Archive for date: August 23, 2021

Superintendent Stands By Mask Mandate

Following a group of COVID-19 cases in Billings high school students, School District 2 Superintendent Greg Upham made the decision over the weekend to instate mask mandates in public schools after previously stating they would be optional. This has been met with criticism from local parents, but he defended his decision this morning as the sc...

WY Wildlife Taskforce meets September 1st. in Casper

The Wyoming Wildlife Taskforce will gather for their next meeting 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 1 in Casper. The meeting will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, 1150 North Poplar St. The public is invited to attend and participate in-person or online through Zoom. The Taskforce will continue discussions on sustainably increasing resident opportunity f...

FWP Sets New Guidelines For Hunting Wolves

Wolf hunting will look much different in Montana this year, with the Fish and Wildlife Commission approving new quota and hunting methods for the upcoming season at their Friday meeting. In a split 3-2 decision, a quota of 450 wolves was approved, almost 40 percent of the estimated population according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP)...

Montana School Districts Short On Bus Drivers

A Montana school district is offering $4,000 bonuses as they struggle to fill bus-driving positions and kids start returning to in-person classes. First Student, a company that contracts bus service for school districts, recently held the “Big Bus, No Big Deal” test driving event in Helena to generate interest in transporting kids to school, b...

Mask Debate In Public Schools Heats Up As School Year Begins

Following a last-minute reversal by School District 2 Superintendent Greg Upham to require students, teachers and staff to wear masks in school, a crowd of about 200 people gathered in Pioneer Park in Billings yesterday to express their disapproval of this decision and to pressure the district into revisiting the issue. Options mentioned at th...

New Research Shows Montana Had Successful Recovery From Pandemic

Montana has seen a strong and quick rebound from the economic impacts of the COVID crisis, according to a recent mid-year report sponsored by the Montana Chamber of Commerce. Head of the UM Bureau of Business and Economic Research Dr. Patrick Barkey reported that the COVID-19 pandemic brought down predicted growth in personal income and gross ...