Northwest in severe extreme drought
According to a July analysis and September data from the U.S. Drought Monitor at NOAA nearly 80% of the Northwest is in a drought this summer with more than half in a severe or extreme drought. Extreme drought is currently most prevalent in western Montana western Washington and northern Idaho. About 13% of the Northwest today is currently in extreme or exceptional drought.
Governor Gianforte Honors 9/11 Victims and Patriots at Montana Ceremony and Congressman Troy Downing Reflects on that Time
Governor Greg Gianforte joined Montanans in the State Capitol today to remember the lives lost in the deadly terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. He participated in a ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of the attacks and to honor the fallen heroes who gave their lives. Gianforte also acknowledged the death of Charlie Kirk, praising him as a patriot who embodied core American ideals.
The Day Montana Congressman Troy Downing enlisted
America was attacked 24 years ago today. The day after of the attack now Congressman Troy Downing enlisted in the service. Today he relived it on Voices of Montana.
Troy Downing
Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council Removes President Gene Small
The conflict between the Tribal Council and Northern Cheyenne President Gene Small continues as the Council recently removed Small and put in a pro-temp President. Northern News Networks Ken Adelblue has details.
Ken Adelblue/Gene Small
Supreme Court to Hear Case on Warrantless Police Entry in Emergency Situations
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear on October 15 whether police can enter a home without a warrant based on an emergency, in the case of William Trevor Case from Anaconda. Case, who was shot and arrested by police while suicidal, argues his Fourth Amendment rights were violated. The case questions if emergency-aid exceptions require probable cause; 35 states have filed amicus briefs.
Montana Department of Revenue hears concerns on property reappraisals
Taxpayers are keeping the phone lines busy to the Department of Revenue with concerns about property taxes but far fewer property taxpayers have appealed their new assessments this year compared to a spike in 2023. According to Paula Gilbert head of the Property Assessment Division says the department is fielding questions from people who don’t want to pay more. House Bill 231 and Senate bill 542 the Montana Legislature passed appears to have helped some property taxpayers.
Gianforte orders restart of planning for eastern Montana state hospital
Governor Greg Gianforte has directed state agencies to resume planning for a new $26.5 million state mental-health hospital in eastern Montana. The Montana Board of Investments is the lead agency working to build the facility which would then be operated by the Department of Public Health and Human Services. In a letter he directed them to determine a facility type and location for the project which was approved by the 2025 Montana Legislature.
SCOTUS to hear Anaconda man’s 2021 warrantless police home entry case next month
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments next month about warrantless home entries in the case of an Anaconda man who was convicted of assault on an officer for threatening police with a firearm. William Trevor Case was suicidal when local police entered his home shot him and arrested him. He says the Fourth Amendment should have prevented officers from entering his home without probable cause.
Fire Ready Nation Act passes Senate to boost wildfire prevention
The Fire Ready Nation Act passed the Senate unanimously Wednesday with the main purpose of establishing the Fire Weather Services program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to help prevent forecast and fight wildfires. The bipartisan bill was introduced in January by Republican Montana Senator Sheehy and Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington. The bill directs NOAA to enhance access to fire weather services data online and conduct tests to improve data collection.
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Voters in the Bigfork Fire District have approved a $15 million bond and a permanent mill levy. The bond funds the construction of a new fire station on the district’s 8.65-acre property at 925 Chapman Hill Road. The mill levy will go toward hiring six additional firefighters raise firefighter pay and replace outdated equipment and vehicles.
Missoula’s city leaders joined the county Wednesday in officially opposing the Trump administration’s plan to shutter the Forest Service’s regional office in town. The city council also called on Montana’s congressional representatives to push back on the agency’s reorganization plans and workforce reductions.
The Bozeman Health psychiatric ward ribbon-cutting event took place Wednesday and is set to welcome patients ages 18 and older next week. With six double rooms and two single rooms first adult inpatient psychiatric unit in southwest Montana is expected to serve about 700 patients a year.
City officials from four different Montana towns have brought issues to the Legislature about utility easement concerns and this week BNSF officials told lawmakers they would “dig in” to address them. They defended the process saying how to grant easements and running cables near tracks is complicated because it needs to be safe and pointed to examples of where they’ve had successful partnerships.
The Montana Highway Patrol’s command staff has wrapped up its annual district tour. The statewide effort is designed to connect troopers captains sergeants and professional staff across its seven districts. The yearly tour provides an opportunity to strengthen internal bonds set future goals and celebrate accomplishments.
