Montana gained nearly 4,000 construction jobs during the pandemic period dating from February 2020 to January of 2022. According to a press release from the Associated General Contractors of America that was an 11.4% increase in the number of construction workers in the state leading the nation. 21 states and the District of Columbia lost cons...
Rep. Rosendale Calls Out President Biden Over High Gas Prices
As gasoline reaches prices not seen in over a decade with few options left except to pay up. Congressman Matt Rosendale is blaming the Biden administration.
USS Montana Ready For Commissioning
The USS Montana has been delivered to the U.S. Navy. The newest Virginia-class fast-attack nuclear powered submarine will be commissioned June 25th at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia. The 7,800-ton $2.6 billion sub also known as SSN 794 is the first Navy vessel to be named after the state since 1908. The USS Montana Committee states will pro...
Reporter Reflects On 1972 Constitutional Convention
This marks the 50th anniversary of Montana’s 1972 Constitutional Convention and retired state news reporter Chuck Johnson was there covering it. Recently, he was on Voices of Montana.
Environmental Groups Sue Governor Over Mining Ruling
Conservation groups Earthworks and the Montana Environmental Information Center are suing Governor Greg Gianforte’s administration to obtain records related to its decision to drop legal claims against mining executive Phillips Baker Jr. over decades of pollution from several mines including the Zortman and Landusky mines near the Fort Belknap...
Nursing Shortages Threaten Rural Hospital Operations
When the pandemic hit rural hospitals already on the brink of closing were spared by an infusion of government money but nursing shortages are increasing the risk. Rural hospital budgets feel the pinch when forced to hire traveling nurses who make as much as $120 an hour. Michael DoCheck is with the Charter Center for Rural Health.
State Law Enforcement To Increase Efforts To Prevent DUIs On St. Patrick’s Day
According to the Department of Transportation’s website, there have been 20 fatalities on Montana’s highways this year as of March 11th. MTN News reports state and local law enforcement plan to be out in force St. Patrick’s Day in an initiative known as Vision Zero to prevent drunk driving and keep communities safe on the road. The...
Superintendent of Public Instruction Provides Update On TEACH Act’s Impact On State Educators
The state education interim committee met Monday to review items of educator recruitment and retainment. During the meeting, Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen also highlighted the recent progress made through the Tomorrow’s Educators Are Coming Home Act that was signed into law one year ago.
Montana Veterans To Receive Expanded Mental Health Services
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...