Eastern Montanans are concerned about proposed wind power developments.
Former State Senator Ric Holden is calling for restrictions to limit the height of the proposed wind turbines. 70 turbines are planned on the hills above Glendive each about 575 feet tall equal to the size of the Seattle Space needle. He has been sounding the alarm over the threat posed to Montana’s open spaces and Big Sky country due to proposed wind farm developments.
Montana Food Bank Network shares concerns over potential SNAP benefit changes
The Montana Food Bank Network reports about 80,000 Montanans utilize SNAP providing access to food for people and families with limited income but the Big Beautiful Bill Act has proposed changes to the program. It would alter the requirements to receive those benefits. The new legislation also proposes that states cover 75% of SNAP’s costs a 25% jump from the current cost-sharing plan.
NorthWestern Energy Case Before PSC Could Wrap Up Today
A hearing before the Montana Public Service Commission on NorthWestern Energy’s bid to increase its electricity rates could wrap up as early as today. NorthWestern has said if the PSC approves settlements in the current case it would receive a 4.2% increase compared to rates from July 2024. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration Montana has the second lowest electricity rates for residential customers among the states in the Mountain region behind Idaho.
States Where People Are the Most Delinquent on Debt – WalletHub Study
American households are carrying around $18.2 trillion in debt. WalletHub has just released its updated report on the states where people are the most delinquent on debt and ranks Montana close to the bottom at 48th place. The personal-finance website took both the percentage of individual tradelines that were delinquent into account and the share of residents’ total loan balances that were delinquent.
Nine States Where Your Social Security Check will be Taxed in 2025 include Montana
Social Security remains a cornerstone of retirement income for many Americans according to AARP with 40% of those aged 65 and older relying on it for at least half their income. In 2025 only nine states will including Montana which partially taxes Social Security benefits based on income levels. If you’re a single filer with an adjusted gross income below $25,000 or a joint filer below $32,000 your Social Security benefits are fully exempt from state taxes.
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Stockman Bank has been ranked as the number one bank in Montana on Forbes list of America’s Best-In-State Banks. Montana’s largest family-owned community bank was founded in 1953 and remains uniquely focused on Montana with comprehensive banking products and services along with state-of-the-art online and mobile banking wealth management and insurance services.
While Yellowstone County once relied on a siren to alert residents of extreme weather including tornadoes the area has since shifted to a more modern alert system. It now uses an app called Everbridge for emergency alerts and with severe weather hitting the region this week county leaders asking residents to download it from the Apple app store or Google Play.
Flathead County has an aging jail that is overcrowded outdated and no longer meets the needs of a growing population. July 1st will mark the official kickoff by the county commissioners of a county-wide initiative ahead of the November 4 bond vote which will ask voters to fund a much-needed replacement for the current facility.
A plan to include a daycare in aa affordable and market-rate housing project was scrapped by the Missoula City Council this week a decision described as disappointing but necessary to keep the project viable. It voted to remove the requirement for a 4,000-square-foot childcare facility in the Scott Street-Ravara project after officials said no group could afford to take on the space.
The inaugural Montana Shrine Baseball Classic is set for August 14th at Three Legends Stadium in Butte beginning at 4 in the afternoon. The game will pit graduated high school seniors from the Class of 2025 against each other in an East versus West format. It will be modeled after the Montana East-West Shrine Football Game and like the football game money raised will befit the Shriners Children’s hospital in Spokane Washington.
