROSS MONTANA ONCE AGAIN, SOME CHANCE OF STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS, PERHAPS EVEN MORE SO IN NORTHEASTERN MONTANA. >> NOW, TIME FOR TODAY’S LEADING LOOK, AS WE FOLLOW SOME OF THE OTHER STORIES MAKING HEADLINES ACROSS MONTANA, THERE IS AN EVACUATION WARNING FOR GROWING FIRE SOUTHWEST OF HELENA, THE LEWIS AND CLARK SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAID RESIDENTS ON RIM ANY ROAD AND ALL FEEDER ROAD SOUTH OF THEIR GOLD ROAD SHOULD BE PREPARED TO EVAUATE IF THE JERICHO FIRE BEGINS TO GROW. THE FIRE IS BURNING ABOUT 5 MILES SOUTH OF MCDONALD PASS AN ESTIMATED AT 188 ACRES TUESDAY AFTERNOON SAW INCREASED BURNING AS THE BLAZE CROSSED INTO THE MINNEHAHA DRAINAGE AROUND 140 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO THE FIRE AS WELL AS MULTIPLE HELICOPTERS AND HEAVY MANAGERS, THE FIRE WAS STARTED BY LIGHTNING AND IT WAS FIRST REPORTED ON SUNDAY. IT WASN’T YOUR TYPICAL BANK ROBBERY YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. 59 YEAR-OLD MARK GILBERT WALKED INTO FIRST SECURITY BANK AND REPORTEDLY STATED I’M DECLARING THIS A BANK ROBBERY. GILBERT THEN DEMANDED THE TELLER, GAVE HIM ONE DOLLAR. HE THEN WALKED AWAY. BUT THE DOLLAR BILL ON ANOTHER COUNTER TOP IN THE LOBBY AND ALLEGEDLY ASKED THE TELLER TO CALL THE POLICE AND TELL THEM IT WAS A BANK ROBBERY. GILBERT THEN ON THE STEPS IN FRONT OF THE BANK UNTIL LAW ENFORCEMENT ARRIVED. GILBERT IS BEING HELD AT THE GALLATIN COUNTY DETENTION CENTER AND STARTING TODAY, SOME YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, RIVERS AND STREAMS WILL BE CLOSING MUCH EARLIER THAN EXPECTED. THE MADISON RIVER FIRE WHOLE RIVER AND GIVEN RIVER WILL BE SHUTTING DOWN DAILY AT 2 IN THE AFTERNOON. THE CLOSURES DUE TO WARM WATER TEMPERATURES AND LOW RIVER FLOWS, WATER TEMPS HAVE EXCEEDED 68 DEGREES IN RECENT DAYS AND THOSE CONDITIONS CAN BE LETHAL TO TROUT. THE CLOSURE WILL PROTECT THE PARK’S NATIVE AND WILD TROUT FISHERIES AND WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL CONDITIONS IMPROVE YELLOWSTONE LAKE AND OTHER LAKES WILL REMAIN OPEN TO FISHING FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET. FROM HUNTLY TO HIGH WOOD AND SHEPHERD TO SHARED IN MUCH OF MONTANA WAS SLAMMED BY SEVERE WEATHER AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK. BY NOW, YOU’VE SEEN THE DAMAGE TO HOMES LIKE THIS ONE THAT WAS COMPLETELY FLATTENED MONDAY AND SHEPHERD. BUT THAT’S JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG WHEN IT COMES TO DAMAGE IN THIS AFTERNOON’S MONTANA AG REPORT. HANNAH PEDEFERRI TAKES US TO TO MONTANA RANCH IS REELING WITH LOSSES AFTER THEIR ENTIRE CROPS WERE WIPED OUT. A SCENARIO MANY ACROSS THE STATE CAN RELATE TO. >> THIS IS WHAT REMAINS ON. NORMAN HOLLAND SAID HE GOT A CALL MONDAY THAT IT WAS NO LONGER STANDING WHERE IT ALWAYS HAS LITERALLY BLOWN AWAY IN A MATTER OF MINUTES. NORMAN. >> YOU REALIZE YOU’RE THE SHAME OR SHED IS GONE. IT’S NOT IN YOUR FIELD. >> AND NOT ONLY IS HIS GONE, SHEPHERD GOT HIT THE HARDEST. THIS WAS ALSO SWALLOWED BY DEBRIS SITE. NORMAN IS STILL TRYING TO PROCESS. >> I’M JUST WAITING FOR THEM TO COME AND LOOK AT IT SO WE CAN START CLEANING BUT NOT EVERYTHING CAN BE CLEANED UP. LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY WENT THROUGH A LOT MORE. >> 150 ACRES OF WHAT USED TO BE 2 TO 3 FEET OF MALT BARLEY IS NOW FLAT. >> THAT CROP UP, THERE’S PROBABLY WORTH A ABOUT 100 GRAND. SO THAT’S A LOSS. >> YOU CAN SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT’S GROWING. WELL, IT HURTS. YEAH, IT HURTS. IT’S A REAL FINANCIAL LOSS. >> JUST DOWN THE ROAD, THE MSU AGRICULTURE CENTER OF RESEARCH IN HUNTLEY IS ALSO FACING THE DEVASTATION. >> THERE’S REALLY NOTHING WE HAVE NO CROPS LEFT ON THE STATION. >> UNABLE TO REPLANT. >> WE’LL HAVE NO HARVEST HERE ON STATION FALL. >> SUPERINTENDENT KENT MCVEIGH RECALLS SIMILAR DAMAGE FROM A 2019 STORM. >> MAY HAVE AS MUCH DAMAGE THIS TIME AS WE DID. THEN. >> MCVEIGH ESTIMATES THE STORM HERE CAUSED ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS OF DESTRUCTION. 