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Gritz and former Arizona police officer Jack McLamb entered the Freemen compound for a fifth straight day of negotiations. -Full Story-

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Freemen leaders rejected an FBI proposal to meet face-to-face away from their ranch to discuss terms for their surrender. The FBI backed its offer with a threat of action. Meanwhile, the Freemen released a video reiterating their desire to end the standoff. -Full Story-

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The FBI barred visits from family members to the Freemen ranch except for emergencies. Agents also added another surveillance plane to the one that had been circling the Freemen ranch. -Full Story-

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A federal judge ordered the release of Ebert Stanton from the Yellowstone County jail pending trial on federal mail and bank fraud charges. -Full Story-

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Stanton pleaded innocent to charges of robbery, obstructing a law enforcement officer, and using threats or improper influence in official or political matters. He was freed on a $35,000 bond. -Full Story-

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Freemen and FBI agents held talks at the group's ranch for the first time. Colorado state Sen. Charles Duke was part of the talks. -Full Story- Freemen leader Schweitzer, who had been taken to a federal hospital in Missouri after he refused to eat or drink, was flown back to Montana and placed in the Yellowstone County jail at Billings. -Full Story-

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State Rep. Ohs went to the Freemen with a response to their challenge made a couple of weeks before to "present evidence of your alleged authority and present evidence to refute ... (a number of laws)." -Full Story-

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State Sen. Duke said negotiators and the Freemen reached a tentative agreement on a "major issue" that could help end the 55-day deadlock. -Full Story-

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In one of the busiest negotiating days since the stand-off began, members of the Freemen group met three times with the FBI. -Full Story-

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Duke said the Freemen made their first proposal for surrendering to federal authorities. -Full Story-

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Duke gave up his efforts to end the 58-day standoff, saying that the Freemen showed no real desire to compromise, and that after five days of talks "it just became sheer lunacy." Soon afterwards, seven Freemen, several with rifles slung over their shoulders, were seen milling around on the ranch. -Full Story-

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The Freemen flew a U.S. flag upside down at their ranch in an apparent show of defiance. -Full Story-

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May 23 -- The FBI moved portable power generators near the Freemen ranch to prepare for a possible shutdown of electric power.-Full Story-

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State Rep. Ohs rode to the Freemen ranch on horseback for an hourlong visit attempting to renew talks between the separatist group and the FBI. -Full Story-

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Journalists were evicted from the area surrounding the Freemen ranch after two television news people tried to slip into the compound. The FBI also turned on a large generator, one of two brought to the area a few days earlier to provide electricity to nearby farmers if officials turned the Freemen's power off. -Full Story-

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The FBI said that it had moved three emergency armored rescue vehicles into the nearby town of Jordan and was considering flying in a helicopter to use if it decided to raid the Freemen ranch. -Full Story-