MONTANA NEWS ROUNDUP: Summer Closing On Glacier High Country

Even with the sloppy weather in late winter and early spring, plow crews in Glacier National Park are making good progress toward the goal of re-opening the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Crews are working the tough "alpine" section of the road, above the Loop on the west side, and close to Big Bend to the east.

Progress  is expected this month because of the lower snowpack this year and the warming temperatures.

READ MORE: Reservations are Back at Glacier National Park

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Warnings Continue for Glacier Bike Riders

However, people who want to bike or hike the road before it opens to vehicle traffic are being reminded that the road remains closed because of the avalanche danger above The Loop, and at Sun Point on the east. Although on weekends, that closure moves up to Grizzly Pullout.

Violating the closure order could mean thousands of dollars in fines and even jail time. 🚔

Does Montana Law Change Cut "Red Tape" or Threaten the Environment?

As expected, Governor Gianforte is approving a package of 5 bills passed by the Legislature, conservatives say, will provide important reforms to MEPA, the Montana Environmental Policy Act. Those are the rules first adopted in 1971, which determine how a variety of activities like mining and energy development.

Gianforte says the bills counter Montana Supreme Court rulings last year.

"Left unchecked, the rulings would have impacted our energy sector at a time when Americans have seen the cost of electricity soar nearly 30%." -Gov. Greg Gianforte

Gianforte says the bills will cut "red tape" for operations like mines and energy, as well as small businesses.

What they're saying: The Montanan Environmental Information Center says there's "no history" of MEPA stopping those kinds of projects.

"Holey" Smokes! What's Happening in Butte?

It can be disconcerting to have the earth open up around you. And this spring renewed sinkhole problems in the Mining City have Butte authorities passing along some warnings.

Devon Brosnan is tracking the story.

Wild Chase Nearly Ends in Critical Crash for Montana Trooper

Nick Chrestenson says a runaway driver tried to escape arrest this week by using his car as a deadly weapon.

Montana Highway Patrol says the 95-mile-an-hour chase through the Northern Bitterroot ended in a close call when the driver tried to escape down a dead-end country road. Realizing his mistake, he turned around and headed straight at the trooper's patrol car, swerving at the last minute and then crashing.

Montana Friday Fact:

In a good year, growers of the famous Flathead cherries expect to produce upwards of 2 million pounds of the dark red cherries in the orchards around Flathead Lake.