States With Worst Wildfire Smoke Mortality Rates
According to a study published in Communications Earth and Environment the states with the highest mortality rates from wildfire smoke worsened by climate change between 2006 and 2020 were in the West. These states included Montana Oregon Idaho Washington California and Nevada. Montana followed with 3.9 deaths per 100,000 residents.
U.S. Attorney: court overreached in Libby asbestos clinic seizure
The Center for Asbestos Related Disease Clinic in Libby diagnoses locals exposed to the toxic mineral from a now closed vermiculite mine but last week the Lincoln County Sheriff seized all of its property to settle a court judgment. Montana U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme’s office is defending the clinic in court saying BNSF improperly tried to collect money on behalf of the federal government and because CARD receives federal funding the Lincoln County District Court and BNSF have no legal authority to seize property the federal government has a financial stake in.
Montana approves ban on local red flag guns laws
Governor Greg Gianforte signed House Bill 809 into law Thursday prohibiting local governments from enacting red flag gun laws. They cannot enact adopt or implementing a resolution ordinance rule regulation or policy that would have the effect of enforcing an extreme risk protection order against a resident of the state. Any local government that violates it would be subject to a civil penalty of up to $10,000 payable to the state general fund.
Bull Mountains Mine expansion tucked into congressional budget bill
Congress has tucked an 800-acre expansion of Signal Peak Energy’s underground central Montana Bull Mountain coal mine into a budget reconciliation bill that has cleared its first Natural Resources Committee vote. The bill reverses the Biden administration’s moratorium on new coal leasing in the Powder River Basin of southern Montana and northern Wyoming. A majority of coal pulled from the mine near Roundup is bound for Asia via a shipping terminal in Canada.
Yellowstone High Value Network Launches With 24 Critical-Access Hospitals Across Montana
The Yellowstone High Value Network is launching with 24 critical-access hospitals in Montana working together on clinical and business initiatives to strengthen healthcare for patients in rural communities. Its members will collaborate to share operational best practices and lower the cost of purchasing equipment and services.
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Amanda Tusler’s Horses Spirits Healing uses equine therapy to help veterans struggling with PTSD traumatic brain injuries and the transition from military to civilian life. The organization based in Sheperd was just named the 2025 first quarter “Salute to Service” Award recipient by the Veterans Navigation Network.
Bozeman city commissioners threw their support behind an idea this week to create a city program to provide tenants facing eviction with lawyers that Bozeman Tenants United is pushing for. Because evictions are civil matters tenants aren’t provided with public defenders and nearly all those facing eviction in Bozeman last year did so without legal representation.
The state’s preliminary federal education funding allocations for IDEA and Title I part A Fiscal Year 2025 have been received at levels similar to last year. The funds will be disbursed on July 1st ensuring continued support for Montana’s students teachers and schools.
The Butte Wings and Wheels event commemorating 80 years since World War II and honoring all veterans will be held Saturday June 7th from 8 to 3 at Bert Mooney Airport. Admission will be free but donations will benefit the Butte Civil Air Patrol. There will be a pancake breakfast from 8 to 10:30.
The Trump Administration’s budget request to Congress for the upcoming fiscal year calls the Job Corps a failed experiment and proposes ending the program that began in the 1960s putting Montana’s Job Corps centers in Darby and Anaconda at risk. The Job Corps provides education and trade apprenticeships to low-income Americans ages 16 to 24.
