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>> FROM MTN NEWS. THIS IS MONTANA THIS MORNING. >> YELLOW TAPE ROPE AROUND THE EMERGENCY ROOM PARKING LOT. WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR AS BILLINGS POLICE INVESTIGATE A POSSIBLE HOMICIDE AT BILLINGS CLINIC. WE UNFORTUNATELY LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE PROBABLY GONNA GET STOLEN BIKE THEFTS ON THE RISE. HOW FAMILIES FEEL AFTER A RASH OF CRIME TARGETING THEIR KIDS. BICYCLES. >> HE REALLY DIDN’T STARTING DIMINISH A BIG HELPING HAND FOR CENTRAL DISPATCHERS. HOW MORE THAN $100,000 IS SET TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR HARDEN. POLICE. >> THOSE STORIES AND MUCH MORE COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR. GOOD MORNING. AND WELCOME BACK TO MONTANA THIS MORNING ON THIS THURSDAY, JULY 24TH, I’M HAYLEY MONACO HERE WITH MILLER ROBSON. GOOD MORNING, TONY HEALY AND GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO THURSDAY AND AGAIN, WE’RE BOTH WEARING BLUE. >> SHOWING KIND OF DAY WE HAVE TODAY? YEAH, BLUE SKIES. LOT OF SUNSHINE GETTING READY FOR HOPEFULLY THE LAUNCH DOWN THERE AND EVEN PARKING AT THE BIG SKY BALLOON RALLY IN TOWN. SO THE WEATHER WILL BE PERFECT. SATURDAY NIGHT, A MAN PARK. IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE BLUE GLOW THE MIDDLE, THE WARM SIDE, THE PRETTY SEASONAL OUT THERE. NOW, WE’RE COMING OFF A COUPLE DAYS WHERE WE’VE BEEN BELOW AVERAGE OR HIGH YESTERDAY OF 76 ABOUT 13 DEGREES BELOW THE NORM. OUR LOW OF 60 PRETTY SEASONAL, THOUGH, TOP GUST YESTERDAY AT 25 MILES AN HOUR. WE DID HAVE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING BRIEFLY HERE IN PARTS OF YELLOWSTONE COUNTY, INCLUDING A BILLINGS AND LOCKWOOD SEYMOUR TO THE NORTH OF US. NOTHING REALLY CAME OUT OF THAT. WE HAVE SOME GUSTY WINDS AND MAYBE SOME RAIN. WE DID HAVE AROUND THE ACT AND WE HAD A GUST, I THINK, NEAR 50 MILES AN HOUR. AND WE EVEN HAD QUARTER SIZE HAIL DOWN IN PORTIONS OF POWDER RIVER. NOW TODAY IN THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE STATE, WE STILL HAVE A CHANCE OF SEEING SOME SEVERE STORMS WILL TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THAT COMING UP. BUT FOR THE MOISTURE TOTALS FOR THE SEASON, WHERE FOR THE YEAR, REALLY, WE’RE REALLY GREAT SHAPE. THE LATEST DROUGHT MONITOR COMES OUT LATER THIS MORNING AND WE’RE STILL LOOKING GOOD HERE IN YELLOWSTONE COUNTY AROUND COLSTRIP FORSYTH BROUGHT US. WE HAVE A FEW SHOWERS THIS MORNING AND THAT COULD RAMP BACK UP AS WE GET INTO THE AFTERNOON RIGHT NOW AS WE WAKE UP TEMPERATURES MAINLY IN THE 50’S. WE’VE GOT 58 RIGHT NOW IN BILLINGS AS WE SEE THE SUN COMING WINDS OUT WEST AT ABOUT 6 MILES AN HOUR HIGH TODAY, GETTING UP TO ABOUT 87 WITH LOTS OF SUNSHINE. SO A PRETTY SEASONAL DAY BEFORE WE GET HOTTER. YOU CAN SEE SOME AREAS TRYING TO GET INTO THE 90’S THIS AFTERNOON, I MENTIONED THERE IS A SEVERE WEATHER THREAT. THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE STATE TODAY. WE’LL TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THAT. AND IF WE HAVE ANY MORE BUMPY WEATHER HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND, WE’LL DO THAT AS WELL. SOME THANK YOU SO MUCH, HIM. WE BEGIN THIS MORNING WITH MULTIPLE BREAKING NEWS SITUATIONS IN BILLINGS, BILLINGS POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A POSSIBLE MURDER IN TH PARKING