Whisper Hawkbear was sentenced to 100 years in the Montana Women’s Prison, with no time suspended, on June 23 for the death of her two-month-old son. Hawkbear won’t be eligible for parole for the first 30 years of her sentence. She was credited for the 795 days she’s already served in the county jail since being arrested in April 2023.
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The Cascade County Attorney’s Office filed a motion April 21 asking the district court to allow the Cascade County Adult Detention Center to involuntarily medicate Jeremiah Gideon if needed, in the event that he is transferred back from the Montana State Hospital. Gideon is facing attempted deliberate homicide and assault on a peace office charges from an Oct. 9 incident
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By Clayton Murphy | UM Legislative News Service HELENA — Montanans could have access to fully insured mental health screenings if a bill working its way through the Legislature passes. Sen. Mike Yakawich, R-Billings, is carrying Senate Bill 244, which would mandate insurance coverage for standardized, evidence-based behavioral health screenings and assessments. The Senate passed the bill on a 40-8 vote
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By Clayton Murphy | UM Legislative News Service and Jenn Rowell | The Electric HELENA — Rep. James Reavis, D-Billings, said the 14th Amendment requires “fitness to proceed” — meaning those charged with a crime must be able to understand what they are being accused of. Reavis is sponsoring House Bill 236 in an effort to protect prisoners’ constitutional rights to
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The Cascade County Attorney’s Office has filed a response to Jeremiah Gideon’s motion to dismiss the attempted deliberate homicide case against him on the basis of the significant delays at the Montana State Hospital. Ryan Ball, the county prosecutor, filed the response on Feb. 20 asking the court to deny the dismissal. Gideon is also charged with assault on a
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By Emma White | UM Legislative News Service, University of Montana School of Journalism There is an empty space in Diana Burd’s life where her son used to be. She sees him in the plants he gave her, the movies they watched, the trips they had yet to take. She couldn’t understand how he was feeling until he was gone. Looking back,
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Local officials reviewed school safety and student wellbeing reports during an Oct. 7 Great Falls Public Schools board work session. Healthy, safe and secure schools are a goal in the district’s strategic plan and students “have to have a place to walk into that’s safe” with trusted adults and know what’s expected of them, Lance Boyd, assistant superintendent, told the
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The credit union employee who was run over by a truck on Oct. 9 has given a full statement to law enforcement regarding the incident, but is severely injured, according to County Attorney Josh Racki. Jeremiah Gideon was charged with felony counts of attempted deliberate homicide and assault on a peace officer for hitting the man with his vehicle. Gideon
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The Great Falls Public Library’s monthly Story Walk display in Gibson Park features two books to help young people understand Alzheimer’s and memory loss. The books are “Never Forget Eleanor” and “How to Babysit a Grandpa” and are in preparation for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Gibson Park this weekend. The Walk to End Alzheimer’s, which the library is participating
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Cascade County officials are moving forward with their plans for a pre-trial program. Officials have been discussing the need for such a program since at least 2018 and earlier this year, the county released a request for proposals for the program that was included as part of the 2022 county public safety levy at an estimated $400,000. The pre-trial program
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