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Rep. Derek Skees concedes in close Republican PSC primary race
Rep. Derek Skees, R-Kalispell, conceded the Republican Primary race against Dr. Ann Bukacek in the Public Service Commission District Five race, as reported by Montana Public Radio on Monday. Skees recognized his loss to Bukacek in an interview with MTPR at a GOP convention in Billings this weekend. “We do not want a Democrat in […]
Montana enacts ‘hoot owl’ restrictions on Smith, Sun rivers
Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks is advising anglers that portions of the Smith and Sun rivers will close to all fishing daily from 2 p.m. to midnight, beginning July 16. The restrictions will stay in effect until conditions improve. The hoot-owl restrictions are issued for: Smith River — from the confluence of the North and […]
Gianforte creates bipartisan housing task force
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte announced the creation of a task force to help tackle affordable housing, according to a press release Thursday. Created through executive order, the task force consists of 30 members including legislators and local officials and is being asked by the governor to provide recommendations for strategies for how to increase the […]
MSU: Ecologist Jay Rotella receives $1.4M NSF grant to continue Antarctica research
With a five-year, $1.4 million grant from the National Science Foundation, a Montana State University ecologist will continue what is likely the longest marine mammal study in the southern hemisphere, MSU said Thursday in a news release. Jay Rotella, a professor in the Department of Ecology in MSU’s College of Letters and Science, will continue a five-decade-long project […]
FWP seeking public comment on elk management
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is looking for public input on elk population objectives and local elk management as FWP looks to potentially revise its Elk Management Plan, last adopted in 2005, according to a press release Wednesday. “We’ve been hearing concerns and interest from hunters and landowners about the current Elk Management Plan for […]
Going-to-the-Sun Road opens for the 2022 season
Going-to-the-Sun Road officially opened Wednesday morning for the 2022 summer season. The road may now be accessed by motorized vehicles all the way through from both the West Glacier and St. Mary entrances. Glacier National Park announced the opening in a news release with the following information: Historically, Going-to-the-Sun-Road had late openings on July 13 […]
Montana leaders remember former Chief Deputy Attorney General, legislator Kris Hansen
Political leaders in Montana expressed condolences Friday for the loss of former chief deputy Attorney General and state legislator Kris Hansen. Hansen, 52, died Thursday morning as reported by the Helena Independent Record on Friday. She left her post with the Attorney General’s Office in May, and the role has since been taken over by […]
Montana Tobacco Quit Line launches new behavioral health program
The Department of Public Health and Human Services has launched a new program to help persons with behavioral health conditions successfully quit tobacco products, according to a news release from DPHHS. “Many individuals with behavioral health conditions want to stop smoking but may face extra challenges in successfully quitting,” DPHHS Director Adam Meier said in a […]
Gov’s office: Gianforte secures disaster declaration for Yellowstone, Treasure, Sweet Grass counties
Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Thursday the state successfully added three additional counties to the presidential major disaster declaration for Montana: Yellowstone, Treasure, and Sweet Grass. Six counties in southern Montana are now eligible for aid through FEMA’s Public Assistance Program. “I appreciate Administrator Deanne Criswell and her team at FEMA for approving the state’s request […]
Districting Commission inviting public to submit legislative map proposals
The Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission is inviting the public to submit proposals for new state legislative districts as part of the commission’s redistricting work, according to a press release Wednesday. Free mapping tools are available online and maps can be submitted on the public comment form or to [email protected] The commission’s state legislative criteria […]
Gianforte, DPHHS secure federal approval to increase treatment through HEART Fund
Together with Department of Public Health and Human Services Director Adam Meier, Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Wednesday the state is significantly increasing access to substance use disorder treatment for Montana Medicaid members through the Healing and Ending Addiction through Recovery and Treatment, or HEART Fund, according to a news release. “Our HEART Fund fills gaps […]
Montana Secretary of State receives recount request for PSC District 5
Montana Public Service Commission candidate Derek Skees requested a recount in the District 5 GOP primary after earning 11,146 votes to winner Ann Bukacek’s 11,233, according to the Montana Secretary of State’s Office. “Election administrators in Flathead, Lake, Lewis and Clark and Teton County will conduct the recount as outlined in Title 13, Chapter 16,” […]