LOT OF THE EMERGENCY ROOM AT BILLINGS CLINIC. >> 10 NEWS WAS ON SCENE OVERNIGHT ALONGSIDE POLICE POLICE SAY THEY WERE ON SCENE AS OF 9.17, LAST NIGHT TO KNOW, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE ACCESS TO THE ER STILL TAPED OFF. WELL, AFTER MIDNIGHT, DETAILS ARE LIMITED. POLICE ARE NOT RELEASING MUCH INFORMATION RIGHT NOW, BUT DO SAY THE BILLINGS CLINIC ER REMAINS OPEN. HOSPITAL OFFICIALS ARE ASKING PATIENTS TO USE THE EAST PORTION OF THE PARKING LOT TO ACCESS THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR NOW. OFFICERS AND HOSPITAL STAFF ARE BOTH. THEY’RE READY TO HELP GUIDE PEOPLE. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY AND POLICE ARE NOT YET RELEASING IF ANYONE IS IN CUSTODY OR RELEASING ANY DETAILS ABOUT THE VICTIM. WE’LL KEEP YOU UPDATED THROUGHOUT THE MORNING AS WE LEARN MORE INDEED. MORE BREAKING NEWS OVERNIGHT. BILLINGS POLICE ARE ALSO URGING DRIVERS TO AVOID AN INTERSECTION NORTH OF THE AIRPORT THIS MORNING. OFFICERS SAY THEY ARE INVESTIGATING A DEADLY CRASH. THAT CRASH WAS REPORTED AROUND 10, 15 LAST NIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION OF SKYWAY DRIVE AND ALKALI CREEK ROAD. AS OF 10:30PM, THE ENTIRE ROADWAY IS BLOCKED OFF AND POLICE ARE ASKING ANYONE TO FIND A DIFFERENT ROUTE AROUND THE SCENE. THIS IS ALSO A DEVELOPING STORY AND WE ARE WORKING WITH POLICE TO CONFIRM MORE DETAILS INVOLVING WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THE CRASH. WE’LL KEEP YOU UPDATED BOTH ON AIR AND ONLINE. IN CONTINUING COURTROOM COVERAGE. A JUDGE HAS SINCE BRIAN KOHBERGER TO 4 LIFE SENTENCES FOR THE MURDERS OF IDAHO COLLEGE STUDENTS. IT’S A STORY STILL SENDING WAVES ACROSS THE NATION THIS MORNING, ALEX MILLER REVISITS THE MOMENT OF SENTENCING. >> CONVICTED MURDERER BRYAN COBURG ARE OFFICIALLY BEHIND BARS FOR LIFE WITHOUT ANY CHANCE OF CHANGING IT. THE JUDGE TELLING CO BERGER HE’S ENDING HIS 15 MINUTES OF FAME, BUT NOT BEFORE THE VICTIMS LOVED ONES GOT THEIR SHOT AT HIM. FOR MORE THAN 2 HOURS. THE CONVICTED KILLER OF 4 UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO STUDENTS HAD TO LISTEN TO THIR LOVED ONES LANE TO HIM FOR SOME, THE FURY WAS APPARENT YOU DIDN’T WIN. >> YOU JUST EXPOSE YOURSELF AS A COWARD. YOU ARE. YOU’RE DELUSIONAL. PATHETIC HYPOCHONDRIAC. LOSER LURKING IN THE SHADOWS MADE YOU FEEL POWERFUL BECAUSE NO ONE EVER PAID ANY ATTENTION IN THE LIGHT. YOU ARE NOT PROFOUND. YOUR PATHETIC. YOU AREN’T SPECIAL. 48 NOT A SERIOUS OR EXCEPTIONAL. DON’T EVER GET IT TWISTED AGAIN. POLICE OFFICERS TELL US WITHIN MINUTES. >> DNA LIKE A CALLING CARD. WITH THAT CARELESS THAT FOOLISH. THAT’S TO YOUR EVIL. THERE’S NO PLACE FOR YOU IN HEAVEN. YOU TOOK OUR CHILDREN. YOU ARE GOING TO SUFFER MAN. I’M SHAKING. SO I WANT TO REACH OUT TO YOU, BUT I JUST HOPE YOU MY ENERGY. OKAY. GO TO. >> FOR OTHERS LIKE ROOMMATE, DYLAN MORTENSEN, THE PAIN WAS PALPABLE. NEARLY 3 YEARS LATER. >> IT TOOK THE WHITE THE CONCRETE IT INTO EVERY ROOM. HE TOOK AWAY MEET. EVERYONE FEELS SAFE, LOVED AND FULL OF IT TOOK AWAY THE ABILITY FOR ME TO GET A LITTLE BIT LOW FOR SO PROUD OF BOTH. >> MORTENSON AND THEIR ROOMMATE, BETHANY FUNKE WERE BOTH HOME AT THE TIME OF THE MURDERS. THEY TOLD THE COURT THEY LIVE IN FEAR EVEN SLEEPING IN THEIR PARENTS ROOMS FOR A YEAR. FUNK SAID SHE LIVES WITH GUILT OF NOT CALLING 9-1-1, EARLIER, EVEN THOUGH SHE KNOWS THOSE 4 