MTN Noon News with Hailey Monaco 10-9-25

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>> GENNA’S NEWS LEADER. THIS IS THE MTN NEWS. >> FOR THIS THURSDAY. I’M HAILEY MONACO. WE BEGIN AS THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IS NOW IN THE MIDDLE OF ITS 9TH DAY. IT’S A FUNDING FREEZE THAT IS IMPACTING AIR TRAVEL WITH TRAVELERS AT MAJOR AIRPORTS EXPERIENCING DELAYS DUE TO STAFFING SHORTAGES. WELL, THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT COULD ONLY GET WORSE. THE BILLINGS AIRPORT SAYS THEY AREN’T FEELING THE EFFECTS RIGHT NOW CHANCE. VANESSA WILLARDSON HAS MORE ON HOW THEY’RE AVOIDING THE NIGHTMARE. TRAVEL SCENARIOS >> WE HAD TO GET HELP TO REPUBLICANS. TOWN FOR THE NIGHT. STAY IN A HOTEL. WE HAVE OUR BAGS SORT ANY OF THAT. SO IT’S BEEN A LITTLE STRESSFUL MTN BROUGHT JUST ENGINEER JUSTIN HOSA IS TRYING TO FLY BACK HOME TO BILLINGS FROM NASHVILLE. >> BUT HE GOT STOCK IN MINNEAPOLIS. CURRENTLY ARE ON STANDBY. >> TO GO FROM MINNEAPOLIS TO SALT LAKE AND THEN THE BUILDING. BUT WE HEARD FROM A GUY THAT WAS IN THE SHUTTLE FROM THE AIRPORT THAT TO A LOT OF FLIGHTS HAVE BEEN CANCELED OVER NATION. >> TODAY, PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY HAVE HAD THEIR FINGERS CROSSED AS THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN HAS A NUMBER OF AIR TRAFFIC EMPLOYEES CALLING OUT OF WORK SICK YOU KNOW. >> AND A TON OF PEOPLE AVAILABLE COVER IMPORTANT CHEFS. >> DUE TO THE RECENT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, AIRPORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY SUCH AS THE ONE IN MINNEAPOLIS HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING DELAYS. BUT THE AIRPORT RIGHT HERE IN BILLINGS HAS REPORTEDLY DURING JUST FINE. >> RIGHT NOW EVERYTHING IS RUNNING AS NORMAL. WE CAN’T PREDICT WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF AVIATION AT BILLINGS LOGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. PAUL CARA SAYS TSA AGENTS ARE GOING TO GET THEIR LAST PAYCHECK. THIS COMING MONDAY. THERE’S STILL GOING TO GET ONE MORE PAYCHECK. >> AND THEN THEY STOP GETTING PAYCHECKS. AND THAT’S WHEN THINGS MAY START TO CHANGE FOR IT IS TOO SOON TO TELL HOW THE AIRPORT WILL RESPOND IF THE SHUTDOWN CONTINUES. >> BUT KARA HAS FAITH IN THE DILIGENCE OF THE EMPLOYEES TO CONTINUE TO COME TO WORK. THESE FEDERAL WORKERS ARE TOPS. THEY JUST KEEP GOING AND EVENTUALLY THEY’LL GET PAID IN. BILLINGS, VANESSA WILLARDSON MTN NEWS >> TUESDAY NIGHT’S TURNING POINT AND THEN TO MSU IN BOZEMAN, DREW THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE BOTH TO ATTEND THE EVENT AND SOME TO PROTEST MTN SCOTT CITY POWERS WAS INSIDE THE BRICK BREEDEN FIELDHOUSE AND WALKS US THROUGH THE HIGHLIGHTS. I’M HERE AT THE BRICK BREEDEN FIELDHOUSE WHERE TUESDAY NIGHT THE SCENE LOOKED COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AS THOUSANDS OF FOLKS LINED THE BREAK. >> WAITING TO GET IN THE TURNING POINT USA AND I MAY BE OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW, BUT LAST ONE OF THESE ME TAKE YOU INSIDE TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. DOORS OPEN AT 05:00PM AND THE SEATS FLOODED WITH PEOPLE. >> STUDENTS FILLED THE FRONT SECTION. BEN GENERAL