Archive for month: June, 2021

Piano Pat Honored By Senator Daines

Patricia Sponheim, better known as Piano Pat, entertained crowds at the Sip ’n Dip tiki bar in downtown Great Falls for more than 50 years until she passed away May 4th at age 86. Thursday, Senator Steve Daines presented her daughter Danelle and Sandy the owner of the Sip ’n Dip with a tribute in the congressional record honoring her life. ht...

KIDS COUNT Montana Report Highlights Child Care Needs

A new report done by KIDS COUNT Montana lays out challenges parents face when securing child care in Montana. According to the report Montana averages just one child care slot for every three kids under the age of six. It also found the average wage for a childcare worker was just under $11 an hour, or about $23,000 a year. According to MTN Ne...

Microplastics Found In Yellowstone

Research has shown microplastics have invaded the Yellowstone ecosystem showing up in the aquatic food chain and in the stomachs of lake and cutthroat trout. On Voices of Montana Wednesday, Haley Glassic, a PHD candidate at Montana State University and a scientist with the Montana Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit explained how dangerous thi...

Montanans On The Hook For Over $4 Billion In Student Loans

Montana borrowers owe a cumulative $4.2 billion in federal and private student loans, making the Treasure State the 39th highest in the nation. According to Student Loan Hero, a subsidiary of Lending Tree, in Montana alone there are more than 100,000 borrowers juggling an average balance of 30,866 with monthly payments averaging $251. Montana’...

Colstrip Power Plant Announces Wind Farm Partnership

Colstrip Power Plant co-owner Puget Sound Energy has announced a 20-year contract with the Clearwater Wind Project near Colstrip. Northern News Network’s Eric Young with more. https://northernbroadcasting.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/6-03_537.mp3

Reach Higher Montana Connects Graduates Across Montana Virtually

With high school wrapping up for Montana graduates, there are many looking ahead to college. The organization Reach Higher Montana recently held its virtual Senior Send-Off Event that brought students from across the state together. Executive Director Kelly Cresswell on the event’s impact on smaller schools. https://northernbroadcasting.com/wp...

Legislators Challenged In Lewis & Clark County Court

A lawsuit filed Tuesday by the Lewis and Clark County attorney challenges legislation passed by lawmakers in April arguing the late shift in the bill’s function was unconstitutional and it seeks an injunction against Senate Bill 319. The state Constitution says no bill shall be amended so heavily that its original purpose has been change...

Hazardous Weather Warning Issued For Remainder Of The Week

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather warning for parts of Montana and Wyoming as temperatures were expected to rocket higher later this week. Forecasters say temperatures will hit the upper 90s by Thursday in portions of central Montana, southcentral Montana, southeast Montana and northcentral Wyoming. They warn trying t...