The Pew Charitable Trusts presented new and compiled research focusing on Montana’s Housing economy to a Montana Legislative Finance Committee this week. Principle Officer for Pew’s consumer finance project Alex Horowitz emphasized one concerning correlation between the average cost of rent and homelessness. https://northernbroadcasting...
Legislative Committee Begins Child Mental Health Service Study
Several of the state’s largest providers told members of the Children Families Health and Human Services Interim Committee Monday that Montana children are being sent out of state for mental health services due in part to the state’s low rate of reimbursement. Monday’s panel was the beginning of the interim committee’s study of the state’s chi...
Council Requesting Attorney General To Submit Information Regarding St. Peter’s Health Incident
The Legislature’s special counsel sent the Montana Attorney General’s Office an initial request Thursday to turn over information by November 5th related to the office’s dispute with St. Peter’s Health in Helena. Earlier this month, the hospital said its doctors were harassed and threatened by three public officials aft...
AG Investigation Gets Approved By Montana Legislature
Republican leaders in the Legislature have approved a Democratic request for an investigation into the Montana Department of Justice’s involvement in a complaint made by the family of a COVID-19 patient at St. Peter’s Health in Helena. The family claims three public officials threatened to use their positions to force doctors and n...
Yellowstone River To Receive Funding For Recreation Expansion
An investment of $4 million by the Montana Legislature will help open up recreation for eastern Montana along 175 miles of the Yellowstone River. Mandy Hoffman is a Glendive resident who started Yellowstone River Adventures a rafting and boating company with her husband. She says the river has much to offer. https://northernbroadcasting.com/wp...
$20 Million In COVID Relief Funds Could Go Towards Disabled Montanans
A legislative panel voted Wednesday to direct $22 million in federal COVID relief money to increase job training opportunities for out-of-work Montanans and to help people with disabilities find employment. The recommendations from the commission established by the Legislature earlier this year to administer workforce related funding from the ...
Montana Supreme Court Denies Subpoena-Power Reconsideration
The Montana Supreme Court has rejected a motion by the GOP-led Montana Legislature to reconsider its July decision which found lawmakers overstepped their authority when they subpoenaed judicial branch records without a legislative purpose. In their Tuesday order the justices wrote their July ruling did not foreclose discussions between the br...
New School Bus Safety Measures To Take Effect Next Month
Earlier this year the Montana State Legislature passed two new laws impacting school bus safety and upgrades on buses statewide are on the way. MTN News reports House Bill 207 legislated that more red lights could be added to school buses to alert drivers and House Bill 267 legislated that stop arms should extend further into the roadway obstr...
Montana Employers Struggle With Vaccine Requirements As COVID Cases Rise
While many large companies across the U.S. have announced that COVID-19 vaccines will be required for their employees to return to work in-person, there is one state where such requirements are banned: Montana. Under a new law passed by the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature earlier this year, requiring vaccines as a condition for...
Infrastructure Applications Finalized For Remaining ARPA Funding
Montana officials have finalized their scores for the first round of applications for about $250 million in federal stimulus funds for infrastructure projects being requested by local governments, irrigation districts and state agencies. The money was set aside by the Legislature earlier this year as part of the more than $2 billion expected t...