Two Helena men were found dead Monday morning after a boat crash on Hauser Reservoir near Devil’s Elbow. According to Lewis and Clark County Undersheriff Brent Colbert, the sheriff’s office received a call about a welfare check on two overdue boaters just before midnight. The men have been identified as 42-year-old Michael Rice and...
State Constitutional Amendment Passes Legislature
A proposed amendment to Montana’s State Constitution has passed the Legislature and will appear on the ballot in 2022 for ratification by voters. It would change the state’s constitution to protect the privacy of Montanans’ electronic data and communications. Montana’s persons paper homes and effects are already protected from unreasonable sea...
Northwestern Energy Bill Tabled By House Energy Committee
Members of the House Energy Committee tabled Senate Bill 379 Wednesday which was intended to shield NorthWestern Energy from future financial losses associated with the Colstrip Power Plant. Only one House committee member supported the bill which had cleared the Senate on mostly party lines. House Lawmakers could revive it though by blasting ...
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...
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...
Gianforte Signs Trade Education Bill Into Law
Governor Greg Gianforte signed House Bill 252 into law Monday that will help businesses hire and train skilled workers. The Montana Trades Education Credit provides $1 million per year in 50% tax credits to businesses for qualified training and education expenses. The almost $3 trillion American Rescue Plan was a topic of discussion on Voices ...
Gianforte Signs Public Health Revisions Bill
Governor Greg Gianforte has signed House Bill 121 into law. It revises how local public health officials can respond to the pandemic or a future public health emergency. It requires either county commissioners or city council, whichever entity oversees a local health board, to approve of that board or officer’s regulations put in place. ...
Governor Gianforte Prohibits Vaccine Passports In Montana
Governor Greg Gianforte has issued an executive order. It prohibits so-called vaccine passports in Montana and also prohibits businesses from requiring customers to show they’ve been vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 to receive services or enter a business. Since summer 2019 even during the pandemic the community of Lewistown has con...