Three groups representing young people in Montana hope to stop a slate of election laws from going into effect before the state’s primary in June challenging three laws passed by the Legislature in 2021. They include an end to election-day registration and stricter voter ID laws that require another form of identification with a student ID. Ry...
Montana Among States With Fewest Highway Safety Laws
Advocates for highway and auto safety have released their annual edition of the Roadmap of State Highway Safety Laws a safety action plan for state legislators, governors and the U.S. Department of Transportation to address motor vehicle crash deaths. This year Montana ranks among the bottom three states in the country in adopting recommended ...
Energy Stipends May Increase For Winter Energy Demands
A state rental aid program is providing financial aid to Montanans facing housing insecurity this winter. Cheryl Cohen with the Department of Commerce says it’s considering changing the monthly stipend for energy bills because the current level may not be enough during the harsh Montana winters as energy costs continue to increase. https://nor...
Montana Still Lacking Available Truck Drivers
Some of the supply chain problems can be boiled down to, among other things, not enough people to deliver goods. Mike Wilson owner and CEO of Billings-based Whitewood Transport on Voices of Montana during Business days last week had the numbers to prove it. https://northernbroadcasting.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1-17_1137.mp3
Yellowstone National Park Bison Protection To Be Reviewed By Fish & Wildlife Service
U.S. District of Columbia Judge Randolph Moss has ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to revisit its decision regarding a denial of evidence submitted by bison advocates in an attempt to have Yellowstone National Park’s bison protected under the Endangered Species Act. Whether the issue will get more attention now that Martha Williams, ...
EPA Administrator To Visit Montana Areas In 2022
KC Becker was named as the new administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 8 which includes Montana last November. In an Interview with the Montana Standard Friday, the Colorado lawyer said a she’s looking forward to visiting Butte and Anaconda this summer along with other Montana locales. An early priority will ...
Lawsuit Filed To Halt Property Tax Initiative
A lawsuit filed last week challenging a new ballot initiative that would cap residential property taxes argues further review is needed before Montanans should be allowed to vote on it. Senate Minority Leader Jill Cohenour believes it would be in the state’s best interest to leave it off the ballot and to educate taxpayers on what property tax...
50,000 New Montana Businesses Reported In 2021
Over 50,000 new businesses were created in Montana last year surpassing the previous record that were registered with the Montana Secretary of State in 2020 of more than 12,000 businesses. There were also 178,601 renewal filings in 2021 and 267,900 businesses in good standing, both of which are increases over the 2020. https://northernbroadcas...
Montana Health Officials Encouraging Residents To Get Flu Shot
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services reports there have been more than 1,400 confirmed cases of influenza this season. A 2018 study showed between 2012 and 2015 adults with a flu vaccine were 82% less likely to be admitted to an intensive care unit for flu-related reasons. MTN News reports in light of the presence of the ...
Governor Gianforte Expresses Support For State Legislature In Pending Lawsuit
Last December, the state Legislature appealed a state Supreme Court ruling that found lawmakers overstepped their authority when they subpoenaed judicial branch records to the U.S. Supreme Court focusing on whether the justices had the authority to rule on a subpoena for their own communications. Monday, Governor Greg Gianforte argued in a bri...