A 2024 report on labor in Montana says the economy is continuing to expand unemployment remains low and wage growth is increasing and has outpaced inflation. The high cost of housing and low availability of childcare workers though are a couple of challenges for the economy. Nearly 60% of counties in the state are identified as childcare deser...
Between the springs of 2020 and 2021 the Office of Public Instruction received over $605 million of COVID relief funds. It partnered with the state’s 400 school districts to ensure the final round of the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds were successfully obligated by this week’s deadline. Representative Mat...
The annual fundraising campaign spearheaded by the Town Pump Charitable Trust Foundation will get help buying food and covering operational expenses this year for a record 116 food banks across Montana. Organizers hope the “Help Those in Need” campaign kicking off this week will raise $4 million including more than $1.1 million in matching gra...
Regional gas prices rose for the second consecutive week last week and since last month the average fuel price in the Rocky Mountain region has risen about 8 cents. A year ago it was 14% higher at about $4 a gallon. The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s tally of prices in the Rocky Mountain states includes Montana Colorado Idaho...
Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks released the final Statewide Grizzly Bear Management Plan Monday. It outlines how FWP plans to manage grizzly bears where they exist now and prioritizes connectivity between ecosystems and working with people and communities to avoid conflicts with bears. Its grizzly bear management will continue to center on...
According to a study published by researchers at LendingTree Montana has the second highest percentage of at-risk properties with more than half of the structures in the state possibly vulnerable to wildfire. That additional risk is driving up the cost of homeowners insurance for many residents even those whose property isn’t normally thought ...
The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed the Veteran’s Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act. The bipartisan legislation ensures the rate of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and military survivors keeps pace with the cost of living. The bill which will match the annual COLA adjustment to social security b...
Congress has passed legislation to expand CDL training for military veterans. The Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act of 2023 which the Senate approved last year passed in the House by voice vote Wednesday and now heads to the White House where the president is expected to sign it. Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntz...
SNAP which used to be called the Food Stamp Program is designed to help low-income people and families pay for groceries and starting next Tuesday October 1st new maximum benefit amounts for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will kick in. Most abortion clinics in Montana will have to comply with new licensure requirements adopted b...
The Montana Department of Transportation is getting nearly $72 million in federal funding to help repair the state’s aging infrastructure. The Federal Highway Administration funds became available when other state transportation departments and federal programs were unable to spend money set aside for them prior to the end of the federal fisca...
