By Dennison, Mike HELENA - The state's largest electric and natural-gas utility is giving $500,000 to programs helping poor customers deal with high energy bills, and the chairman of the state Public Service Commission is calling on energy producers to do the same.

By Johnson, Charles S HELENA - Public Service Commission Chairman Greg Jergeson wants the regulatory board next week to consider going to court to block any attempts by NorthWestern Energy to sell its unregulated interest in the Colstrip 4 power plant.