A bill to double the purchasing power of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program at farmers markets passed an initial vote in the Senate Wednesday and faces a final vote before heading to the governor’s desk. Consumers shopping at farmers markets or farm share programs can get an additional $20 to double their purchasing power for ...
VP Of Montana Stockgrowers Association Comments On Cattles’ Effects On The Atmosphere
Only 12 of Montana’s 56 counties have a rate of broadband access equal to or higher than the nationwide average and on the state’s tribal lands only 67.2% of people living there have broadband access at all. Expanding broadband infrastructure has emerged as a top priority in the 67th Legislative Session and several bills along with hundreds of...
Daylight Savings Time Sparks Debate In State Legislature
Lawmakers have tried to exempt Montana from switching between standard time and daylight saving time nearly a dozen times in the last two decades. Now, a bill heading to the governor’s desk could actually make it happen. James Bradley from the University of Montana Legislative News Service reports Senate Bill 254 has passed out of the legislat...
Montana Nears The Top In Gambling Addiction Across The Country
With gambling addictions rising during the COVID-19 pandemic, the personal-finance website Wallet Hub today released its report on 2021’s most gambling addicted states. Wallet Hub compared the 50 states across 21 key metrics and Montana ranks 4th. Montana ranks 1st in gamblers anonymous meetings per capita. Things may be getting back to normal...
Representative Rosendale Makes Case For Reviving Keystone XL Pipeline
As Congress considers what to include in an upcoming infrastructure package Montana’s lone Representative Matt Rosendale is fighting for the reauthorization of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. Taking to the floor of the House he highlighted the detrimental effects President Joe Biden’s decisions have had on Montana specifically outlining how Fall...
Report Finds Montana Air Quality Lower Due To Climate Change
This year’s American Lung Association “State of the Air” report finds Montana’s air quality for short-term particle pollution remains a cause for concern. The report’s findings for the Big Sky Country are consistent with a broader trend of worsening short-term particle pollution throughout the western United States due to climate change. Induc...
NorthWestern Energy Announces New Laurel Power Plant
NorthWestern Energy will build a $250 million 175-megawatt gas fired power plant in Laurel as part of a plan to add 325 megawatts of dispatchable power to its Montana portfolio. It will include a 50-megawatt battery storage project and a five-year agreement to buy 100 megawatts of hydropower. Montana State University College students as part o...
Senator Tester Addresses Increased Need For Broadband Infrastructure
Legislation containing $582 million for infrastructure projects throughout the state got the endorsement of the Montana Senate Tuesday. The nine bills deal primarily with state funds and previously available federal money. A final vote is needed for each of them before either moving to the governor’s desk or back to the House to deal with amen...
Governor Gianforte Ends Bison Management Plan
Governor Greg Gianforte said Tuesday he is ending a bison management plan that would have allowed the animals to be restored in more areas of the Montana. The state has settled a lawsuit over the plan’s adoption that claimed state officials had not adequately examined how wild bison could impact ranchers and farmers. Gianforte’s of...
Governor Gianforte Signs MMIP Bills
Governor Greg Gianforte signed two bills into law Monday to help address the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons in Montana. House Bill 35 establishes a review commission at the Montana Department of Justice. House Bill 98 extends the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Task Force and the Looping in Native Communities grant p...