Spring flooding likely averted as western Montana’s mountain snowpack dwindles
A warm spell in early May could keep rivers from flooding in western Montana but the unseasonable temperatures also took a toll on mountain snowpack in the drought-stricken region. As climate change brings warmer average temperatures earlier in the year Montana’s creeks and rivers have likewise on average been reaching peak runoff earlier in the season. A recent system of rain and high-elevation snow did add to high-elevation snowpack in some of the region’s river basins but most remained well below historic levels.
Successful Rollout of STARS Act
House Bill 252 also known as the STARS Act from the last legislative session increases teacher salaries addresses housing costs and expands funding for work-based learning and dual credit student opportunities. Since its rollout 392 out of 417 local education agencies have submitted applications to participate in the initiative. That number represents 94% of the local education agencies that have responded and want to take part.
Judge extends block against MT ‘bathroom bill,’ calls state’s arguments ‘disingenuous’
House Bill 121 has been blocked from being enforced by Missoula County District Court Judge Shane Vanatta saying the law violates transgender Montanans’ constitutional rights. The law would require them to use restrooms for their sex assigned at birth and not their gender identity. The Attorney General’s Office pledged to appeal the decision to the Montana Supreme Court.
Feds cancel UM grant funding to study vaccines in rural communities
The University of Montana has lost nearly $300,000 in federal funding for research studying patterns in vaccine uptake in rural areas since the National Institutes of Health started rescinding vaccine grant funding. It is one of nearly 700 total cuts across two-dozen NIH centers that were studying aging cancer child health diabetes mental health and neurological disorders.
NOAA’s predictions for summer 2025 just got even hotter
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center has released its updated weather outlook for the next three months and all of states are favored to see a warmer-than-average summer season. The Mountain West including Montana is likely to see an above-normal summer. Unseasonably high temperatures have already hit the Dakotas and Minnesota. Wyoming has a 60% to 70% chance of hotter-than-normal temperatures.
More Headlines:
Several Irish dignitaries are visiting Big Sky Country just two months after the establishment of the Montana-Ireland Trade Commission aimed at fostering deeper cultural and economic ties. Today they will tour the University of Montana. They will head to Helena Tuesday for tours of the Helena Cathedral and Montana State Capitol.
The Montana Department of Transportation and CK May Excavating plan to remove a large amount of rock on I-90 near Bozeman Pass Tuesday. There will be a 30-minute closure of I-90 and the West Bozeman Hill Road between 9:30 and 3:30 but that may change due to train activity in the area. Travelers should prepare for delays of up to one hour during the closure.
The Billings Regional Landfill is the largest in the state processing 350,000 tons of waste each year gathering waste from 200,000 Montana residents across five counties. That’s a lot of trash the landfill is almost at capacity and the next landfill cell is expected to cost between 16 and $18 million.
Emergency medical services are not designated as essential unlike firefighters or police which means Montana isn’t required to fund them. A resolution that started as a Flathead High School student class project may change that. The resolution calls for a statewide study of emergency medical services to assess capabilities needs future demand and funding mechanisms.
Montana will soon become the first state in America to ban public funding to pay for bulk digital data. Senate Bill 282 signed into law by Governor Greg Gianforte bans law enforcement from purchasing electronic data without a warrant. The New law will take effect October 1st.