ADMISSION FILLED THE REST OF THE 3300 SEATS IN THE ARENA. CHARLIE KIRK POSTERS AWAITING EACH PERSON AS THEY SAT DOWN 6.30, SPEAKERS TOOK THE STAGE. THE AUDIENCE WAS GREETED BY LANE SCHOENBERG CEO OF WIRE. A REFINANCE SERVICE. HE HIGHLIGHTED THE ISSUE OF STUDENT LOAN DEBT IN OUR COUNTRY. IS TO BE STAND DOING NOTHING OR WE TAKE ACTION ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS THEY SHOWN BIRD FOLLOWED BY MONTANA STATE’S TURNING POINT USA CHAPTER PRESIDENT WHO STARTED A MOVING CHANT. PLEASE JOIN ME IN HONORING CHARLIE KIRK BY HOLDING UP THE VALLEY SITTING ON YOUR CHEST. >> ONE TENANT GOVERNOR GREG GIANFORTE TOOK THE STATE MOVING THE CROWD, LEADING THEM IN PRAYER AS WELL AS REMEMBERING KIRK, EVEN STATING HE GAVE KIRK HIS SECOND EVER CHECK TOUGH AND TURNING POINT USA SORELY MISSED. BUT WORK OF TURNING POINT USA CONTINUES AND HAS AMPLIFIED BY HIS ASSET. FINALLY, VIVEK RAMASWAMY AMERICAN ENTREPRENEUR AND POLITICIAN ENTERED THE STAGE ALREADY RECEIVING A STANDING OVATION IS NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT WE STAND AGAINST, BUT WHAT WE ACTUALLY STAND INDIVIDUAL. >> THEY NOT. IN CLASS A TURNING POINT. FASHION STUDENTS LINED UP TO ASK RAMASWAMY POLITICAL QUESTIONS. QUESTION TO YOU IS WHAT MESSAGE YOU HAVE OUT THERE THAT FEEL THE OPTION STUDENTS IS ON. WE CAN FIGURE OUT TOUGH ISSUE REALLY SHOULD NOT. EVERY STUDENT GOT TO ASK THEIR QUESTIONS. BUT THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED RANGE ALL THE WAY FROM ABORTION TO ISRAEL EVEN ASKING RAMASWAMY ABOUT HIS HINDU FAITH DESPITE KURT BEING A DEVOTED CHRISTIAN EVENT WRAPPED UP AND NOW TURNING POINT IS ON THEIR WAY TO THE NEXT TO A STOP. >> UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA REPORTING IN BOZEMAN CASSIDY POWERS MTN NEWS >> WHAT WE KNOW FOR SURE IS THAT WE’RE GOING TO GET RAIN AGAIN ACROSS THE REGION AND SOME MOUNTAIN SNOW. WHAT WE DON’T KNOW IS HOW MUCH AND WHERE IT’S GOING TO END UP. ALTHOUGH THE LATEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS IS A PUSH IT OUT TOWARDS SUNDAY IS SHOWING SOME FAIRLY HEAVY RAIN TOTALS POSSIBLE FROM BOZEMAN, ESPECIALLY INTO THE MOUNTAINS NEARBY UP TO LEWISTOWN ALL THE WAY INTO NORTHEASTERN MONTANA ON THE EUROPEAN MODEL. BUT IF I TAKE A LOOK AT ANOTHER COMPUTER ANALYSIS WILL ALSO SEE THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME SNOW STARTING TO MOVE IN AND SOME OF THAT COULD BE INTO THE AREAS EVEN IN SOME OF THE LOWER ELEVATIONS. BY THE TIME WE GET INTO THE EARLY PART NEXT WEEK, BIG CHANGES IN THE WEATHER COMING. WE’LL BREAK DOWN THE DAY BY DAY FOR YOU IN JUST A FEW MINUTES FROM NOW. >> NOW ON TODAY’S LEADING LOOK, AS WE FOLLOW SOME OF THE OTHER STORIES MAKING HEADLINES, MSU BILLINGS IS MAKING TEMPORARY CHANGES AFTER A VAN CRASHED LAST WEEK THAT INJURED 6 CROSS COUNTRY RUNNERS. ATHLETIC DIRECTOR MIKE BASS MOORE TELLS MTN NEWS THE UNIVERSITY WILL NOW USE CERTIFIED TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES. WHILE OFFICIALS REVIEW TRAVEL PROCEDURES THAT MEANS NO COACHES OR STUDENT ATHLETES WILL BE BEHIND THE WHEEL OF UNIVERSITY VEHICLES. SEPTEMBER 3RD CRASH NEAR WALLA WALLA WASHINGTON. WE’RE STUDENT ATHLETE CRASHED A UNIVERSITY RENTED VAN CARRYING TEAM MEMBERS PAYS MORE, SAYS