This year’s American Lung Association “State of the Air” report finds Montana’s air quality for short-term particle pollution remains a cause for concern. The report’s findings for the Big Sky Country are consistent with a broader trend of worsening short-term particle pollution throughout the western United States due to climate change. Induc...
NorthWestern Energy Announces New Laurel Power Plant
NorthWestern Energy will build a $250 million 175-megawatt gas fired power plant in Laurel as part of a plan to add 325 megawatts of dispatchable power to its Montana portfolio. It will include a 50-megawatt battery storage project and a five-year agreement to buy 100 megawatts of hydropower. Montana State University College students as part o...
Senator Tester Addresses Increased Need For Broadband Infrastructure
Legislation containing $582 million for infrastructure projects throughout the state got the endorsement of the Montana Senate Tuesday. The nine bills deal primarily with state funds and previously available federal money. A final vote is needed for each of them before either moving to the governor’s desk or back to the House to deal with amen...
Governor Gianforte Ends Bison Management Plan
Governor Greg Gianforte said Tuesday he is ending a bison management plan that would have allowed the animals to be restored in more areas of the Montana. The state has settled a lawsuit over the plan’s adoption that claimed state officials had not adequately examined how wild bison could impact ranchers and farmers. Gianforte’s of...
Governor Gianforte Signs MMIP Bills
Governor Greg Gianforte signed two bills into law Monday to help address the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons in Montana. House Bill 35 establishes a review commission at the Montana Department of Justice. House Bill 98 extends the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Task Force and the Looping in Native Communities grant p...
Special Committee To Investigate Judicial Emails Independently From Supreme Court
Governor Greg Gianforte and the Legislature are locked in a legal battle over a new law giving the governor sweeping powers to appoint judges. James Bradley from the University of Montana Legislative News Service reports Gianforte signed Senate Bill 140 in March and a bipartisan group for former state legislators challenged it. The Supreme Cou...
Billings Mayor Announces New Telecommunications Provider For City
The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a broad range of flexibilities today to allow school meal programs and childcare institutions to return to serving healthy meals as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to reopen schools safely. Schools nationwide including those in Montana will be allowed to serve meals through the USD...
Montana Cities Ranked High For Starting New Businesses
With National Small Business Week approaching and COVID-19 having caused around 100,000 permanent business closures in 2020 the personal finance website Wallet Hub today released its report on 2021’s best small cities to start a business. Bozeman ranks 10th and Missoula comes in at number 14 on the best small cities list to start a business. W...
Yellowstone Valley Gives Celebrates Sixth Annual Fundraiser
Governor Greg Gianforte signed a bill Monday to expand access to telehealth services that were originally extended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It permanently lifts requirements like an established relationship between a patient and doctor in several cases as well as restrictions on geographic proximity and location restrictions for patie...
FCC Ranks Montana Near Bottom In Broadband Access
According to a 2021 report from the Federal Communications Commission Montana was the 46th ranked state for broadband access. Currently, the spending bill to direct federal COVID money in Montana has set aside $275 million for the broadband program. Expanding broadband infrastructure has emerged as a top priority in the 67th Legislative Sessio...