In: News Headlines

Montana gas prices have now dropped 10 weeks in a row and today average $3.21 a gallon. According to GasBuddy prices in Montana are 18.1 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and 78.7 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.  Montana is currently ranked 18th in the U.S. when it comes to the average price of gas three spots lower than last week.

The Montana Supreme Court denied Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s request Tuesday to set his professional misconduct trial aside which began this morning. Knudsen and his administration are alleged to have sought to undermine public confidence in the courts during a separation-of-powers dispute in 2021. The proceeding will be held in the Montana Supreme Court chambers and is scheduled to run through Friday.

With certain demographics like young people minorities and people with low income having low voter turnout historically today the personal-finance website WalletHub released a report examining the States With the Best and Worst Representation on Election Day. Montana ranks 13th on the list of states whose voting population most closely resembles their actual electorate.

The Americans for Prosperity Action super PAC is launching a series of ads backing Republicans across multiple Senate battleground races spending $8.75 million. With absentee ballots set to be sent  out beginning Friday in Montana AFP Action affiliated with the Koch network of political advocacy groups is spending $1.25 million on behalf of Tim Sheehy’s Senate campaign against Democrat incumbent Jon Tester.

In a recent study of properties at risk for wildfire by researchers at Lending Tree Montana has the   second highest percentage of at-risk properties with more than half of the structures in the state possibly vulnerable to wildfire. It says as the climate gets hotter and states like Montana become more populated more properties are at risk and that is driving the cost of homeowners insurance up for many residents even those whose property isn’t normally thought of as at-risk.

Total mortgage debt now stands at more than $12.5 trillion and accounts for more than 70% of the total debt held by U.S. households. Montana Has the 4th Lowest Mortgage Delinquency Rate in the U.S. however even though outstanding mortgage debt rose sharply during the pandemic. Compared  to mortgages other consumer loan categories represent a much smaller proportion of total outstanding debt.

Workforce housing projects became eligible for tax increment financing funds following yeses across the board at this week’s Kalispell City Council meeting. It amended the Downtown Plan and West Side   Urban Renewal Core Area Plan to include workforce housing as eligible for tax increment financing.

SkyWest Airlines will provide Butte with an additional 13 total weekly round trips to Denver and Salt Lake City from next January 1st through 2027. The flights have been added as part of the Essential Air Service program.

Simms Fishing Products is set to be sold for $1.25 billion to a global investment firm along with several other outdoor brands. Headquartered in Four Corners Simms has grown into one of Bozeman’s most well-known local companies with signature waders footwear and outerwear.

Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Montana rose last week increasing to 792. According to the U.S. Department of Labor that is up from 738 the week before.

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