Good morning and happy birthday Al Martino!
On the Beacon this morning, federal judge in Missoula sentenced Ralph Fox of Bigfork to 110 years in prison after being convicted for sexual exploitation of children and receipt of child pornography. The body of an Alaska man living in the Flathead washed up on the shore of Woods Bay yesterday. As the economy slows down, nonprofits in the Flathead are being hit hard by the funding drought. The committee tasked with figuring out how to use the state land in Cougar Canyon of Woods Bay met yesterday to figure out how to provide public access while creating some revenue for the Montana Tech School of Mines. Volunteers meet in Columbia Falls Saturday to begin work building the Kreck Riverwalk. And in Whitefish, the route of A Trail Run Through It, encircling Whitefish Lake is mapped out.
In state news, Democrats have filed a federal lawsuit to keep the state GOP from challenging the registration of 6,000 voters. An Associated Press investigation shows late daredevil Evel Knievel was involved in a series of vicious beatings throughout the course of his life. With a primary on the Crow reservation scheduled for Saturday, the Billings Gazette reports on how tough tribal politics can be. A new plan to install Web cams in the Yellowstone backcountry and increase cellular service is drawing criticism.
And finally, Japanese scientists have unveiled a robotic girl, who, with all due respect, looks like something out of a horror movie. Maybe robots should look like robots. Have a great day.