COULD NOT HAVE BEEN SAVED. ETHAN CHAPIN IS FAMILY CHOSE NOT TO ATTEND SO MANY QUESTIONS STILL LOOM, INCLUDING A MOTIVE, SOMETHING WE MAY NEVER GET. THE JUDGE SAYING EVEN IF CO BERGER GAVE ONE, HE’S NOT TO BE TRUSTED. >> THE NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS INHERENTLY NOT UNDERSTANDABLE. MAKES IS DEPENDENT UPON THE DEFENDANT TO PROVIDE US WITH A REASON. AND THAT GIVES HIM THE SPOTLIGHT. THE TENSION AND THE POWER HE APPEARS TO CRAE. >> THE KILLER DECLINED TO SAY ANYTHING AT THE HEARING. PROSECUTORS EXPLAINING THEMSELVES AT THE END OF WEDNESDAY’S HEARING SAYING THEY HOPE THE COMMUNITY CAN MOVE FORWARD. AND DESPITE THE OBJECTION FROM SOME, THEY DID OFFER THE FAMILY’S INSIGHT INTO THEIR THINKING AHEAD OF OFFERING KOBER THE DEAL. ALEX MILLER, SCRIPPS NEWS GROUP, NEW YORK. ALEX, THANK YOU. IN CONTINUING COVERAGE, YELLOWSTONE COUNTY WILL SOON HAVE A NEW COMMISSIONER TO 3 FINALISTS. FORMER PSC COMMISSIONER KIRK BUSHMAN. >> CHARLIE LEVERAGE, A FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE METRO PARK ADVISORY BOARD AND CHRIS WHITE WHO SERVES ON THE BOARD FOR THE YELLOWSTONE VALLEY ELECTRIC CO-OP THE CANDIDATES ARE VYING FOR THE SEAT OF LATE COMMISSIONER JOHN OSTLUND WHO DIED LAST MONTH IN A PLANE CRASH. OUR DAVID JAY CATCHES UP WITH THE FINAL 3. >> COMMISSIONERS MARK MORRISON, MIKE WATERS INTERVIEWED THE 3 CANDIDATES ON TUESDAY. VERY CONSERVATIVE. I LOOK AT EVERYTHING ON OUR BUDGET LINES. YOU HAVE TO BE INVOLVED IN YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THERE’S A CERTAIN CALLING INSIDE MY BELLY THAT SAYS YOU SHOULD GET BACK. >> THE YELLOWSTONE COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY HAS BEEN A CONCERN FOR RESIDENTS AND DEALING WITH CREATING AN ADDITIONAL 500 BEDS COULD COST MORE THAN 200 MILLION DOLLARS. MY GUESS IS THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE GOING TO BE TASKED WITH WITH SOMETHING IN THE NEXT YEARS AND IS PROBABLY SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT YEARS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTY COMING UP. AND THAT IS GOING TO BE LOOKING AT JAIL EXPANSION. >> THAT’S A LOT OF MONEY. AND SO I DON’T THINK THE VOTERS REALLY HAVE AN APPETITE TO MILL LEVY IN THAT SIZE. SO IT’S NEEDED MORE DID THAT’S GOT TO BE COMMUNICATED TO THE VOTERS. CHRIS WHITE SAID HE WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR AN INTERVIEW BUT DID ADDRESS A JAIL ISSUE WITH THE COMMISSIONERS, THE JAIL IN THIS 72 HOUR. HOLD. >> HOLDING FACILITY IS GOING TO BE A FANTASTIC FACILITY. YELLOWSTONE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ALSO HAVE A BIG RESPONSIBILITY OVERSEE METRO PARK. I REALLY DON’T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH MAKING INVESTMENTS IN METRO PARK, BUT THEY DO HAVE TO BE PRUDENT WITH THE IDEA THAT THEY HAVE A RETURN. >> THAT WOULD BENEFIT PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY. WHAT A GREAT PLACE FOR BILLINGS SENT ME THE ECONOMIC IMPACT US IS TREMENDOUS FOR THE COUNTY? >> WELL, METRO PARK DID NOT COME UP WITH THE INTERVIEWS. WHITE TALKED ABOUT BUDGETS. SO AS FAR AS BUDGETING, THAT’S SOMETHING THAT I LIVE AND DIE NUMBERS EVERY DAY THAT WEEK WHOEVER IS CHOSEN WILL SERVE FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF WILL NEED TO RUN FOR REELECTION IN 2026. 