ANY LONG-TERM POLICY CHANGES. WE’LL NEED APPROVAL FROM UNIVERSITY AND SYSTEM LEADERS. THE DEFENSE P O W M I ACCOUNTING AGENCY HAS IDENTIFIED REMAINS OF U.S. ARMY PRIVATE HENRY, THE BORDER OF BUTTE. MORE THAN 80 YEARS AFTER HE DIED AS A PRISONER OF WAR DURING WORLD WAR. 2, HE WAS CAPTURED IN 1942, AND ENDURED THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH BEFORE BEING HELD AT A P O W CAMP FOR MORE THAN 2500 PRISONERS PERISHED. HIS GRAVE ONCE MARKED UNKNOWN 701, WAS CAREFULLY MAINTAINED FOR MORE THAN 70 YEARS. AND HIS REMAINS WILL NOW BE BURIED IN BUTTE. IN THE STATE OF ZOO, MONTANA. THE STAFF OF ZOO MONTANA ARE CELEBRATING A MAJOR MILESTONE IN THE WORLD OF ANIMAL CONSERVATION AND A PERMANENT UPDATE TO THEIR LEADERSHIP THIS WEEK. STAFF SAY THE ZOO OFFICIALLY EARNED AZ A RE ACCREDITATION. THE GOLD STANDARD IN ANIMAL CARE CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION. MEANWHILE, THE ZOO ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT JESSICA HART IS NOW THEIR PERMANENT PRESIDENT AND CEO ZOO STAFF SAY BOTH OF THESE UPDATES START OFF A NEW ERA OF ANIMAL CARE, WHICH THEY SAY BEGINS WITH THE BUILDING OF A NEW ANIMAL CENTER AS PART OF THE ZOO’S CAPITAL CAMPAIGN. A NEW MONTANA LAW IS CHANGING THE WAY POLICE PURSUITS ARE HANDLED, FLEEING OR ELUDING OFFICERS CAN NOW BE CHARGED AS A FELONY. THIS AFTERNOON WE HEAR FROM A BILLINGS FAMILY WHO LOST A LOVED ONE IN A PURSUIT CRASH AND SEE HOW THIS LAW IS OFFERING THEM HOPE AND A SENSE OF CLOSURE ARE CHARLIE KLEPPS HAS THE STORY. >> IT’S A DAY 19 YEAR-OLDS. A MCCRACKEN WILL NEVER FORGET TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE HE WAS FROM THE UNCERTAINTY WORRY. TO THE EMOTIONS. OBVIOUSLY, WHEN I SAW THE ACCIDENT, I NEWS HIS BIKE TO THE MOMENT HE REALIZED HIS BROTHER, JULIAN WOLF, WAS GONE. IT’S REST, YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT EVERY DAY, JUST. PUSHING ALONG WITHOUT IT, WOLF WAS KILLED LAST SEPTEMBER AS HE WAS INNOCENTLY DRIVING HOME FROM WORK BEFORE JIMMY JOE FLANAGAN STRUCK HIM ON HIS MOTORCYCLE. FLANAGAN WAS RUNING FROM THE SPEND PRETTY HORRIFIC PRETTY HARD TO SOMETIMES JUST SLEEP AT NIGHT. AND THAT’S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF RECENT POLICE CHASES. THIS WAS A SHOCKINGLY CLOSE CALL ON THE CITY’S WEST END A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WHEN A SUSPECT DROVE THROUGH A LAWN ARE FLEEING THEIR DRIVING RECKLESSLY, PUTTING NOT ONLY THEMSELVES IN THE OFFICERS, BUT EVERYONE ELSE INNOCENT OF THE SITUATION. >> THEY’RE PUTTING THEM AT A GRAVE DANGER. IT’S A SITUATION. LAW ENFORCEMENT LIKE BILLINGS POLICE SERGEANT JEFF STOVALL SAYS NEEDS TO STOP AND A NEW RULING BY STATE LAWMAKERS MAKES RUNNING FROM POLICE EVEN WORSE WHEN YOU’RE CAUGHT. NOW WE’VE GOT AN AGGRAVATED FELONY PORTION OF IT. THE NEW LAW KICKS IN OCTOBER FIRST AND OPPORTUNITY. STOVALL LOOKS FORWARD TO ENFORCING ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TRY DETER PEOPLE FROM FROM DRIVING THIS WAY. ULTIMATELY, WE HOPE PEOPLE THINK BEFORE THEY MAKE THESE ACTIONS AND ONE MCCRACKEN HOPES CAN HELP PREVENT OTHERS FROM LIVING HIS NIGHTMARE. >> IT’S NICE TO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, IF SOME, IF THAT DOES HAPPEN AGAIN,