On this election day of 338 regular elections in Montana 45% are uncontested among the at least 23 office types up for election this year. Montana has the 20th highest rate of uncontested elections at 153 where the number of candidates on the ballot is less than or equal to the number of seats up for election.
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced the launch of an investigation Monday involving a coalition of 12 state attorneys general into the American Academy of Pediatrics. The inquiry centers on allegations that the AAP has disseminated misleading and deceptive information regarding the use of puberty blockers to treat children with gender dysphoria potentially violating Montana’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act.
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality intends to issue a new wastewater permit to the Montanore Minerals Corporation for the water seeping from its Libby Creek underground tunnel at its mine in the Cabinet mountains. It has plans to dig a copper and silver mine below the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness that runs from north of Noxon and the Clark Fork River to just west of Libby. The public has until December 6th to comment on the permit proposal and 17-page draft environmental assessment.
The Montana Department of Commerce has introduced an online survey aimed at understanding the financial assistance needs of low-income renters in the state. It aims to provide updated information to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development about fair market rents in Montana. The data will help in requesting more suitable rental subsidies for low-income households especially for those with disabilities and elderly individuals on fixed incomes.
Despite the millions of dollars poured into turning the vote out in Indian Country, the counties with the highest proportions of Native Americans have the lowest rates of absentee ballots returned. The bottom three counties are the three counties in Montana with the largest share of Native people.
Unofficial election results show the Crow tribe’s current executive branch led by Chairman Frank Whiteclay will remain in office. 3,364 voted during the tribe’s executive branch election Saturday. The slate of four ran together in the 2024 election with its campaign platform focusing on consistency and economics.
Work on Montana Highway 64 to improve safety and mobility on Big Sky’s main road is complete. The $13.4 million project is responsible for new turn lanes improved signage for wildlife and curves pedestrian bridges and a pedestrian tunnel a new traffic signal and other improvements.
Elections around the country could have a significant impact on the future of legal cannabis markets. Voters will decide on ballot initiatives legalizing adult-use and medical cannabis in four states today including our neighbors to the east North and South Dakota along with Florida and Nebraska.
The Flathead National Forest has received a special-use authorization application from the incoming owners of Holland Lake Lodge in Condon. It has operated for 100 years on the Flathead National Forest with a special-use permit that was last reissued in 2017.
An individual out of Yellowstone County is now joining other Montanans seeking legal action against McDonald’s after a recent E. coli outbreak. The CDC reports 17 of the 90 reported cases are in Montana second behind Colorado with a reported 29 cases.
