Thanks to the Clearwater Wind Energy Center in Eastern Montana Portland General Electric has reached a new milestone in renewable energy production achieving a record-breaking 1 gigawatt of wind power enough to power 830,000 homes or about half of Oregon’s households. With consistent winds across Montana’s plains the facility regularly delivers high production levels adding stability and diversity to PGE’s energy mix.
The latest numbers show the 2024 election scored the second-highest turnout rate in Montana’s history. According to the Secretary of State more than 802,000 registered to vote a 50,000-person jump since the last presidential race four years ago. Some of the increase can be tied to population growth during that time including migration of new residents into the state. There is evidence to suggest more red voters are moving to the Treasure State than blue voters.
A federal district court in Missoula has ruled against the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services regarding the capture and killing of grizzly bears in Montana. It found Wildlife Services didn’t take a hard look at the environmental consequences of their actions by failing to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act. Despite this Wildlife Services is still authorized to continue their procedures in the state.
A state bar poll’s results show nearly 9 in 10 judges and court staff who work every day in the state courts approve of the job the Montana Supreme Court is doing. The biennial anonymous poll is consistent with previous years showing the overwhelming majority of those who work with the courts most often see the state’s highest court as both efficient and largely clear and consistent in its rulings.
Republicans have elected South Dakota Senator John Thune as the next Senate majority leader. Wyoming Senator John Barrasso has been elected to serve as the Assistant Majority Leader for the 119th Congress. Fillings out the trifecta of Montana neighboring state leaders is South Dakota Governor Republican Kristi Koem who is expected to lead the Department of Homeland Security in the new Trump administration.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service has announced it has partnered with Montana to award $3.1 million for eight projects through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain and strengthen local and regional food systems. Eight projects will be funded including five Infrastructure Grants and three Equipment Grants to support middle of the supply chain infrastructure.
The Kalispell Public Schools board of trustees has unanimously approved a collective bargaining agreement that will go before the Kalispell Education Association for a vote Friday. The collective bargaining agreement impacts approximately 450 certified staff including teachers school nurses psychologists and speech-language pathologists who have been working under a 2023-24 contract.
A new six-year $3 million grant-funded project at Montana State University will support dozens of science technology engineering and math teachers in rural and underserved areas of Montana as they work toward graduate degrees in science education or deepen their expertise as teachers. It comes from the National Science Foundation’s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program which works to support STEM teachers.
Missoula’s two-story Bank Street Parking Garage could be completely rebuilt at a cost of roughly $7.2 million after the city’s parking commission approved a contract negotiation this week with Jackson Contractor Group. The parking garage would stay at roughly 143 parking units.
The Bitterroot Valley witnessed an excessive amount of wildfire activity caused by thunderstorms this season and summer sparks were ignited by lighting strikes in mid-July. Now with autumn pile burning marks the end of fire season and this year prescribed flames are being stoked especially late.
