States Where People Spend the Most & Least on Health Care
With out-of-pocket health care expenditures rising sharply in recent years today WalletHub released its report on the States Where People Spend the Most and Least on Health Care and ranked Montana 24th in the nation. The personal-finance website analyzed prices of five key health care components in each state then added these costs together and compared them to the median household income.
Montana Supreme Court Reverses Denial of Attorney Fees for Public Records Victory, Calls for Clearer Guidelines
According to a court synopsis, The Montana Supreme Court reversed a district court ruling denying attorney’s fees to the Montana Environmental Information Center and Earthworks after they successfully sued for public records from the Governor’s Office. The Court recognized a presumption in favor of awarding fees to prevailing plaintiffs in right-to-know cases, but this can be rebutted if deemed unreasonable. Justices agreed there’s a need for clearer guidelines for fee awards, with some expressing concerns about recent judicial approaches and balancing government confidentiality interests. The dissent emphasized respecting district courts’ discretion to weigh case-specific factors.
Montana Passes Laws to Support Indigenous Safety and Prevent Human Trafficking
Montana has passed new laws to address the high rates of missing and murdered Indigenous people. Legislation allows the state’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Advisory Council to accept donations and increases funding. The law renamed the group to reflect its advisory role and added a homicide investigator. Other laws include creating a curriculum to prevent human trafficking, aimed at protecting vulnerable youth. Despite some opposition, the laws focus on improving safety and accountability for Native communities, with efforts emphasizing prevention, better coordination, and federal funding.
Federal court blocks Trump from imposing sweeping tariffs under emergency powers law
A lawsuit filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade was upheld Wednesday by a federal court blocking President Donald Trump from imposing tariffs on imports under an emergency-powers law. Earlier this year the Montana Farmers Union sought to intervene in a lawsuit originally filed by members of the Blackfeet Nation against his tariffs on Canada to represent the interests of Montana farmers and ranchers arguing that the tariffs harm their businesses and livelihoods.
Judge hears arguments over $3.2M ask for attorneys’ fees costs in Montana climate case
Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Kathy Seeley will decide whether to award the attorneys who represented the 16 youth plaintiffs in the Montana climate case nearly $3.2 million in fees and costs they have requested money that was appropriated by the Legislature and approved by the governor earlier this year. The plaintiffs won their case in Seeley’s court in the summer of 2023 and she heard arguments from the lawyers Wednesday.
Rapid snowmelt in mountains could spell trouble for the Mountain West
Snow has been melting at rapid rates throughout the region and that could mean increased fire danger and water supply issues. Just between April 10th and 17th data from the National Resources Conservation Service showed almost every major mountain range in the region saw a big melt including ones in Montana Wyoming Idaho and Utah.
Stillwater Critical Minerals Showcases Montana Project at Quebec Mining Investment Event
Stillwater Critical Minerals is participating in THE Mining Investment Event of the North held in Quebec City Canada this week. It is positioning its flagship Stillwater West project in Montana at the forefront of North America’s strategic minerals discourse situated within Montana’s world-class geological Stillwater Igneous Complex renowned for its platinum group elements nickel copper and cobalt potential.
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Governor Greg Gianforte has signed House Bill 278 into law. It encourages peace officers to check and report immigration statuses during lawful stops. The bill was introduced after a court case 10 years ago that limited highway patrol officers’ authority to check immigration status.
After a proposal to use MetraPark in Billings as a lockup for undocumented immigrants resulted in demonstrations across the city earlier this year managers want to implement new rules for protests on the grounds. Officials presented a proposed policy to the Yellowstone County Commission Wednesday morning to require organizers who want to hold a rally to register at least a week in advance and pay a $20 processing fee.
An $83 million settlement in a class action lawsuit led in part by the Montana nonprofit Ranchers Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America against JBS Foods and other meat processing companies is accepting claims from cattle producers. The lawsuit alleged price fixing among four companies that control almost 85% of the meat processing industry in the country.
While the snow on Beartooth Pass may seem especially deep this year snowpack on the Upper Yellowstone River Basin is running below the median this spring. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s snowpack update this week the snow water equivalent in the basin sits at 79%.
The Gallatin Valley Mall in Bozeman will soon be rebranded as Gallatin Crossing. Along with interior renovations to the main building construction on the $50 million-plus redevelopment has been underway at the main parking lot and will soon house four new outparcel retail spaces.
