Checkpoints have been set up on the Crow Indian Reservation to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in tribal communities. One checkpoint is to stop out of state residents from entering tribal land. Another is to determine the nature of business someone might have coming onto Crow Tribal Land and if the business is recreational they’ll be asked to t...
Job Loss Projections Expected to be Large in Montana
The Economic Policy Institute says Montana could suffer the third highest percentage of job losses due to COVID-19 closures in the nation. The Big Sky Journal reports even with the stimulus bill Montana could lose as many as 18,230 jobs by summer.
Governor Increases Legal Weight of Commercial Vehicles
Governor Steve Bullock has implemented actions to increase the ability of commercial motor carrier vehicles to ensure a supply of food medical supplies farm inputs and feed and hay during the coronavirus pandemic. The Directive allows a 10% increase in the legal weight of commercial vehicles but does not require or allow fatigued drivers to op...
Great Falls – City Manager Suspends RV City Code
By executive order Great Falls City Manager Greg Doyon has suspended a city code that prohibits residing in an RV on private property or public right of way. The intent is to allow emergency workers health care providers or residents to care for a family member while not residing in the same dwelling or to self-isolate and minimize family expo...
Amid COVID-19, High Speed Internet Gap is Closing
With coronavirus forcing sweeping school closures Montana’s is out until at least until April 10th and with abrupt orders to shift to remote learning the status of internet access for teachers and students has come home to roost. Major strides have been made to in ensuring schools have high speed internet. A 2019 report declared the classroo...
Bozeman – Parks and Trails Ballots will still be Mailed on May 5th
The City of Bozeman’s proposal for a new fee in the form of a citywide parks and trails district will likely still be with May 5th ballots amidst the coronavirus pandemic. The city passed the Feb. 20th deadline to remove an issue from a special district election which they wanted to do. The Gallatin County Elections Department is due to begin ...
Department of Revenue has Mailed Notices to Manufactured Home Owners
The Montana Department of Revenue has mailed notices to property owners of mobile and manufactured homes that are assessed separately from the land on which they are located. The notice is not a tax bill. County treasurers calculate and bill property owners for their 2020 general property taxes based upon the values shown on the notices.
Montana Numbers Continue to Increase
By Sunday evening coronavirus cases in Montana totaled 161 by Monday morning, that number has grown to 171. Gallatin County continues to have the most cases with 67 and had the largest overnight increase of 9. Three more COVID-19 related deaths have also been confirmed including two deaths in Toole County and an elderly Madison County patient...
Kalispell – Veterinary Community Still Seeing Patients
The veterinary community in the Flathead knows that even amid a virus outbreak affecting humans the valley’s animals need treatment too. Although non-essential businesses have been ordered to close to prevent the spread of COVID-19 veterinary clinics and hospitals are still deemed essential and most veterinarians are still seeing patient wit...
Before COVID-19 Unemployment Numbers Stable
Before the coronavirus pandemic hit Montana the state’s unemployment rate in February remained unchanged at 3.5% with about 800 jobs added over the month. The Unemployment rate has increased in the last several weeks because of public health and safety measures and their impacts will be evident in next month’s unemployment data.