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Montana to apply for federal money for children’s meals for summer 2024
Montana’s health department director said last week the state is applying in January for the next round of federal money that helps pay for meals for children in the summer. Educators and others in the state who work with schools and raise money to feed hungry kids said this week they hope the state follows […]
Senate candidate Tim Sheehy falsely states more bears than people in Montana
Montana has more cows than people, but more bears? Not exactly. Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Tim Sheehy said in a recent interview with Breitbart News there were more bears than people in Montana, which estimates don’t support, and by a long shot. “This is a state where there’s not a lot of people. There’s […]
State moves toward one vendor to provide temporary assistance services in Montana
The state health department will be awarding one contract for the state’s cash assistance and employment training program, with current businesses engaged in this work across the state likely becoming subcontractors. The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services told two interim committees last week that it plans to move to a single vendor […]
Heart Butte Superintendent placed on administrative leave
HEART BUTTE —Heart Butte School District Superintendent Mike Tatsey was placed on administrative leave as a procedural requirement following a school board vote to conduct a financial audit earlier this week. Board member Edith Horn-Wagner said the board voted unanimously, with the board chairperson absent from the meeting, to conduct a forensic audit of the […]
Montana is struggling to retain new teachers; experts cite waning education graduates
Montana is struggling to keep new teachers in the classroom. More than half of newly licensed teachers in Montana leave the state or the profession within the first three years on the job and 86% of education graduates decide to leave the state or don’t pursue teaching. “That’s a stunning number,” said Sen. Dan Salomon, […]
Rising number of housing voucher recipients can’t find places to live in Montana
Nearly a quarter of Montanans who use housing vouchers weren’t able to use them this year through June, according to data from Montana Housing, under the Department of Commerce — up from nearly 19% in 2021. “There’s nothing more disheartening for my team, and certainly for the family that’s waited for that voucher, than to […]
Broadband Commission may shift gears to get service to people in rural Montana
Will broadband businesses get to determine the areas they’ll reach with federal dollars? Or will the state prevent cherry picking and dictate where they go? The Montana Broadband Advisory Commission is currently debating this question, and at a meeting Wednesday, telecommunications companies voiced their desire to be more in control. A new $629 million pool […]
Montana abortion clinics challenge law regulating their facilities
Montana abortion providers are suing the state over legislation that implements infrastructure restrictions on clinics and license requirements, alleging the law is unconstitutional. House Bill 937, sponsored by Rep. Lola Sheldon-Gallowy, R-Great Falls, requires the state license and inspect abortion providers, their facilities and employees. Gov. Greg Gianforte, a Republican, signed the bill into law […]
Election denier Douglas Frank presents conspiracies in Great Falls, meets with elections officer
GREAT FALLS– Cascade County Clerk and Recorder Sandra Merchant sat in the third row from the back of a filled lecture hall at Great Falls College on Tuesday night to hear a presentation from election conspiracist Douglas Frank. Frank is known nationally as an elections skeptic who has toured the nation giving hundreds of presentations […]
Traditions, Family and New Year Celebrations: Scenes from Crow Fair 2023
CROW AGENCY– Sisters Loreen Crooked Arm and Roberta Walk Over Ice hurry to finish tying white buckskin on braids for Blaze, Crooked Arm’s grandson, as songs from the Powwow grand entry echo from the newly finished Arbor. Less than 15 minutes later, five year-old Blaze was dancing Crow Style in the middle of the Arbor, […]
Judge hears arguments over preliminary injunction in drag ban lawsuit
Anyone in costume reading to children, even someone dressed up as a Disney princess, would run afoul of the state drag ban, plaintiffs argued Monday in U.S. District Court in Helena. But defendants held the ban, currently under a temporary restraining order, falls within the state’s interest to protect minors. Federal Judge Brian Morris didn’t […]
Counties want Attorney General opinion on school equalization levy calculation, property taxes
Beaverhead County wants to know if the state is overtaxing its citizens. Beaverhead County Attorney Jed Fitch penned a letter to Attorney General Austin Knudsen a week ago requesting an opinion on whether the state is accurately calculating mill levies or over taxing citizens by using the the 95 mills used for school equalization and […]