The Montana State Hospital has seen its ranks of full-time staff decline since early 2019 but is $7.4 million over budget largely due to its growing reliance on contract staff. Last year contracted certified nurses assistants billed hours last year jumped 700% from 2,000 hours billed to 16,000. Full-time registered nurses are experiencing a 72...
Sen. Tester Warns Of Excessive Sanctions Against Russia
Wednesday Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy talked to the U.S. Congress asking for them to send more help to Ukraine for its fight against Russia including further sanctions. Senator Jon Tester agrees with the further crippling of Russia’s economy but not without some reservations.
Wolf Hunting Season Now Closed
Montana’s Wolf hunting season closed Tuesday with hunters and trappers killing 272, the fewest in the last four years. Fish Wildlife and Parks’ annual population estimate will not be compiled and released until this summer. Last year that estimate pegged populations at about 1,200 animals a statewide number officials say has been r...
Gov. Gianforte Proclaims Next Weeks As “Ag Week”
Governor Greg Gianforte was on Voices of Montana Wednesday. He talked about the situation in Ukraine as it pertains to agriculture and even made some news.
Montana Veterans Agree With Keeping Troops Out Of Ukraine
The U.S. hit Russia with severe economic sanctions and supplied Ukraine with billions of dollars in resources but has not sent over any military troops to aid them in the conflict. Montana veteran Chris Enget who works with the nonprofit Concerned Veterans for America agrees saying it would be the wrong course of action.
Rep. Rosendale Joins Lawsuit Against CDC
Seventeen Republican members of Congress including Montana’s Matt Rosendale have sued the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention seeking an end to the federal rule requiring passengers on commercial flights and in airports to wear masks. The CDC extended the air travel mandate which was set to expire Friday last week to April 18th. Th...
Billings Medical Professional Welcomes President’s Focus On Mental Health & Substance Abuse
During his first State of the Union address President Joe Biden announced plan to address the country’s mental health crisis and overdose epidemic. Billings Clinic Emergency Medicine Provider Sara Nydquist welcomed them as they are problems she’s been far-too familiar with in recent years.
Improvement Deadline Extended For Montana State Hospital
State health department director Adam Meier said Tuesday during an interim legislative committee meeting Montana’s heavy reliance on contract workers to make up for a lack of full-time staff is not a sustainable workforce model for the Montana State Hospital at Warm Springs. The department is working with the Centers for Medicare and Med...
NorthWestern Energy Commits To Net-Zero Carbon Energy By 2050
NorthWestern Energy recently announced plans to eliminate their carbon emissions by 2050. President and Chief Operating Officer Brian Bird explained the company’s approach and why it decided to set a deadline nearly thirty years from now.
Montana Sees Increase In Construction Jobs
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...