Top stories from today's Montana This Morning, 9-2-2024

>>:From MTN News. This is Montana this morning. >>:If you're ever going get in this water, you need to know. It's very fast. I'm Alina Hauter to river rescues performed by the World Fire Department in the last several weeks. Have a commonality. We'll tell you what that is coming up. >>:The discovery of 6 dead hostages found in Gaza has prompted a furious reaction among Israelis with tens of thousands of protesters blaming their prime minister for failing to secure a cease-fire deal. Israeli American hostage was among the dead. I'm Carissa Lawson with reaction from the family and the White House. >>:And already it is 6 o'clock on this Monday, September 2nd Labor Day. hopefully a lot of people are sleeping in. Maybe they'll catch the rerun of Montana this morning. >>:Maybe they will. I know my kids should be sleeping in. Yeah. Good. Whether they will or not. That's a whole different story. That's the key right there. And a lot of people, a lot of kids going back to school. That's right. lot of the public schools heading in tomorrow today. >>:Our biggest concern as I see it is kind of twofold. First, we have a lot more. air quality issues today across the area. Some areas seeing unhealthy conditions to unhealthy for sensitive groups. We'll be watching that. Today's going to be windy. It's mild this morning for most areas will be in and out of cloud cover. There's a very outside chance of some afternoon thunder showers firing off across our Western counties. Better chances for the overnight daytime highs today. It's going to be a hot one with daytime highs near 90 for the afternoon. Well, we do have some cooler weather on the way we've got to suffer through some smoke and heat first. I'll break it all down and give you the timing in just a few minutes. All right. Thank you very much, Matt. Now it's a summertime favorite activity, enjoying some time out on the river. >>:But recreating on the water comes with plenty of dangers putting lives in harm's way. Numerous times in the past few months. >>:Laura Fire Department has been busy dealing with what they say isn't an hidden danger on the river this morning. Our Alina Hauter takes us there to ensure that the situation doesn't turn tragic. >>:Everyone made it out safely during those 2 water rescues. But the Laurel Fire Department says this water intake ditch is the culprit. >>:The Yellowstone River may look peaceful. Waters moving really fast, even and even if it's not very deep. But as longtime fisherman Kelly called, will, nose looks can be deceiving. People think that because the river is low, that it's safe. It's not it's very fast. 2 instances in just the last several weeks have proven Kelly Wright. We've had 2 different rescues where people are. >>:Floating are over and got into the intake. >>:A current Supt. Who can you ERs into this ditch back in August? We take these out and then we can either set up tripod over this and lower somebody down. And then on Saturday, the same thing happened to 3 kayakers to hear the ones that they were stuck in. One of them was able to make it up Pham he called for help. And then we responded out here. And got the other 2 outs. No lives were lost. But JW says both rescues could have gone much differently. They could have drowned or they could have and structure the intake and came out the other side. It's why the departments working with a ditch company to put up signs, warning recreate ERs of the intake. Just want to make sure people are aware of this intake and do use caution if they are floating and something that doesn't that sound motorized. don't have complete control over. >>:Getting over here. If you're out on the Yellowstone JW recommends staying on the south side of the river away from the intake ditch. And don't forget your life jacket. If you're with young ones, make sure that they >>:our safe then we'll have a jacket on at all times. You hear thunder watching, you know, very great for us in laurel, Alina Hauteur MTN news. >>:And these are sites that we won't soon forget the historic floods of 2020 raging over South Central Montana. Much of that devastation is now cleaned. But now one town is making a push to prevent the scene from reoccurring Mtn's. Mack Carmack takes us to from Burke for the story. Back in 2022. Residents of from experience with an average for 2 as a 500 year flood. >>:A natural disaster so devastating. It's taken years to recover from. But the city believes they found a solution to prevent floods like this from happening again. >>:Many from Bird residents. Remember June 14th 2022? Like it was yesterday. I think every time I walk outside see that water coming across are Larry Richardson. That's right at the bank of the River experience. Those moments the water came in. His neighbors believed he was the most affected in the flood, losing his entire house. >>:also had the deck and I just filled up my. Lawnmower with cast and start mowing the grass. And sherry up there came walking down and looked right across town here in the water was coming across to Rick least greeted my house. >>:And unfortunately, several people on the river experience very similar moments and impacted the town greatly because half of our town. Was under water. Tim Nottingham, the mayor from Burt has been working with the Stillwater in Joliet Conservation District. The USDA and local county commissioners on their new project, a project which he believes will make the town of from Berks safer from another disastrous flood. I had one lady call me the other day and she lives here on the on a river. And she was crying. Because a lot to her. To have this project going forward where she can see that. Her property. Has a chance to be saved. And it seems most of the residents of Fromberg aren't sure what to think this project. But if it works out like promised they are excited to return to their normal lives. We're building a barrier to keep the water from eroding it. >>:And hopefully it will not continue into the bank any further and what it is. >>:A barrier supposed to keep the water out maintaining local sewage systems and bridges. If we leave it, don't do nothing. It will take out our city wells. >>:And that'll take out the county bridge. The project is set to be finished by September. 30th. And if everything goes as planned, the tension see a flood of this magnitude for the next 500 years in Fromberg Mack Carmack MTN news. >>:And outrage over the deaths of 6 Israeli hostages taken by Hamas have sparked protests in Israel and here in the United States with demonstrators calling for a deal to bring the hostages home when Israeli American hostage was among those killed President Joe Biden said in a statement that he was devastated and outraged by the news. The White House says that he and the vice president are set to meet with their hostage negotiation team today, CBS News's Carissa Lawson has more from New York. >>:Clashes between protesters and police in Tel Aviv overnight as thousands took to the streets and Israel to demand a ceasefire and hostage deal. A massive protests erupted after Israel announced that it had recovered the bodies of 6 hostages in Gaza were taken by Hamas on October, 7th. Israeli officials say they believe the hostages were killed shortly before military forces arrived to rescue them. And outpouring of grief at the funeral of hostage Almog Sarusi. His mother saying my beloved son how we hoped and prayed to see you again. Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-polin was also one of the 6 hostages killed. His parents address last month's Democratic National Convention. Hersh. >>:If you can hear us. >>:We love you in New York on Sunday. The families of other hostages called on President Joe Biden to help get a deal. None of this had to happen over the weekend. The president told reporters he's optimistic that a deal can still be reached. He and Vice President Kamala Harris also spoke to the Goldberg-polin family to express condolences shots. He's Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that those who killed the hostages do not want to deal and he vowed to do everything to make sure the atrocities are not perpetrated against Israel. And Hamas agreed to brief pauses in fighting to allow for UN polio vaccinations. But strikes continue in Gaza and violent clashes have also picked up in the West Bank. Carissa Lawson, CBS News. >>:And the White House as national Security adviser Jake Sullivan met virtually with the families of hostages yesterday to discuss the administration's efforts to push the 2 sides to reach a deal to bring the hostages home. Now, a little bit closer to home. Now with less than 70 days until Americans choose their next president. Some Montana voters are discussing election integrity. The Republican National Committee held a training as part of their protected the vote to hurt Mtn's Tommy Lynch was that. >>:The GOP election integrity team hopes to educate the public on how they can protect their elections. >>:This should not be a partisan exercise. The Democrats should absolutely agree with us that the sanctity of the ballot is important and that cheating is that. >>:At the Great Falls International Airport, the protect the vote or stopped by to educate concerned citizens on election safety and validity. >>:This is not a conspiracy theory. It's not election denialism. It's about putting basic protections in place so that we have the comfort that the vote is going to count. Numerous GOP representative spoke to the crowd hoping to energize them not only to vote themselves but to get others out to vote as well. Really, just, you know, voter apathy. It is a huge problem. >>:And apathy is my vote. Doesn't matter. My vote doesn't count or I don't trust the system. And I think that's one of the things that we can really address is trusting the system and making sure that people believe and understand. And we're watching out to make sure that everybody who has the ability to vote is counted and everybody that doesn't is not qualified to vote is not counted. After the speaker's the press was asked to leave as attendees were trained on how they can personally protect the vote. We want to be educated voters and we want to educate those. >>:That are looking to gain more education. Everybody can't, but we're tired. And so we have the time to come. And we just want to understand the process and then encourage other people to get out and vote. >>:The program emphasized the importance of trusting the system and it takes each person to hold those around them accountable. We need to make sure it is done properly. Yeah. There's a lot of questions here as to some of election. >>:That have not been been done properly and evidence to show we want to be part of the ones that when members of the GOP election integrity team have been pleased with the outcome of these events, the energy that we're saying is infectious. >>:And I hope that it continues to grow. And it's these values that attendees hold dear the integrity of that election. And the middle. To our constitutional Republic. The GOP election integrity team will be visiting multiple cities in multiple states throughout the country. In great falls on Tommy Lynch, MTN news. >>:Well, football is certainly America sports. But what is the sport? Without the classic marching band halftime show Mtn's Marcus Cocova met with the students who took to the field for the first time in Billings in over a decade this week. Here's the story. >>:We are the first game of the football season for local high schools were after nearly a decade of not having a marching band. Well, let them take it from here. >>:After more than 10 years of going without. Billings is ready to get the band back Answer that question. After this time of we gave up marching band in our schools 12 years ago, our minister said, hey, I think we can bring the march of that back. It was the first one to jump on to hope and really excited. I think it's great that we're bringing back something old. With marching season starting in August. Most of Montana is faced with a tiny window of time. >>:Where the weather is forgiving enough to March in Montana. Marching band is a little tricky with seasons and things were still trying to get a little bit of taste of what they're what they're getting into the limits of Robert years. So drum cadences and now we're actually doing some trail at halftime. It's so cool because you have to learn how to march smoothly. So light sound. Is it moving? >>:But Montana problems like cold weather making indoor concert bands preferential. >>:Require Montana solutions like gathering 50 students across Billings and surrounding high schools. To be at school during their summer to make a marching. >>:We just found a way to do it. That's a little more hometown community that way. I love the spirit that it brings to football games. Really? >>:Really impressed with their work ethic and just a very fortunate to be here. I just wanted to be its biggest, like any other marching band. I want to take a quick poll feel like every other marching band. Marcus Cocova. >>:MTN News. >>:And it's got to be one of the funnest parts of and I did marching band it's a lot of work hours that I absolutely I mean, so many hours before school after school. Just send you your first up game. It's a great All right. Time for a quick break. But before we do, we're going to be heading over to eastern Idaho for this story to neighbors. Not too far away from us while they let the dogs out. Let me tell you what it was the dog days of summer Labor Day for so many. I mean, marking the end of summer. Yep. This pool closed for humans. But that means that the dogs had no duty upon Labor Day. The final we can let the dogs have a little fun. Absolutely, you know, especially for those Labrador is Retrievers out there. They just had they had a Paul. You can really see some of that national league-leading. Literally and figuratively edible. Bingo. Things like not quite there getting my dog. CTE has versiti ambitions but kind of JV at and T J be potential. Right? Exactly. But there's a lot of dogs out there having some fun. And I know a lot of places around Southwest Montana. They do similar things. Yes, that's right there for dogs. So have a ball again as rain and wind All right. Quick break coming your way here on Montana this morning. When we come back, though, Mets gonna break down your