Montana veterans will receive expanded access to complementary and integrative mental health care under the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act named for a Montana veteran. VA Montana is currently working to stand-up the new pilot program which is authorized for three years. The program will be open to veter...
Supreme Court Election Process May Change In 2022
A measure that could be on the 2022 ballot would change how Montana’s supreme court justices are elected. Under the measure justices would be elected from seven districts rather than statewide. Head of the Public Policy Institute of the Rockies Kimberly Dudik says supreme court justices should make decisions for the entire state and so it does...
State Unemployment Rate Reaches All-Time Low
Montana’s unemployment rate dropped to 2.7% in January down 0.2% from December’s adjusted rate and is the fifth lowest in the nation. The State has recovered all jobs lost since the start of the pandemic and has grown by 13,849 with 539,758 Montanans employed in January. Montana’s labor force was at its highest recorded level in January at 55...
Over 300 Candidates File For Election Before Deadline
The period for candidates to get their names on the ballot closed Monday afternoon at 5:00 for this year’s midterm elections. A total of 333 candidate filings were submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office before filing closed. Candidates for local offices filed at their county elections offices. Among the final candidates to file was Pu...
PSC Chairman Announces Run For State Supreme Court
Today is the last day to file as a candidate for the 2022 election and Public Service Commission Chairman James Brown announced today his run for Montana Supreme Court Justice Number 2 on the Northern News Network’s Voices of Montana. He said then his upbringing in Dillon make him uniquely qualified for the seat.
Montana OPI To Celebrate Anniversary Of State Constitution
Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Montana Constitution Convention Tuesday by highlighting Indian Education for All at the fan window in the Capitol from 11 to 1. It was further codified in Montana code during the 1999 legislative session making Montana a national leader in supporting ...
New PSC Map Rejected By Supreme Court
A federal court struck down Montana’s current Public Service Commission map because of deviations in populations between districts. Constance Van Kley with Montana-based Upper Seven Law says the PSC serves an important purpose regulating private utility companies that provide services such as natural gas, electricity and water. She says in cas...
Montana Seeing Record Avalanche Deaths This Winter Season
During an average winter avalanches claim the lives of three backcountry recreationists in Montana. So far this winter three snowmobilers and one snowbiker have died in three separate incidents in the Cooke City and West Yellowstone areas. It’s the highest avalanche death tally among motorized users in the state since the 2011-2012 season that...
Rural Hospitals May See Reduced Funding For Medicare This Year
When the pandemic hit rural hospitals already on the brink of closing were spared by an infusion of government money. It was a buffer then. This summer though, Medicare reimbursements will likely be reduced. That’s according to Michael DoCheck with the Charter Center for Rural Health.
Senator Daines Receives Ukraine Update On From President Zelenskyy
The war in Ukraine continues. Senator Steve Daines recounts a conversation he was a part of last week with the country’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.