The bald eagle which has about 700 pairs with breeding grounds in Montana is now officially the United States’ official national bird after President Joe Biden signed legislation making it so. State wildlife agencies began aerial surveys of bald eagle nests in the early 1970s as the bird’s numbers plummeted because pesticides were working their way up the eagle’s food chain in a process known as biomagnification. The species reproduces slowly and some of its nesting habitat was also lost to development.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has awarded $1 million in planning grants to 14 states including Montana as part of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Medicaid Demonstration Program. Montana has one of the highest suicide rates in the nation with 29.8 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020. The administration is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The University of Montana’s combined heat and power plant is up and running adding two natural gas-burning turbines and one steam turbine to UM’s grid. It produces enough energy to light and heat the entire campus. The plant which has a $20 million price tag will save UM $1.5 million every year in energy costs. The project was started in 2019 and was supposed to be finished two years ago but supply chain issues got in the way.
Chief Justice Mike McGrath retired from leading the Montana Supreme Court this week after 16 years. His last official act was swearing in another former prosecutor Cory Swanson the Broadwater County Attorney who was elected in November. The 48-year-old lawyer comes to the bench after serving ten years in that role. Before that he worked in private practice and in the attorney general’s office under Republican Tim Fox.
The second day of the 69th Montana Legislative session was Tuesday however a change in Senate rules on the first day led to some changes in plans and stalled some bills. Senate President Matt Regier said the unexpected changes meant in just 15 minutes a couple months’ worth of logistics unraveled everything from committee assignments to letterhead and business cards.
A large-scale housing subdivision in Somers known as Steamboat Landing heads back to the Flathead County Planning Board today. Hopes are to develop 180 single-family homes and 72 condo units on the 64-acre property near Somers Middle School. Recommendations from the board are forwarded to the Flathead County commissioners for final consideration.
The Montana Public Service Commission voted to elect its new leadership Tuesday. Laurel Republican Brad Molnar is now President and Thompson Falls Republican Jennifer Fielder is now the Vice President of the Montana Public Service Commission.
The Montana Department of Justice and the Office of Public Instruction announced Tuesday submissions are open for the 42nd Annual National Missing Children’s Poster Contest. Montana fifth graders can submit their art in the theme of “Bringing Our Missing Children Home” to help raise awareness of the issue of missing children and have a chance to win a trip to Washington D.C.
Lewis and Clark County commissioners awarded a $214,217 contract to the Boulder-base Bullock Contracting construction company Tuesday for the Grizzly Gulch Placer Mine Reclamation Project 5 miles southwest of Helena near Grizzly Gulch Drive. Plans are to return Grizzly Creek to a functioning stream and improve public safety.
Montana lawmakers are considering House Bill 20. It would make local agencies ask voters for a specific dollar amount of property tax increases on ballot levies rather than rely on mills. Local levies are often used for public services like libraries or fire stations. This bill would still allow mills for public schools.
