Montana’s Jon Tester the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman said Tuesday it will begin work this week on the Compensation and Overdue Support for Troops (COST) of War Act. The bill would grant immediate access to health care and disability services for all veterans exposed to toxic substances during military service and expand a...
Amtrak Service Returns To The Hi-Line
Watercraft inspectors in Montana have found aquatic mussels on 21 boats so far this year and officials expect a busy season trying to prevent the invasive organisms from fouling Montana waterways. Aquatic mussels have no natural predators and can clog water pipes and displace native species. All watercraft including non-motorized boats must be...
Senator Tester Announces New Funding For Law Enforcement
NorthWestern Energy filed details with the Montana Public Service Commission this week about new power resources including consumer costs of a proposed gas-fired power plant in Laurel. NorthWestern says the facility would add nearly $80 a year to the average residential power bill. The 7.6% increase equals about $6.64 per month for a residenti...
Supreme Court Justice Pushing To Ease Restrictions In Courtrooms
The Montana Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike McGrath has signaled to lower courts that it’s time to loosen the restrictions around courtrooms that went into place early in the COVID-19 pandemic last year. He has directed the lower courts to scale back requirements on face masks and remote hearings. Right to Repair legislation would requi...
FCC Provides New Broadband Discounts To Montanans
Montana households can now apply to receive discounts toward broadband service or a device through the Federal Communications Commission. The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program provides a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband services for eligible households and up to $75 per month for eligible households on qualifying Tribal lands...
Billings Receives New Funding For First Responders
Approximately four million people annually visit Yellowstone National Park and during the 2019-2020 seasons, the park recorded more than 1,400 calls for medical response. Yellowstone has three medical clinics at Lake Old Faithful and Mammoth staffed by concession provider Medcor. Physicians and paramedics rely on air ambulances for severe inju...
Superintendent of Public Instruction Expresses Concern Over Teaching Critical Race Theory In Montana Schools
Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen has requested a state attorney general’s opinion on the legality of teaching certain lessons dealing with race that are prioritized in draft language for federal education grants. The U.S. Department of Education is in the middle of a public comment period for its rule on priorities for grants...
Senator Tester Recognizes National Police Week
As of May 1st, 19 low-elevation SNOTEL sites across Montana have melted out and the Natural Resources Conservation Service says that is slightly more than normal for this date. Streamflow forecasts indicate near to slightly below average stream flows are still possible though for many Montana rivers because October and February saved snowmelt ...
Senator Tester Voices Concern Over Montana Farmers At Committee Hearing
A bill to double the purchasing power of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program at farmers markets passed an initial vote in the Senate Wednesday and faces a final vote before heading to the governor’s desk. Consumers shopping at farmers markets or farm share programs can get an additional $20 to double their purchasing power for ...
Senator Tester Addresses Increased Need For Broadband Infrastructure
Legislation containing $582 million for infrastructure projects throughout the state got the endorsement of the Montana Senate Tuesday. The nine bills deal primarily with state funds and previously available federal money. A final vote is needed for each of them before either moving to the governor’s desk or back to the House to deal with amen...