According to a study in the journal Nature Climate Change released Monday, the American West’s megadrought deepened so much last year it is now the driest in at least 1,200 years. The study’s lead author Park Williams, a climate hydrologist at UCLA, studied soil moisture levels in the West, including the southwest corner of Montana...
Senate Minority Leader Highlights Child Care Impact On Workforce
On Voices of Montana Monday, House Minority leader Kim Abbott was a guest who said the state has a serious issue with child care that is a barrier to developing our workforce.
Number Of COVID-19 Cases Dropping Across Montana
Cases of COVID-19 have decreased 61% over the last two weeks statewide with 4,587 active Monday. That number is down from 10,256 the previous week. There have been 3,027 COVID related deaths in Montana with 1,173 new cases reported Monday. It is likely many COVID cases are going unreported as home tests become more available and those who are ...
Infrastructure Invests In Treating Abandoned Wells
Montana will get $26 million from the infrastructure law to address abandoned oil wells. Curtis Shuck is chairman of the Well-Done Foundation a nonprofit based in Shelby that is plugging wells across the country. He says operations can vary between wells.
Former Interior Secretary Zinke Comments On Great American Outdoors Act
This week, Senator Steve Daines the top Republican on the Senate National Parks Subcommittee, held a hearing on the implementation of the Great American Outdoors Act which he championed in 2020. Former Interior Secretary and former Montana Representative Ryan Zinke commented on the Senator’s overall approach to implementing the legislation.
Montana Ordered To Phase Out Medicaid Premiums
In late 2021, Montana was informed by the Biden administration that its plans to charge premiums to low-income adults enrolled in Medicaid would not go forward and the state had to phase out existing ones by the end of this year. Kaiser Health News reports the state has already eliminated its continuous eligibility for adults. The Biden admini...
Montana DPPHS Addressing Rise In Foster Care Children
A 2021 legislative audit found a 115% increase in the number of minors in state foster care between 2010 and 2019. This week Division Administrator for Child and Family Services Nikki Grossberg told the Legislative Audit Committee they have already made progress since the data was gathered.
Governor Gianforte Writes To Montana Health Care Workers Ahead Of Vaccination Deadline
Governor Greg Gianforte sent an open letter to Montana’s health care professionals Thursday thanking them for their work and dedication particularly during the pandemic and urged ...
Senator Daines Pushing For Leases To Continue In Montana
Despite a federal judge striking down a Biden administration moratorium on oil and gas leases last year the Bureau of Land Management has yet to resume them in Montana. At a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing this week Senator Steve Daines said there is no reason for this
Follow-Up Trucker Rally Planned Near Eureka
The so-called “Freedom Convoy” movement that has swept through Canada over the past few weeks will make its way to the U.S. Saturday where several hundred people are expected to participate in what organizers are calling a “freedom rally” at the Port of Roosville. Participants plan to meet around 12:30 south of Eureka before driving their vehi...