Montana Highway Patrol

MHP Col. Tom Butler: "Nearly every aspect of the state budget has been touched by the drug issue that we have in the state."

The patrol says it appeared Deleo’s eastbound pickup encroached into the westbound lane, striking Larson’s pickup.

ICYMI: Peter Christian has some incredible coverage of the "hero's homecoming" for Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Wade Palmer in Missoula. By chance, MHP Colonel Tom Butler and AG Tim Fox happened to be in Billings, and were able to join us live in studio on Montana Talks.

Just before releasing critically wounded Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Wade Palmer for his return trip to Missoula on Wednesday, there was a brief press conference that was live streamed on Facebook.

"We are in the air and on our way to pick up our @MTHwyPatrol hero Trooper Wade Palmer! #BacktheBlueWeartheGreen #301Strong." Click here to watch the press conference LIVE

Trooper Palmer will be flown to Missoula and is anticipated to arrive at Northstar Jet at approximately 1:30pm. After he arrives in Montana, a motorcade will escort him to his home.

For the first time, Lindsey Palmer, the wife of critically wounded Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Wade Palmer has released a statement from the University Of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City.

The Montana Highway Patrol has released another update on the condition of severely wounded Trooper Wade Palmer, currently being treated at the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City.

I get it- we like to drive a little faster here in Big Sky Country. And I still see these people who putter along below the speed limit while driving across town, yet those same people will then speed through a school zone. But here's the deal- if you see someone pulled over on the side of the road, and/or you see flashing lights ahead: take the time, slow down, and move over.

Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Wade Palmer, who was shot multiple times and critically wounded by a suspect on March 15, has regained consciousness in the University Of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City, and his condition has been upgraded to stable.