Updated coverage of Northern Cheyenne Chiefs Draft Ouster Declaration and Demand Capitol Reopening
In a story that continues to unfold, Special reporter Emma Jane is on scene where the Northern Cheyenne Chiefs Council drafted a declaration, Thursday to oust elected tribal members and staff using traditional law. And removed the members who had barricaded themselves inside the Littlewolf Capitol Building after allegedly illegally removing Council President Gene Smalls. Emma can you tell us what has developed?
Emma Jane
Northern Cheyenne Chiefs Draft Declaration to Oust Officials, Reopen Capitol Amid Governance Dispute
The Northern Cheyenne Chiefs Council took a historic step by drafting a declaration to oust elected tribal members and staff using traditional law. They demanded the Littlewolf Capitol Building be reopened after members barricaded themselves inside with an illegal security force. The move follows a council meeting urging President Gene Small’s removal, driven by his push for a forensic audit of $90 million in federal funds, amid ongoing tribal governance disputes. Robert McLean, Jr. the current Lay Advocate at Northern Cheyenne Tribal Court read a segment of their declaration today on Voices of Montana.
Robert McLean Jr.
Report: Montana Among The Most Expensive States For Food
LendingTree an online marketplace website has taken a look at what a family pays for groceries. In Montana we’re paying almost 9.7% of our monthly budget on groceries 12.6% more than any other state. Montana is tied with Alaska at number four for the state spending the biggest share of household income on groceries. As for the difference in national average Montana is ranked number twelve in that metric.
Is Montana Full Of Boomers? Data Says YES
The US has an aging population overall, and Baby Boomers dominate most states. Boomers are defined by those born between 1946 and 1964 and Montana takes the #3 spot for Boomers per capita. 1954 is the most common birth year in Montana which means Montana has a surplus of 71-year-olds walking the street. Hawaii and Oregon take the #2 and #1 spots for Boomer Babies with the most people born in 1953.
Family planning funding restored
Federal funding for family planning clinics across Montana has been restored after the Trump administration froze the long-standing grant in April. Historically Montana received about $2 million annually in Title X funding. The restored funding was reduced by about 7%. Federal officials didn’t say why. Title X helps pay for family planning and cancer prevention services for low-income people. It cannot be used for abortion services.
D.C. Circuit Affirms FERC’s Broadview Ruling on Remand – A Big Win for Solar + Storage
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has upheld the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s certification of the Broadview Solar project in Montana as a “small power production facility” The ruling has notable implications for how developers design solar-plus-storage projects and how investors evaluate them when navigating PURPA’s 80-megawatt cap on power production capacity for qualifying facility status.
Trump doesn’t want Blackfeet Nation to intervene in tariff suit
President Donald Trump’s legal team at the Department of Justice asked the Supreme Court Thursday to block a request from Blackfeet Nation members to intervene in a case that could determine the fate of Trump’s economic agenda. Montana state Senator Susan Webber rancher Jonathan St. Goddard and Rhonda and David Mountain Chief asked the nation’s highest court to intervene in the case because Trump’s tariffs directly burden cross-border commerce of these tribal plaintiffs who operate small businesses and family ranches near the U.S.-Canada border.
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Missoula has secured $1.1 million to address homelessness with new city case managers after receiving most of an $1.7 million opioid settlement fund that is allocated to the Missoula metropolitan area. The city spearheaded a housing sprint for the closure of the Johnson Street Shelter but that program ended before the award was made.
FBI personnel utilizing an incinerator to destroy methamphetamine led to a cloud of smoke inundating the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter Wednesday. Multiple people went to the hospital and all the animals in the shelter were removed. The shelter will remain closed until crews determine that meth has not contaminated the building. The incinerator itself is located at the Magic City’s Animal Control office on Monad Road.
Montana Democrats will pick new leaders when they meet this weekend in Livingston. The party’s three-term chair Robin Driscoll isn’t seeking reelection. Three candidates are vying for the position. Montana Democrats are headed to their convention without a federal or statewide officeholder since Jon Tester’s loss to Republican Senator Tim Sheehy in 2024.
September is Natural Preparedness Month and the Red Cross is urging residents to take advantage and prepare their households for natural disasters. Each year Red Cross volunteers respond to over 170 disasters across Montana including house fires wildfires and severe storms.
The Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation has wrapped up its second season of their Youth Wilderness Program. It teaches teens from Idaho and Montana skills to live work and play in the wilderness while safely and responsibly backpacking. A total of 49 teens between the ages of 12 and 18 attended the programs with 12 teens from Montana and 37 teens from Idaho.
