The Montana Supreme Court upheld Sandfire Resources’ mine permit Thursday. If found the state complied with the Montana Water Use Act when it issued a permit for the former Tintina Montana Incorporated’s Black Butte copper project near White Sulphur Springs to extract approximately 14 million tons of the metal.
The Montana Supreme Court has ruled Governor Greg Gianforte may have legitimate legal reasons to withhold documents that could shed light about which legislation he supports or opposes but that he can’t refuse to turn those over without having a district court judge review them. The court says state law doesn’t confer any special privileges to withhold documents just because he’s the governor.
The bird flu is making headlines but it’s too early to predict if or when the disease could escalate into a pandemic. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Montana roughly 28 backyard flocks and 164,477 birds have been impacted. Meanwhile frequent outbreaks among commercial flocks from California to Colorado have led to egg shortages and sharp price increases. In parts of California a dozen eggs costs nearly $9.
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality is encouraging radon awareness with radon test kits for the month of January and thanks to a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency Montanans have access to free testing. Radon can enter homes over time and increases the risk of lung cancer in non-smokers. In Montana around half of tested homes test for radon levels at or above the normal level.
Governor Greg Gianforte and Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen are recognizing January as Human Trafficking Prevention Month and reminding residents to learn the signs and to report it to law enforcement. In 2024 officials worked on 129 human trafficking related cases in Montana with 21 investigations opened. Some of the operations were made possible by House Bill 112 which increased penalties for sex traffickers and patrons.
Residents of the Big Mountain Resort Area District will vote on implementing a resort tax this month with mail-in ballots due January 21st. If the measure passes a 3% resort tax will be collected on goods and services lodging and food and drinks in the Big Mountain area beginning June 1st. The tax would be in effect for 20 years. The tax area follows the boundaries of the Big Mountain Fire District and includes Whitefish Mountain Resort and adjacent businesses.
Oral arguments in a case on whether the Flathead Conservation District has the authority to order a home removed from the banks of McDonald Creek in Glacier National Park are scheduled for January 8th in federal court in Missoula. Meanwhile the house sits empty and unfinished.
A new transitional housing project for Missoula veterans will move forward after the Poverello Center received a $2.2 million grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines to reconstruct a building along West Broadway Street. Construction on the project is set to begin this year with the goal of lowering veteran homeless rates in Missoula.
As winter sets in fire department statewide are urging residents to ensure their smoke alarms are functioning properly. Officials recommend replacing smoke alarms every 10 years and testing them by pressing the test button. It’s important to have smoke alarms on every floor of your home and both outside and inside sleeping areas.
President Joe Biden has signed a bipartisan bill officially designating the bald eagle as the national bird of the United States. The bald eagle with its striking white head piercing yellow eyes and powerful wingspan has embodied the ideals of independence strength and freedom for more than two centuries.