400 ACRES WAS WIPED OUT. BUT HE SAYS THAT PALES IN COMPARISON TO THE RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTS HAPPENING HERE NOW, LAST. >> WHAT? WHAT’S REALLY PRICELESS TO IS THE COST OF LOSING A YEARS WITH THE DATA. A FIELD DAY SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY AT THE STATION WAS CANCELED. >> BECAUSE THERE’S NOTHING TO SHOW FOR. WAS PROBABLY A FOOT HAVE TO FOOT TALL BEFORE THE STORM AND IT WAS JUST BLASTED DOWN TO THE GROUND BACK ON HOLLAND RANCH NORMENT WHO IS NOW CONTEMPLATING AND WHAT’S NEXT. HE DIDN’T HAVE CROP INSURANCE AND IS NOW TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A PLAN B MIGHT PUT A >> CROP IN MIKE SORGHUM OR SEDAN DRESSER. SOME. >> AND SHEPARD HANNAH PEDEFERRI MTN NEWS. >> OVER LAST WEEKEND, FUNNEL CLOUDS AND LARGE HAIL MOVED THROUGH PARTS OF MONTANA PROMPTING RENEWED ATTENTION ON HOW EMERGENCY ALERTS ARE DELIVERED IN GREAT FALLS AND CASCADE COUNTY. ONE OF THE MAIN TOOLS, LOCAL AGENCIES USES CODE RED, A PUBLIC NOTIFICATION SYSTEM THAT SENDS ALERTS DIRECTLY TO YOUR PHONE, LANDLINE, OR EMAIL DURING TIME. CRITICAL EMERGENCIES. OFFICIALS WITH GREAT FALLS FIRE RESCUE SAY THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED FOR URGENT SITUATIONS LIKE WILDFIRES NEAR HOMES, CHEMICAL SPILLS OR FLOODING THAT COULD REQUIRE EVACUATION OR SHELTER-IN-PLACE ORDERS. HOWEVER, YOU HAVE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE THE ALERTS AND MANY PEOPLE STILL AREN’T IN THE SYSTEM. CODE RED IS NOT USED FOR REGULAR SEVERE WEATHER ALERTS. THOSE ALREADY COME FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OR APPS LIKE YOUR LOCAL AND 10 NEWS APP, WHICH YOU CAN DOWNLOAD TO RECEIVE ALERTS ABOUT YOUR AREA FOR THUNDERSTORMS ARE FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS. CODE RED ALERTS ARE FREE, BUT YOU HAVE TO REGISTER TO RECEIVE THEM TO LEARN HOW VISIT OUR WEBSITE. BACK IN SHEPHERD THROUGH ALL THE WRECKAGE. THE COMMUNITY IS RALLYING TOGETHER IN SUPPORT OF ONE FAMILY. THE DALTON’S WHO TRAGICALLY HAD THEIR TRAILER HOME RIPPED FROM ITS FOUNDATION AND FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN MONDAY ARE STILL TRYING TO PIECE TOGETHER THEIR LIVES. BUT AS MTNS CHARLIE CLUBS REPORTS, IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE THEY’LL BE DOING IT ALONE. >> THE WORK HASN’T STOPPED OR AROUND HERE FOR ABOUT 10 HOURS YESTERDAY IN THE AFTERMATH OF MONDAY NIGHT’S EXTREME STORM. THAT DON’T FAMILY CONTINUES TO PICK UP THE PIECES. JUST TIME DIGGING THROUGH THE RUBBLE, TRYING TO FIND VALUABLES. WHETHER SEARCH HAS FOUND IMPORTANT SENTIMENTAL ITEMS LIKE MY GRANDFATHER’S ASHES SEEING THERE SCATTERED BELONGINGS AND THEIR OVERTURNED HOME IS STILL HAUNTING LIKE EVERY TIME WE COME BACK OUT HERE AND SAY THE AFTERMATH WAS JUST LIKE OPENING A FRESHMAN UP AGAIN, THINGS LIKE CHILDREN’S TOYS, BICYCLES, THE FAMILY, FREEZER AND MATTRESSES ON STRUGGLING NOW. >> CLEANING UP THE DAMAGE HERE IS PROVING TO BE AN ENDLESS PROCESS. >> BUT THANKFULLY, THE FAMILY IS NOW RECEIVING SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY WITH 3 DIFFERENT GOFUNDME IS CREATED IN THEIR BENEFIT. YOU FEEL SO LOVED WITH HER SUPPORT THAT WE’RE SEEING FROM OUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND THE COMMUNITY. IT’S THAT’S A LOT TO TAKE CARE AND AS THE DULLNESS CONTINUE TO CLEAN UP THOSE GOFUNDME ACCOUNTS HAVE PICKED UP STEAM OR MORE THAN GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING. I MEAN, CAN’T THANK EVERYONE ENOUGH. HONESTLY, DON’T SAY ITS SUPPORT. THAT IS SHOCKING CONSIDERING HOW DEVASTATING THE STORM WAS FOR EVERYONE. >> EVERYTHING ON ON EVERYBODY HAVE AND SO MUCH TO FROM SILVA. AND OVER AROUND SAY I WANT SUPPORT AND PEOPLE WANTED TO HELP US. THE FAMILY SAYS THEY DON’T HAVE ACCESS TO THE FUNDS YET NEEDING TO SET UP AN ACCOUNT AT A BANK THAT WILL HONOR THE FUNDS RAISED THE IDEAL THE THROW AND STILL THE MONEY REPRESENTS HOPE. >> I THINK IT KIND OF GIVES US A LITTLE BIT OF SIGH OF RELIEF. WE HOPE EVERYONE ELSE. I GOT AFFECTED BY STORM GETS JUST AS