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Top Stories on KRTV 5:30 Newscast for Thursday, February 2, 2012.

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- Harold Blalock, Jr., of Great Falls is facing two felony charges for the alleged sexual assault of an 8-year old relative. Blalock, 37, was taken into police custody late Wednesday night. Blalock is charged with sexual intercourse without consent and incest. According to court documents, a witness called police just after 10 p.m. on Wednesday after learning that the victim had been touched inappropriately by Blalock. Police say Blalock admitted to having sexual intercourse with the victim on several occasions. During his interview, Blalock said to police, "I did it. I'm terribly embarrassed. I know it was wrong." Bond has been set at $100,000.

- EMTEQ, a company specializing in technology for airline cabin comfort and power systems, officially "launched" in Great Falls on Thursday. EMTEQ has already hired 20 employees to work in their new manufacturing facility and is set to hire 45 more by the end of the year. This location will serve as a facility for wiring, electronics and system intigration work for production airframe programs.

- The body of the skier who was caught in a Wednesday afternoon avalanche east of Bigfork has been found. Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry says that Flathead Search & Rescue and Nordic Ski Patrol members found the body off Jewel Basin Road at about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. The man, whose name has not yet been released, was a Flathead Valley resident whose body was found buried under several feet of snow. The victim was skiing with his brother on Wednesday afternoon when the snow slide hit near Wildcat Lake at around 1:45 p.m. Wednesday.

- A savvy coupon-clipper from Havre has taken it upon herself to teach the trade to others. Misty Womack taught herself to be an extreme couponer with a little bit of practice and a lot of online research, and now conducts "Coupon Class" to help others learn the secrets of saving money. Womack says it takes a while to get the most bang for your buck, but she says the time invested is worth it when you see how much you can save.

- Scientists continue to learn more about Alzheimer's disease due to research being done in Great Falls. A front page article in today's New York Times summarizes two independent studies which reached the same conclusion. Alzheimer's disease spreads a distorted protein in an infectious manner. The McLaughlin Research Institute in Great Falls supplied the genetically engineered mice which helped make the findings possible. Researchers showed the protein, which can be found in one very small area of the brain, spreads from cell to cell.

- A CO2 study is providing a multi-million dollar economic boost for the Shelby area. MSU received the renewable Department of Energy grant to study carbon sequestration in rock. Workers will drill for carbon, which will then be re-injected into the ground for testing. The grant has the potential to be renewed a total of eight years with a funding limit around $80-million dollars.

- Students put their creativity and intellect to the test today as part of the annual Ulm School Science Fair. The competing 21 students were judged on creative ability, scientific thought, thoroughness, skill and clarity.

- Meteorologist Matt Jones went head-to-head with a groundhog to see who has the best weather forecasting skills.