Between the springs of 2020 and 2021 the Office of Public Instruction received over $605 million of COVID relief funds. It partnered with the state’s 400 school districts to ensure the final round of the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds were successfully obligated by this week’s deadline.
Representative Matt Rosendale sent a letter to the Director of the Bureau of Land Management Tracy Stone-Manning Thursday objecting to the BLM’s proposed Western Solar Plan. The plan would lock up 572,479 acres of public land in Montana for solar development he said will restrict access to the public land which should instead be set aside for recreation grazing and tourism.
Western Congressional District candidate Monica Tranel’s campaign announced Thursday a third-quarter fundraising total of over $2.15 million. The Democrat running against Republican incumbent Ryan Zinke has raised over $5.25 million this cycle. She says it is the highest total ever for a Montana congressional challenger at this point in the race.
The Public Service Commission that regulates the monopoly utility companies that serve two-thirds of the state’s electricity and natural gas customers is headed by five commissioners elected by district. Independent candidate Elena Evans is running against Republican commission vice chair Jennifer Fielder. The last time an Independent appeared on the ballot was 2016.
Also known as the commissioner of securities and insurance the state auditor functions as a consumer advocate and a regulator for securities and insurance two of the state’s largest industries. There is no incumbent in the 2024 race as Republican Troy Downing is running for Montana’s eastern congressional district. This year’s open race pits Democrat John Repke against Republican James Brown.
The Wallace Works Project in the northeast neighborhood of Bozeman will build below-market rate living units aimed at those making 80% of the area’s median income. This week city commissioners voted to approve the deal that will reimburse the developers for $2 million in taxes.
Montana service providers say the closure of the Flathead Warming Center could leave more people in Kalispell sleeping in the cold while stressing capacity levels at other shelters in western Montana. The Kalispell City Council revoked a permit to run the warming center which sleeps 50 people from October to April.
Helena’s Cenex Zip Trip gas station on Custer and North Montana avenues is being replaced with an Arkansas-based coffee shop called 7 Brew. According to a map on the company’s website it’ll be the first 7 Brew location in Montana.
The Outdoor Adventure Leadership Program at Montana State University Billings and Billings Parks and Recreation will host the annual Refresh the Rims event on Saturday morning beginning at 9:30. Refresh the Rims is the largest organized cleanup of the Rims.
The National Weather Service has issued a fire weather watch in southwest Montana with potential for critical fire weather conditions to trigger a red flag warning. The weather forecast calls for very gusty winds today and low relative humidity of 10 to 15 percent.
