Author

Nicole Girten

Nicole Girten

Nicole Girten is a reporter for the Daily Montanan. She previously worked at the Great Falls Tribune as a government watchdog reporter. She holds a degree from Florida State University and a Master of Science from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

Montana State Library Commission votes against proposed new logo

By: - July 5, 2022

The Montana State Library Commission voted Tuesday against the agency’s proposed logo weeks after commissioners expressed opposition to the new design, arguing the colorful prism resembled the LGBTQ Pride flag. During the special meeting, commissioners voted four to three against the agency’s proposed logo, with one of the “no” votes being from Commissioner and Superintendent […]

Ethnobotanist wants Native women to continue tradition of using plants for reproductive care

By: - July 2, 2022

Native women have been using plants for medicinal purposes, including for reproductive health, for thousands of years, Ethnobotanist and Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Montana Rosalyn LaPier told the Daily Montanan. LaPier wants to ensure native women continue to learn and pass down knowledge acquired from ancestors about their right to utilize […]

Legislators propose ‘Brandon’s Law’, to target ‘anti-Christian bigotry’

By: - July 1, 2022

Months after an ethics complaint was filed against realtor and Pastor Brandon Huber for alleged anti-LGBTQ hate speech, legislators drafted a bill named in his honor to “combat anti-Christian bigotry in the real estate industry,” a press release from Huber’s attorney read Thursday. The bill, called “Brandon’s Law” submitted by Sen. Keith Regier, R-Kalispell, to […]

Planned Parenthood of Montana halts medication abortions for patients from ‘trigger law’ states

By: - June 30, 2022

Planned Parenthood of Montana will no longer be providing medication abortions to patients in South Dakota and three other states with “trigger laws,” according to an all-staff email sent by organization President and CEO Martha Fuller Thursday. South Dakota, along with Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, have total bans on abortion care that went into effect […]

Montana Attorney General wants state Supreme Court to consider Dobbs decision in abortion appeal

By: - June 28, 2022

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is asking the Montana Supreme Court to consider last week’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in an appeal of four abortion laws before the court. Planned Parenthood of Montana sued the state last year over four laws that were passed during the 2021 legislative […]

Alleged Rosendale screaming match over ZooMontana leads to resignation of PTA Montana Treasurer

By: - June 22, 2022

Rebecca Noell said she was shaking last week as she filmed a video of herself just after a meeting with U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale and staff in his Washington, D.C., office turned into a screaming match. In D.C. for the National PTA’s annual convention, Noell said in the video the congressman barged into the room […]

ZooMontana undeterred from ‘Drag Queen Story Hour’ despite threats

By: - June 16, 2022

“Drag Queen Story Hour” at ZooMontana in Billings is still set for June 22 despite the hateful rhetoric and threats directed at the zoo director and some board members late last week through social media, emailed messages and phone calls. During a City Council meeting this week, Billings Mayor Bill Cole publicly condemned the threats […]

Montana elections official say new statewide technology did well, expect it to be ready by 2023

By: - June 15, 2022

The test of a new elections system this month revealed some tweaks that need to be made, but several elections officials in Montana said they anticipate the new system will be ready in 2023 as planned. Elections have been in the public eye in Montana and nationally the last couple of years as some people, […]

Bukacek ekes out as presumptive winner of Republican PSC primary race

By: - June 14, 2022

Dr. Ann Bukacek squeaked ahead of Rep. Derek Skees by just 87 votes in the Republican primary race for the Montana Public Service Commission in District Five.  The Secretary of State’s Office has both Bukacek and Skees with 31% of the vote in the race flagged as a possible recount with Bukacek winning 11,233 to […]

Judge hears arguments on class certification for Title IX lawsuit

By: - June 13, 2022

Attorneys will have until July 30 to compile a list of potential plaintiffs for a possible class-action suit against the University of Montana and the state’s university system as a whole after a federal judge heard arguments Monday in the gender discrimination case.  Chief Judge Brian Morris in Great Falls heard arguments centering on whether […]