Government & Politics
Political Director for Western Native Voice announces campaign for Governor
Keaton Sunchild, who most recently lobbied for Western Native Voice during the last legislative session, announced Monday he will be running for Governor in the 2024 election, according to a news release sent out by his campaign. As a senior in high school, Sunchild, a Democrat, ran for a seat in the Montana House of […]
Chief Justice gets top award from Gonzaga Law School
Chief Justice Mike McGrath is the recipient of a 2021 Gonzaga Law Medal, the highest recognition given by the Gonzaga School of Law. The Gonzaga Law Medal is bestowed annually by the School of Law during Spring Commencement. The award is given to deserving individuals who have distinguished themselves in the service of justice through […]
Montana medical school clash reveals fight between for-profit and non-profit
Two universities are eyeing the chance to be the first to build a medical school in one of the few states without one. The jockeying of the two schools — one a nonprofit, the other for-profit — to open campuses in Montana highlights the rapid spread of for-profit medical learning centers despite their once-blemished reputation. […]
MSU: Dismiss lawsuit asking for reimbursement of tuition, fees
Montana State University has filed a motion to dismiss the possible class action lawsuit that asks the school to reimburse tuition and fees for students after it shut down in-person classes during the COVID-19 pandemic but continued to charge full fare. In a brief filed last month, MSU argues plaintiff Anthony Cordero, a student at […]
Tester urges bipartisan legislation instead of blowing up the filibuster
Sen. Jon Tester didn’t leave the farm in Big Sandy to do nothing in the United States Senate. But with partisan gridlock and Senate’s filibuster rule, which has been invoked to stymie much legislation, Tester said there may come a time when his support for “Rule 22” — the Senate’s policy that allows a minority […]
Tester introduces legislation aimed at making meat, poultry industry more accountable
When Jess Peterson of the United States Cattlemen Association was looking back at how long it has taken to get legislation on the meatpacking industry introduced, he was amazed. In 1920, Congress had been concerned about the consolidation of power among meatpackers. At the dawn of the Warren Harding administration, there were five big packers, […]
Is a firefighter a firefighter: Billings says airport crews shouldn’t get firemen benefits
The job title is “Airport Firefighter.” They drive large firefighting trucks that cost nearly $1 million. They are required by federal law to provide protection in case of structure fires or airplane crashes. The emblems on their trucks read, “Airport Fire and Rescue.” But the City of Billings says that a force of city employees […]
People’s Power League takes on HB273
Carole Mackin plans to pound the pavement the next six months, as do other members of the People’s Power League, to collect signatures to get an initiative on the ballot to make sure voters can decide if a nuclear power plant gets built in Montana. For them, it’s deja vu all over again, having put […]
Troubled Maryland plant told to toss some of its vaccines
WASHINGTON — Federal health regulators have instructed Maryland’s Emergent BioSolutions to scrap some batches of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine substance manufactured at the company’s troubled Baltimore plant, while clearing a small portion to be used in the U.S. or sent abroad. Two batches of the J&J vaccine substance made in Baltimore were deemed “suitable […]
U.S. Senate panel grapples with fast-approaching state laws on rights of student athletes
WASHINGTON — There was little disagreement among senators Wednesday over whether a national law is needed to standardize what soon will be a patchwork of conflicting state statutes allowing some student athletes to earn money from their personal brands. But the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing shed little light on what a potential federal law […]
Department of Justice doubles attorneys as restrictions in voting rights grow
WASHINGTON—The Department of Justice announced Friday that it is doubling its enforcement attorneys who will work to protect voting rights. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland’s announcement came as Republicans in state legislatures introduce and pass restrictive voting laws, such as limiting ballot boxes and requiring voter identification. “We are scrutinizing new laws that seek to curb […]
Competitive districts and political boundaries up for debate in proposed redistricting criteria
Members of the Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission have brought forth two proposals for criteria that will govern how the state draws lines separating its legislative and congressional districts, a significant task that will play out over the coming 18 months. The pair of proposals, one submitted by the commission’s two Republicans and the other […]