President Donald Trump’s promise to keep TikTok functioning is at odds with a 2023 law that banned the app in Montana. A federal judge later blocked the state’s ban after TikTok and several Montana users filed lawsuits which the state appealed. The lawsuit went on hold in 2024 when a ruling on a federal ban seemed imminent. As of Thursday Montana users could continue to access TikTok though the app’s future remains uncertain.
More than $3.2 million of federal funding has been allocated to build new or preserve affordable homes in Bozeman Laurel Dillon and Billings. The federal block grants are directed and allocated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to create affordable homes for households with lower incomes and will support the construction and rehabilitation of nearly 250 affordable homes.
As state lawmakers decide whether or not to renew Medicaid expansion before it ends in June the Montana Healthcare Foundation released its annual Medicaid in Montana report. It found most of the people covered under Medicaid expansion are in the workforce or a full-time caregiver for a family member. The expansion is creating more providers more jobs and adding as much as $560 million in additional personal income to the economy every year. As new services become available to all patients and usually have a higher margin which means they improve the overall financial health of system.
The latest unemployment rate reported in Montana is only 3.2% and as of January 18th 12,000 people had filed unemployment insurance claims while the total number of Americans collecting unemployment benefits rose to their highest level in more than three years. That could mean demand for workers is slowing down even as the economy remains strong and suggests some who are receiving benefits are finding it harder to land new jobs.
Since 1978 the Indian Child Welfare Act has been protecting Native children from being taken away from their families and communities by non-Native foster or adoptive families a practice rooted it in centuries of assimilation policies. Senate Bill 147 which seeks to strengthen the state’s compliance with ICWA and Montana’s Indian Child Welfare Act reflects the growing tension between tribal sovereignty and state control over child welfare.
The process to hand out more than $1 million in opioid settlements this year in Missoula is moving forward with plans to spend the money both internally and through grants to local nonprofits. Thursday during a meeting the joint Opioid Remediation Board revealed a draft prioritization list and reviewed existing local government programs in need of revenue.
Residents of Great Falls have an opportunity to learn more about Montana’s Constitution as the Montana Constitution Road Show will be at the Meadowlark Country Club next Wednesday from noon to 1. A second session will take place at the Great Falls Public Library next Thursday afternoon from 5 to 6.
Japanese Consul General Iyori Makoto spent part of his Thursday visiting Helena High School talking about the importance of Montana and Japan’s connections to each other. According to state officials Japan is consistently a top buyer of Montana products purchasing over $240 million in exports from the Treasure State in 2024.
The U.S. Postal Service in Missoula has had a problem with hiring and retaining enough staff to keep up with the workload for much of the last few years. According to several current and former rural letter carriers that has led to workers with 80-hour work weeks fatigue behind the wheel burnout and stress.
The Whitefish School District has approved a project delivery contract for the high school’s academic and athletic improvements. Construction on the athletic expansion portion will begin this spring or summer with completion by spring 2026. That’s when construction could start on the academic improvements to the high school.