Montana VA Gets 5-Star Rating from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
The Montana Veterans Administration’s Healthcare System has earned a five-star rating as part of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ 2025 hospital quality ratings. The Fort Harrison VA Medical Center is the only hospital in Montana to earn five stars in both overall rating and patient survey rating, out of 63 Montana hospitals. It is also one of only 41 hospitals nationwide to achieve five stars in both categories.
SCOTUS Defense in Cases to Protect Women’s Sports Gains Support from 27 State Attorneys General
Attorneys general from 27 states, including Montana and the U.S. Territory of Guam, have signed onto amicus briefs supporting the defense in an upcoming Supreme Court case concerning women’s sports and transgender athlete participation. In July, the Court agreed to review state bans on transgender athletes competing in public school sports. Plaintiffs challenged the laws, while defendants—state authorities in West Virginia and Idaho—seek to uphold them.
NorthWestern Loses Court Case Over Solar Energy Project North of Billings
NorthWestern Energy has lost a federal court challenge against the Broadview project, located northwest of Billings. The ruling requires the utility to purchase electricity from the $2 billion, 160-megawatt solar array, which is paired with a large battery storage facility. NorthWestern must integrate the clean energy into its grid.
Unemployment Claims in Montana Decline
Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Montana fell to 386 in the week ending September 13, down from 506 the previous week. Nationally, South Carolina saw the largest percentage increase in claims, up 60.6%. North Dakota experienced the largest percentage decrease, with new claims dropping 70.9%. U.S. unemployment claims overall declined to 231,000, a drop of 33,000 from 264,000 the week prior, on a seasonally adjusted basis.
NorthWestern Anticipates $18 Million in Annual Operation Costs for Avista’s Colstrip Share
Two and a half years after announcing plans to increase its stake in Washington-based utility Avista’s share of the Colstrip power plant, NorthWestern Energy now estimates annual operation and maintenance costs at $18 million. If power sales outlined in NorthWestern’s contracts with Energy Keepers and the Big Horn Co-op generate less than $18 million, the company says it—not customers—will absorb the shortfall.
More Headlines
-
Great Falls Ballot: The November 4 municipal ballot in Great Falls will include races for mayor, two city commissioners, a municipal court judge, one neighborhood council, and a fireworks question. Elections for the other eight neighborhood councils have been canceled, saving the city approximately $655.75 in ballot programming costs.
-
Rose Park Plaza Apartments Unionizing: Renters at the 112-unit Rose Park Plaza Apartments in Billings, owned by New York-based Capital Realty Group, are forming the Rose Park Tenant Union. It is the first majority tenant union in Billings, part of a growing statewide and national trend of tenants organizing against corporate landlords.
-
Montana Lakes Ranking: Montana ranks 11th in the U.S. for the number of lakes, with 3,389. The World Population Review listed the 14 clearest lakes in the country, ranking Flathead Lake at number 8.
-
Wildlife Crimes Sentencing: Six men from Montana and Washington pleaded guilty in Musselshell County Justice Court to unlawfully killing bull elk and mule deer bucks near Roundup. Collectively, they were sentenced to $22,890 in fines and received license revocations totaling 28 years.
-
Montana Association of Counties Conference: The Montana Association of Counties’ 2025 Annual Conference runs through Wednesday at the Heritage Inn in Great Falls. The conference includes officer elections, by-law changes, and policy discussions. Topics such as zoning, wind energy, and property assessments are on the agenda.
