Thursday Headlines: May 14, 2026

Here's a quick overview of our top stories for Thursday, May 14, 2026:

Watch the latest weather forecast

TOP HEADLINES:

Butte woman charged with negligent homicide after victim found unresponsive after overdose, mom speaks out

Park County Meals of Wheels opens new Livingston location after 4 decades at senior center

Butte's Habitat for Humanity housing projects add more homes

Montana elected leaders discuss 'corner crossing'

THAT’S INTERESTING:

On May 14, 1804, the Lewis and Clark expedition began - here are some interesting facts about the journey through Montana

Time in Montana

• The expedition spent more time in Montana than any other state - nearly 6 months total
• They entered Montana on April 27, 1805, after logging over 1,900 river miles
• They exited Montana on September 13, 1805, at Lolo Pass, then re-entered on June 29, 1806
• In Missouri River Country alone, they spent 37 days covering nearly 330 river miles

Geographic Firsts & Discoveries

• Lewis and Clark were the first Americans to cross the Continental Divide
• They were the first Americans to see Yellowstone and enter Montana
• On August 12, 1805, Lewis reached the Continental Divide at Lemhi Pass expecting to see plains and a river to the Pacific - instead he saw "only more mountains," realizing there was no easy water route to the Pacific
• They drew about 140 maps during their journey, filling in the main outlines of the western territories

The Great Falls Challenge

• Lewis called the Great Falls "the grandest sight I ever beheld"
• What they originally planned as a half-day portage around the falls took an entire month of exhausting labor
• This delay put them far behind schedule by July 16, 1805

Wildlife Encounters

• The expedition encountered grizzly bears at 17 different locations during their 1805 ascent up the Missouri in Montana
• At least 43 grizzly bears were killed during the entire expedition, most in Montana
• The grizzly bear wasn't formally described as a distinct species until 1815, based on Lewis and Clark's descriptions
• They initially thought grizzlies were the size of black bears - imagine their shock at the first encounter!

Sacagawea's Crucial Role

• When the expedition encountered a band of Shoshone, the leader turned out to be Sacagawea's brother
• This incredible coincidence allowed them to negotiate for horses, supplies, and guides to cross the Continental Divide
• Sacagawea gave birth to her son Jean Baptiste on February 11, 1805, and carried him throughout the journey

The Split Journey

• On their return trip in 1806, the expedition split up in Montana
• Lewis took the northern route to explore the Marias River
• Clark took the southern route along the Yellowstone River
• This was a strategic decision to cover more territory and gather additional information

The Only Violent Encounter

• The expedition's only hostile encounter with Native Americans occurred at the Two Medicine Fight Site in Montana on July 26, 1806
• Lewis and his group encountered eight Blackfeet warriors near present-day Cut Bank, Montana
• When the warriors tried to steal weapons and horses, the confrontation resulted in two Blackfeet deaths

Travelers' Rest - A Special Site

• Located near present-day Lolo, Montana, Travelers' Rest is the only archaeologically verified campsite of the entire Lewis and Clark Trail
• The expedition stopped here in both 1805 and 1806
• It was historically used as a crossroads by the Salish, Pend d'Oreille, and Nez Perce tribes

Scientific Mission

• This was fundamentally a scientific expedition - they recorded magnetic bearings, distances, climate, geography, and geology
• They documented natural resources and plants previously unknown to European Americans
• The expedition collected specimens, which they sent back to St. Louis on April 7, 1805

Naming Legacy

• Clark named Montana's Judith River after Julia Hancock, whom he later married
• Lewis and Clark County in Montana is named after the expedition leaders
• They named geographic locations after expedition members, peers, loved ones, and even their dog (Seaman's Creek)

Journey Stats

• The entire expedition covered approximately 8,000 miles
• They traveled 10-20 miles per day, poling, pushing, and pulling their 10-ton keelboat and two pirogues to Fort Mandan.
• The journey took about 2½ years total (1804-1806)
• Remarkably, only one expedition member died during the entire journey

Parts of this story were adapted for this platform with AI assistance. Our editorial team verifies all reporting across all platforms for fairness and accuracy.