Montana
Transparency still one of Montana's cherished values • Daily Montanan
![Transparency still one of Montana's cherished values • Daily Montanan Transparency still one of Montana's cherished values • Daily Montanan](https://dailymontanan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/trump-sheehy-25-2048x1365.jpg)
A few days ago, I was in Costco, and just as I rounded a corner, I passed a woman on the phone who said “Yeah, we was out digging, and when we come back in, there was Eric, dead in a mud puddle.”
That was the entirety of what I heard of the conversation, so I have as many questions as you do about what this single sentence meant in this woman’s life. From the lack of emotion in her voice, I had to assume that she was talking about a dog, but it’s entirely possible that it was one of her relatives, or someone who worked for them. Maybe even a vehicle?
This little incident made me think about the fact that you never really know what’s going on in someone’s life until you hear, as Paul Harvey used to say “the rest of the story.”
And as has been the case with so many of our most prominent politicians in recent years, the concerted effort to keep the rest of the story away from public view has become an art form, particularly in the Republican party. Greg Gianforte has somehow built a career in Montana without making himself available to public scrutiny. His “rallies” have generally been highly controlled gatherings, vetted to include only those who support him. After the way he handled a question he didn’t like in his first congressional race, it’s not hard to imagine why his handlers have taken this approach but it seems even more calculated than that.
It seems as if Gianforte and most of his contemporaries have come to realize that as long as they have an “R” next to their names, they don’t have to say much to garner support in Montana. So talking about anything publicly, or having any information released to the public, is actually risky.
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen found this out the hard way recently when he gave the OK to the Colonel of the Highway Patrol, Steve Lavin, to conduct a survey among his staff, and the results of the survey were not flattering, especially toward Knudsen himself.
When the Daily Montanan published these results, Knudsen was so furious that he had his office issue a cease-and-desist order to the newspaper, trying to get them to retract the article. But of course this survey fell under the public information act because it was conducted by a government agency, so he didn’t have a leg to stand on, something you’d expect an attorney to understand. But Knudsen is not your ordinary attorney. He thinks nothing of bending the rules for his own benefit.
In fact, he went on to make the decision to force out Lavin, giving him no explanation, but considering it happened right after the survey, it’s pretty easy math. When Lavin did a little research and realized that firing him without cause was not legal, he filed a lawsuit, and this is just the latest in a series of charges against Knudsen, who is already being investigated for 41 instances of professional misconduct.
It has become increasingly clear, as Gianforte tried to avoid agreeing to a debate with Democratic challenger Ryan Busse, and Knudsen attempts to stifle the truth, that the Republican party in Montana is working hard to control the narrative, and only dole out a few morsels of information about what they’re up to. Because when the truth is damning, people generally do whatever they can to stifle it. Thankfully, we still have enough of a press in this country to bring these facts to light.
But please, Montanans, be aware of how hard these people are working to hide their truth from you. Although Gianforte eventually agreed to a debate, he still rarely makes public appearances that aren’t completely staged. Transparency has always been valuable to Montanans, and it should be even more so now.
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Montana
South Florida truck driver convicted of trying to coerce minor for sex in Montana
![South Florida truck driver convicted of trying to coerce minor for sex in Montana South Florida truck driver convicted of trying to coerce minor for sex in Montana](https://res.cloudinary.com/graham-media-group/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/c_thumb,w_700/v1/media/gmg/W2JH27XH4ZHFRDYZWERUXR35ZY.png?_a=DATAdtfiZAA0)
MISSOULA, Mont. – A federal jury convicted a South Florida truck driver Wednesday of trying to coerce a minor for sex while passing through Montana in 2023.
Stevenson Metelus, 36, of Margate, now faces 10 years to life in prison after being found guilty of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor after a three-day trial in Missoula, Montana federal court.
According to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice, an undercover FBI special agent posed as a girl on prostitution site MegaPersonals, posting an advertisement for prostitution services in Missoula.
They said Metelus responded to the ad on Nov. 16, 2023 and negotiated a price and sex acts to engage in with her, despite believing that she was a minor.
Authorities said Metelus asked the girl to meet him in his truck, but the agent posing as the girl said she had a room at a hotel and would leave the door open for him, then offered to meet him at a nearby gas station “when he expressed concern about the plan.”
“The undercover FBI agent had confidential source call Metelus and, acting as (the girl), spoke briefly with him,” the DOJ news release states “The confidential source again told Metelus that she was a minor. The parties then confirmed their plans to meet. Shortly thereafter, Metelus texted (the girl) that he had arrived at the gas station, where law enforcement arrested him.”
Authorities said Metelus later admitted he intended to meet the girl for commercial sex.
Aside from a long prison term, Metelus faces the possibility of a $250,000 fine and at least five years to a lifetime of supervised release, according to the DOJ.
Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.
Montana
Montana Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life results for Feb. 12, 2025
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Feb. 12, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from Feb. 12 drawing
21-32-36-45-49, Powerball: 18, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Feb. 12 drawing
08-29-34-36-42, Lucky Ball: 11
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from Feb. 12 drawing
06-16-23-27-30, Star Ball: 01, ASB: 02
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Feb. 12 drawing
06-07-11-30, Bonus: 05
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Montana Cash numbers from Feb. 12 drawing
02-14-31-33-37
Check Montana Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
- Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Montana
Montana Lottery Mega Millions, Lucky For Life results for Feb. 11, 2025
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Feb. 11, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from Feb. 11 drawing
07-30-39-41-70, Mega Ball: 13, Megaplier: 3
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Feb. 11 drawing
08-25-28-41-46, Lucky Ball: 05
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Feb. 11 drawing
17-22-26-31, Bonus: 06
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
- Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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