Lawmakers consider new financial options for childcare programs
State lawmakers are considering new financial options for childcare programs including House Bill 945 which would establish a new grant program for daycare businesses. According to the sponsor Senator Katie Sullivan the goal of the program is to expand capacity reduce wait lists and ensuring more families can access services. It would be particularly impactful for rural Montana which often faces more severe shortages due to lack of infrastructure.
Montana Lumber Industry Welcomes Rollback of Environmental Protections for National Forest Logging
Montana’s lumber industry welcomes the Trump administration’s rollback today of environmental protections for logging projects in over half of U.S. national forests. The emergency designation, cites wildfire dangers. Industry representatives anticipate this move may lead to increased production and sales of mature trees sought by sawmills. Whether these changes will effectively boost lumber production remains to be seen as stakeholders watch the results in the coming months.
Governor Gianforte Announced Montana Named Top State for Business Startups
Governor Greg Gianforte announced Montana as the top state for business startups, according to Entrepreneur Media. With over 4,800 startups per 100K and a 10-year survival rate of 41%, Montana earned a startup opportunity score of 9.55. Based on data from the U.S. Small Business Administration, Montana leads the nation, followed by Oregon, Nevada, Utah, and Florida.
Title X funding halt leaves clinics across Montana scrambling
Two million dollars in funding for 20 family planning clinics across Montana was frozen after the Trump administration’s decision to halt Title X funding leaving clinics scrambling to ensure patients continue to receive care. The 20 clinics are part of Montana’s Title X network that provide safety-net care to an estimated 15,000 Montanans each year the majority being low-income women between 18 and 45. according to the release.
Dirtiest US Coal-Fired Power Plant Applies for EPA Exemption
The Colstrip Power Plant is asking President Donald Trump for a waiver from pollution mandates taking up the administration on an offer to email for a chance to get a presidential exemption. It has applied for a two-year exemption from Environmental Protection Agency standards compelling stringent mercury and air pollution controls. The plant has the highest emission rate of fine particulate matter out of any coal-burning plant in the nation.
Montana Won’t Support Utah’s Land Ownership Lawsuit
The Montana House has voted down a proposal to support Utah in its effort to take ownership of more than 18-million acres of federal land within the Beehive State. Montana Republican Tom Millett said he proposed the bill to help answer a constitutional question arguing the federal government brings in tens of millions of dollars in “royalties” from the unappropriated land including eight-million acres in Montana.
Bill proposes crackdown on illegal online gambling in Montana
A gambling law moving to the Montana Senate floor aims to crack down on illegal online gambling in the Treasure State. Senator Vince Ricci presented Senate Bill 555 Thursday during the Senate Business Labor and Economic Affairs committee. He says the bill will help strengthen the Department of Justice by giving them the tools they need to combat the issue.
Humanities Montana budget slashed ‘in furtherance of the President’s agenda’
Humanities Montana received has received notice this week from the National Endowment for the Humanities that its $1 million general operating grant was “terminated immediately. The federal money represents the bulk of the budget for Humanities Montana which supports arts and civics programs across the state. It pays for grants that support cultural institutions in Montana and the Humanities Montana staff who support the grants and programs.
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Butte-Silver Bow is joining a planned class-action lawsuit against the makers of chemicals contained in firefighter turnout gear because they have allegedly been shown to cause cancer and other illnesses. Numerous lawsuits across the U.S. claim 3M and DuPont have manufactured and marketed products that contain the chemicals knowing they were harmful.
State lawmakers continued to review House Bill 803 Thursday that would modify the legal process for victims of asbestos exposure to receive compensation. Most cases of asbestos exposure in Montana can be traced back to a mine near Libby that contained an especially dangerous form of asbestos that has been linked to mesothelioma and other lung diseases.
A bill heading to the House Floor could expand shooting sports in the Treasure State. State Senator Kerri Seekins-Crowe presented House Bill 899 to the House Business and Labor committee Thursday. The bill aims to develop a state shooting complex and oversight task force.
The last functioning portions of the Great Falls Fire Rescue five-story training tower failed last fall part of a long arc of deterioration at the department’s southside training center. Fire Chief Jeremy Jones has petitioned city commissioners to approve $2.5 million in bond financing to improve the training center including demolishing and replacing the tower and improving the grounds with asphalt and better drainage.
