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MT DOC reports 99 new COVID-19 cases in MT prisons since late December
Since December 28, 99 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in Montana prisons, with 52 incarcerated people and 47 staff becoming infected with the virus. The Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge experienced the bulk of infections, with 24 incarcerated individuals and 22 staff testing positive. At the Montana Women’s Prison in Billings, eight inmates […]
BNSF to take over Montana Rail Link after leasing agreement terminated
BNSF Rail plans to take ownership of Montana Rail Link, the freight railroad company that has leased long stretches of BNSF lines in Montana since the 1980s, MRL President Derek Ollmann told employees in a letter this week. BNSF, one of two major railroad companies in the U.S., has committed to retain all of MRL’s […]
State to increase firefighter pay for 2022 fire season
Wages for Montana’s firefighters will increase by $1.70 per hour starting with the 2022 fire season, the state announced Monday. The bump in pay will bring the minimum base pay for seasonal firefighters to $15.50 per hour — making Montana more competitive in recruiting and retaining firefighters, according to a press release from Gov. Greg […]
Montana’s new individual income tax rate now in effect
Montana’s new individual income tax rate for the state’s top income earners is now in effect, the Montana Department of Revenue announced Monday. In 2022, the highest marginal tax rate will be 6.75% — down from 6.9% — on any taxable income over $17,400, according to a press release from the Montana Department of Revenue. […]
Yellowstone child is first influenza death recorded of 2021-2022 flu season
The death of a Yellowstone County child marks the first recorded influenza-related fatality of the 2021-22 flu season, according to a news release from Riverstone Health Clinic. The age of the child, who died on December 24, was not disclosed in the release. But the release said the child had underlying health conditions and had […]
Daily Montanan’s biggest stories of 2021
The Daily Montanan started reporting in the first week of January, and who knew as we were just getting started that Jan. 6 would become part of everyone’s vocabulary? As the Daily Montanan began, we covered the opening of the Legislature, a new governor, attorney general, secretary of state and auditor – completing a historic […]
Top 10 most viewed commentary pieces for 2021 on the Daily Montanan
Montanans are nothing if not opinionated, and the part of the Daily Montanan’s mission was to curate a group of columnists, thoughts and ideas for issues facing Montana. And Daily Montanan readers responded. Everyday, we’ve brought readers at least one commentary piece that hopefully provokes thought and spurs deeper conversation. Here are the top 10 […]
Top 10 most viewed stories of 2021 for the Daily Montanan
Well, 2021 is almost in the books, and you have helped make the Daily Montanan’s year a success. We launched on Jan. 5, and between the Legislature and a new look to many facets of state government, there was also a riot on Jan. 6 — and it seems like those changes, along with the […]
Hauck backs Arntzen but said family member added his name to letter of support, according to Missoulian
University of Montana football coach Bobby Hauck supports Superintendent Elsie Arntzen but said a family member put his name on a letter of support for the embattled head of the Montana Office of Public Instruction, according to a story from the Missoulian. Last week, after all eight AA district superintendents and four county superintendents had […]
New Mexico woman pleads guilty to calling in threat to MT Trappers Association fundraiser
A New Mexico woman is facing up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine after admitting to phoning in a threat to a May 8 fundraiser hosted by the Montana Trappers Association. Dora Sandra Gomez, 64, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, pleaded guilty to interstate communication of a threat on Dec. 15, the U.S. […]
Alden sues Lee Enterprises
Alden Global Capital has sued Lee Enterprises, which owns the majority of daily newspapers in Montana, according to a story Wednesday from the Poynter Institute. Last month, Alden, the hedge fund known for cutting newsrooms, made a bid to buy Lee for $24 a share. Lee owns 77 dailies including in the mountain states and […]
MFPE: Thousands sign petition supporting school administrators, condemning Arntzen’s ‘incompetence’
A coalition of concerned parents, educators, and community advocates launched Wednesday a petition in support of “the courageous decision by Montana’s superintendents” to bring attention to the significant deficiencies caused by Superintendent Elsie Arntzen’s lack of leadership, the Montana Federation of Public Employees said Thursday in a news release. In less than 24 hours, the […]