In 2023 the Montana Legislature approved House Bill 819 investing into a series of measures to address the need for affordable housing. $50 million will be distributed by counties through “community reinvestment organizations” to buy down up to 30% of the purchase price on a home for eligible families. If a county wants to participate in the program they have until the end of the month and the state hast until January 15th to approve the plans.
More than 120,000 Montana families receive government aid every year based on their income including about 8% of the population who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program assistance to help meet their basic nutritional needs. A big change coming in 2025 is a tightening of work requirements for adult recipients. The new rules also impose stricter income and asset limits for eligibility.
Anti-hate and anti-bullying boxes put together by the Montana Jewish Project have been shipped out to schools across the state teachers will use in their classrooms two weeks before Christmas Day and the start of Hanukkah. They hold the book The Christmas Menorahs How a Town Fought Hate by Janice Cohen based on the story of the Billings community coming together to stand against hate in 1993. Aside from the book each box includes a menorah with a complete set of candles six dreidels and lots of chocolate and plastic coins.
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services has adopted the rules outlining how the state will collect data on nonprofit hospitals’ charitable acts with the goal of eventually creating giving standards. The aim is to fill in oversight gaps that make it hard to weigh whether hospitals do enough for patients and their communities to earn their tax-exempt status as charitable organizations.
President Biden designated a national monument at a former Native American boarding school in Pennsylvania this week to honor the resilience of Indigenous tribes whose children were forced to attend the school. It was the first school of its type and became a template for a network of government-backed Native American boarding schools that ultimately expanded to at least 37 states including Montana.
Big changes are coming to the Treasure State and every driver will feel the impact. Montana is adopting digital driver’s licenses starting next September and your driver’s license will live in your smartphone. Whether you’re stopped by law enforcement checking into an airport or purchasing age-restricted items your license will be accessible with just a few taps on your screen.
The Flathead County Planning Board will look at updates to the plan that regulates development in the Canyon area when it meets this evening in Kalispell. The changes would clarify policies and procedures along with amending guest cabin and short-term rental standards. Recommendations will be forwarded to the Flathead County commissioners for final consideration.
University of Montana students who are wrapping up their college careers at the end of this semester will walk across the stage at winter commencement Friday. Monday night UM’s LGBTQ+ student group Lambda Alliance gathered for a smaller more intimate celebration of commencement.
Missoula residents are now a little more concerned about safety cleanliness lack of restrooms and crowds at parks trails open spaces or recreational facilities in the city. That’s according to surveys conducted of Missoula residents in 2018 and 2024 asking their opinions on a variety of topics related to public spaces managed by the Missoula Parks and Recreation Department.
Hunters have until December 22nd to purchase lottery chances for a guided bison hunt on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation with the drawing to be held the 23rd. The lottery is open to all tribal members nonmembers Montana residents and nonresidents. Chances are $10 each and hunters can purchase up to 20 chances.
