Montana News Roundup: Rivers Rise; 4 Killed in Kalispell

After another weekend of warm temperatures, water levels on Montana's rivers and streams have increased significantly, prompting forecasters to issue warnings for runoff for the next couple of days.

While most of the state's rivers have been running "bank full", or high since Saturday, none of the major rivers were anywhere close to "action" stage.

     -One exception was the Bitterroot River, which was climbing toward minor flooding by Sunday evening.

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Hydrologists say most of the rivers and streams, especially those in the Missouri Basin, are affected. The National Weather Service says there is "potential for significant widespread precipitation from Tuesday night into Thursday.

Snow levels could drop to 7,000 feet, slowing the higher elevation snow melt, but that could be offset by rain at the lower elevations.

One of the Worst Montana Shooting Scenes in Years

Update Monday 5/12 10:30 am

We could learn more today about the circumstances surrounding a shocking murder case in the Flathead, where four victims were discovered in an apparent shooting.

The Daily Interlake reports Kalispell officers were called to the home in Silverbrook Estates because of "mental health concerns". When they got inside, they found four people, all dead from gunshots.

Another Murder Case in Billings Too

Yellowstone County authorities are trying to work out what happened in a weekend fire that's now being treated as a homicide.

The Billings Gazette reports sheriff's deputies found the apparent victim inside the burned out, older mobile home on Jim Street. That's inside a local trailer park.

     -An arrest has been made. 

Suspect Arrested in This Havre Murder Case

A 35-year-old man being held in a North Idaho jail could be coming back to Havre this week to face charges in what investigators say was the murder of a 35-year-old woman.

Late last week, investigators said they found the body of Dixie Schroder on May 7th, and they suspected foul play. Then, on Friday, detectives said they'd identified a person of interest and worked with the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office and Coeur d'Alene Police to take him into custody.

     -Detectives say a search of his property indicates he might have been planning "additional violent crimes."

Dangerous Drugs on the Streets in Billings

The Montana Department of Justice and Billings Police are warning residents about the increased presence of a synthetic opioid so strong it's used to tranquilize elephants.

The warnings come after the seizure of 4900 pills testing positive for carfentanil

Helena Huskies Look for New Homes

     ‍ -One of the biggest cases of animal abuse in several years in the Helena area is closer to a happy ending for the dogs that were involved.

Jason Laird has the update…

Is a 4-day Work Week in Montana Lazy?

We sure opened a can of worms when we asked our listeners what they think of a 4-day work week.

Montana Monday Math

     Have your wages seen this much of an increase?

The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis reports that the average hourly earnings for "all employees" in "professional and business services" in Montana climbed from $23.66 in 2015 to $34.31 at the end of 2014 (not seasonally adjusted).