An investigation by Montana’s Legislative Auditor released this week shows the state’s foster care system hampered by obsolete software, inconsistent leadership and approach to reports of abuse or neglect. The report also revealed that Montana ranks last in the percentage of children receiving monthly caseworker visits. The number of kids in f...
Billings Clinic Facing New Shortage Of Nurses
According to Kaiser Health News Billings Clinic is hiring two dozen nurses from other countries to offset a nursing shortage that has been made worse by the pandemic. Billings Clinic is just one of scores of hospitals taking this strategy. Demand is so high and the nursing shortage is so great there’s a backlog of thousands of international he...
Montana Lawmakers Approve Additional Child Care Funding
Thursday Montana’s American Rescue Plan Act Health Commission voted to advance $30 million in stabilization funding to child care providers impacted by the pandemic. Director of Public Health and Human Services Adam Meier explained during the commission meeting that these funds come from previously determined funds that were not yet approved. ...
Keystone XL Lawsuit Dismissed
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown dismissed a 23-state case Thursday that was filed against President Biden which included Montana over his decision to cancel the Keystone XL Pipeline cross border permit on his first day in office. In his decision Judge Brown wrote the court takes TC Energy at its word that Keystone XL is dead saying the court...
Montana Still In Sever Drought
According to the website drought.gov more than 86% of Montana remains in severe drought with 53% in extreme drought and almost 14% in exceptional drought the worst possible rating. Based on current runoff trends soil moisture and plains and mountain snowpack the dry conditions are expected to continue. In 127 years of record keeping 2021 was t...
20 Gray Wolves From Yellowstone National Park Killed
Twenty gray wolves who roamed from Yellowstone National Park in recent months were shot by hunters the most killed by hunting in a single season since the predators were reintroduced to the region more than 25 years ago. According to the Associated Press fifteen were shot after roaming across the park’s northern border into Montana. Five more ...