Senate Bill 354 prohibiting the purchase of soft drinks and candy with SNAP benefits cleared second reading in the Senate Wednesday on a 31 to 19 vote with bipartisan support and opposition. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget. The bill will go through a final Senate reading and will then move over to the House.
According to data from The Department of Government Efficiency at least 12 leased Montana facilities are proposed to be eliminated or have already been terminated by DOGE amounting to a total cost cut of $2.7 million. Social Security offices in Missoula and Kalispell are on the list to close as well as the Shelby Border Patrol facility U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offices in Great Falls and Bozeman among other offices. The administration owns 41 federal buildings and leases 78 buildings in the Treasure State.
Since the PACT Act passed in 2022 over 75% of veterans enrolled in the Montana Veteran Affairs Health Care System have been screened for toxic exposure to substances like Agent Orange and burn pits. The Associated Press reports internal memos show DOGE plans to cut 80,000 VA employees including tens of thousands tasked with implementing the bipartisan PACT Act which was championed by and shepherded through congress by former Montana Democratic Senator Jon Tester.
The Montana National Guard has implemented a civilian employee hiring freeze in response to a directive from the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Despite concerns about military operations in a hiring freeze Governor Greg Gianforte has emphasized his confidence in the Guard’s leadership and workforce. The freeze will affect the Guard’s ability to hire new civilian personnel potentially impacting operations and staffing levels.
Since the end of World War One in 1918 the United States has been twice a year falling back and springing forward. This Sunday March 9th everyone in Montana will spring forward and lose an hour of sleep. 19 states have passed year-round Daylight Saving Time laws including Montana but the U.S. Congress would have to pass something like the “Sunshine Protection Act” for Montana’s law to go into effect. It has passed the Senate but has stalled in the House.
Senator Steve Daines has announced two of his bills he says will support the tribal community have passed the senate floor. The “Northern Montana Water Security Act” would complete the final Indian Rights Water Settlement the Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement in Montana after years of negotiations. The Crow Tribe Water Settlement Act would update the previous settlement to be fund-based rather than project-based and also extend the authorization for the Tribe to develop hydropower on the Yellowtail Afterbay Dam.
If a Montana governor chooses not to live in the “governor’s mansion” owned by the state Senate Bill 496 says it should be used by others that term. Governor Greg Gianforte lives in his own home not the 12,000-square-foot house at 2 Carson Street in Helena. The building has been vacant for three years.
The Montana VA Health Care System official grand opening ceremony of the new Hamilton VA Clinic will take place at the Bitterroot Inn at 10 in the morning Friday March 14th. After that there will be a ribbon cutting at the clinic with the opportunity for Veterans and members of the public to tour the new facility.
Police and prosecutors in Missoula are ringing alarm bells over what they say is a spike in juvenile gang activity. Several recent court cases in the city have targeted alleged members of juvenile gangs with charges related to shootings assaults with firearms gun theft and auto theft. The last time juvenile gang activity was on the rise in Missoula was in the early 1990’s.
Back by popular demand the Pipes and Drums Band of the Edmonton Police Service will return to Butte March 15th for performances around the city as part of the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. The Alberta Canada based band has helped to celebrate the Mining City’s Celtic heritage since 1984.