3. EVERYTHING WORKS OUT. WELL, BE HAPPY TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION. I’M SET UP TO RUN THAT CAMPAIGN NEXT YEAR AND WHITE ADDRESSED REELECTION LAST WEEK WHEN THE YELLOWSTONE COUNTY REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE PICK THE CANDIDATES RECOMMENDED THE COMMISSIONERS WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR REELECTION. >> I MEAN, THE FACE, THE PUBLIC EVERY DAY I SEE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME NEXT TUESDAY. >> I ENVISION THAT WE WILL BE TAKING A VOTE ON FILLING POSITION HERE 3, YOU KNOW, GOOD MEN WHO ARE GOOD CANDIDATES AND YOU’RE GOING TO MAKE OUR DECISION DIFFICULT, WHICH IS PROBABLY A GOOD THING. THE PROCESS TOOK A LITTLE MORE THAN AN HOUR TO INTERVIEW THE 3 CANDIDATES ON TUESDAY. >> COMMISSIONERS MORSE AND WATERS WILL ANNOUNCE YOUR PICK NEXT WEEK AT THE TUESDAY MEETING BILLINGS, DAVID. JAY MTN NEWS. >> DAVID, THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORTING. WELL, IT’S THAT TIME OF SUMMER TO TAKE A DRIVE ALONG THE EAST SHORE OF FLATHEAD LAKE ON HIGHWAY 35 AS CHERRY HARVEST IS IN FULL SWING. THIS YEAR’S CROP IS A MIXED BAG AS SOME ORCHARDS SURVIVED, DAMAGING WINDS AND HEAVY RAINS TO START JULY. OTHERS WEREN’T SO LUCKY. MTN SEAN WELLS HAS MORE ON THIS YEAR’S HARVEST FOR THIS MORNING’S MONTANA AG REPORT. >> WHEN THE WHEN THE FRUTAS IS DAMAGED. I DON’T THINK I’VE HAD A CRIME LIKE THIS. BRUCE JOHNSON OWNS ONE OF MISTER ORCHARDS, ROUGHLY 800 CHERRY TREES ON 5 ACRES OFF HIGHWAY. 35 AND CHERRIES WHEN THEY’RE JUST ON THE VERGE OF BEING RIGHT. HAVING A LOT OF RAIN IS NOT NOT A GOOD SITUATION. JOHNSON SAYS HEAVY RAINS PAIRED WITH HIGH WINDS AND EVEN HAIL COMPLETELY DAMAGED HIS ORCHARD TO THE POINT OF MAKING HIS CHERRIES ON PAY CABLE FOR MARKET DUE TO TREES AND BRANCHES JUST BECAUSE THEY’RE WEIGHTED DOWN. CHERRIES ARE JUST WHIPPING UP AND DOWN LIKE THIS. AND YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT RICHARDS RUB AGAINST EACH OTHER BRANCHES. THEY GOT BRUISED. BRUCE SPLIT AND MOLD OUR WORDS. CHERRY GROWERS DON’T LIKE TO HEAR THAT. JUST SUGAR WATER AND THAT’S GONNA THAT’S GONNA MOLD. JOHNSON IS PART OF THE FLATHEAD LAKE. CHERRY GROWERS COOPERATIVE ON FINLEY POINT WHICH IS OPERATED BY MONSON FRUIT COMPANY AND SHIFTS CHERRIES FOR MORE THAN 80 FLATHEAD ORCHARDS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY BECAUSE THEY CAN SPLIT EVEN AFTER THEY’RE PICKED. IF THEY’RE FULL RAIN, WATER MONSON FRUIT COMPANY FIELD, REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN CAMPBELL SAYS MORE THAN A MILLION POUNDS OF DAMAGE. CHERRIES WILL BE LEFT ON TREES. THE PROBLEM IS WHEN PROCESSING FRUIT AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BOX OF FRUIT THAT IS 100% PERFECT. >> CHERRIES. THAT’S HAD THAT GETS TO BE AN ISSUE IN 30% OF THEM MIGHT BE. >> CAMPBELL SAYS CHERRY MARKET DEMAND IN THE SIZE OF FRUIT ARE ALSO MAJOR FACTORS IN THIS YEAR’S CROP SMILE FOR. IT’S THE FIRST THING TO GO OUT OF THE MARKET AT THIS POINT. HOPING THAT WE CAN STILL GET GOOD MILLION. >> POUNDS PICKED. PIC UNSLD. CAMPBELL SAYS THERE’S DIFFERENT WAYS TO SUPPORT CHERRY GROWERS LIKE STOPPING BY A U-PICK ORCHARD OR BUYING FRUIT FROM CHERRY STANDS ALONG HIGHWAY. 35 STILL PLENTY OF GOOD FOOD. >> HE SAYS THE FLATHEAD LAKE CHERRY BUSINESS IS BECOMING HARDER TO PREDICT EACH LIKE THE WEATHER. I DON’T KNOW WHAT NORMAL IS ANYMORE. WE FED REALLY FOR BAD YEARS IN A SO IT’S >> WE WERE DUE FO