Montana News: AP-MT-1stNewsMinute

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^Here is the latest Montana news from The Associated Press<
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     MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) _ Two men have been charged in the November
2001 murders of three women at a Florence hair salon, a seemingly
random act that stumped investigators for years. Brian Weber and
Lincoln Benavides appeared before U.S. District Judge Jeremiah
Lynch yesterday. They each were charged with three counts of murder
while engaged in drug trafficking, conspiracy to distribute
methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine and violent crimes
in aid of racketeering. They pleaded not guilty.

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     HELENA, Mont. (AP) _ A Kalispell man who was convicted of
killing two men in 1978 has been granted parole. The state Board of
Pardons and Parole says 45-year-old Jacob Woods can be released
upon completion of prerelease and three months of ``transitional
living.‘‘ Woods was convicted of two counts of murder in 1981.
Court records say he drove into two men while they were riding a
bicycle on U.S. Highway 93 near the Kalispell airport.

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     HELENA, Mont. (AP) _ The parole board has denied release to a
Columbia Falls man who‘s serving time at Crossroads Correctional
Center for negligent homicide. Damien Hill pleaded guilty in a May
2003 drunken driving crash that killed his friend Russell Howell.
The parole board denied Hill‘s release but said he could enter
prerelease after a year of ``clear conduct.‘‘

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     HELENA, Mont. (AP) _ The Republican Party says Governor
Schweitzer broke ethics laws by running a public service
announcement after filing for re-election. The Legislature has
banned use of taxpayer money on PSAs from officeholders who are
running for election. The GOP complaint was filed yesterday with
the commissioner of political practices. Schweitzer says it lacks
merit.

     

     (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

     AP-NY-04-09-08 0434EDT<