New CPS law aims to protect Montana children
House Bill 586 becomes effective Wednesday updating Montana’s Child Passenger Safety Law. Children under the age of 2 must be placed in a rear-facing harness seat children aged 2 to 4 may be placed in a rear-facing or forward-facing internal harness seat and children aged 4 to 8 may be placed in a forward-facing internal harness or booster seat.
Report: Montana among world’s incarcerators of women
A new report places Montana among the world leaders in incarcerating women with a rate of 282 per 100,000 topping most nations and trailing only South Dakota among U.S. states. The analysis from the Prison Policy Initiative suggests it is due to policies criminalizing low-level offenses associated with poverty and when it chooses to build new prisons instead of addressing root causes.
Blackfeet Nation Members Seek Role in Supreme Court Tariff Case
Blackfeet Nation members asked the Supreme Court Monday to set aside 15 minutes during oral arguments in the case challenging President Donald Trump’s tariffs. The Supreme Court set oral arguments for November 5th in the case. The challengers argue Congress not the president retains the power to tax.
Montana Gas Prices Take a Surprising Turn This Month
Average gasoline prices in Montana have fallen 4.8 cents per gallon in the last week. They are 7.9 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and 11.7 cents lower than a year ago. Montana is currently ranked 15th in the U.S. when it comes to the average price of gas which is one spot lower than last week.
Tourism to Glacier National Park contributes $656M to local economy-Glacier NP Media Release
A new National Park Service report shows in 2024 3.2 million park visitors spent an estimated $458 million in local gateway regions while visiting Glacier National Park. That supported 5,190 jobs with $217 million in labor income. It included $359 million in value added and $656 million in economic output in local gateway economies surrounding Glacier National Park.
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The Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Cemetery Administration has awarded a grant of up to $1,537,769 to Montana for the expansion of the Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery in Missoula. It serves more than 17,000 Veterans and their eligible family members in the region. VA will also reimburse the state $274,006 for the cost of fabrication and delivery of outer burial receptacles used for the project.
The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation in partnership with Montana Resources has donated $1.1 million to the Montana Tech Foundation to establish the John Francis “Frank” Gardner Memorial Endowed Scholarship. The fund will cover full tuition and fees for one Montana Tech student each year renewable for four years with preference given to Butte students majoring in mining or geological engineering.
The Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a residence on 12 Mile Road near Shepherd in connection with an investigation into alleged animal neglect and cruelty. A total of 42 dogs were seized and remain under the care of the Sheriff’s Office while the investigation continues. Donations will go directly toward their veterinary care and treatment.
The Montana Environmental Information Center and the Northern Plains Resource Council are suing the Montana Department of Environmental Quality accusing it of failing to follow the state Supreme Court’s order to consider the Yellowstone County Generation station’s impact on human and environmental health. It was filed Monday in Yellowstone County District Court.
Polson’s Local Government Study Review Commission will host a meeting Thursday afternoon from 4 to 6 at the library to give an overview of the process and the work commissioners have done so far. Polson has a commission-manager form of government compared to Ronan and St. Ignatius which each have a council-mayor form.
