Government & Politics
Supreme Court upholds Arizona ‘ballot harvesting’ ban, in set back for voting rights
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld Arizona’s ban on third-party ballot collections, reversing the 9th Circuit’s ruling last year that the prohibition violated the Voting Rights Act and raising the bar on future voting rights lawsuits. In a 6-3 opinion, the high court ruled on Thursday that Arizona’s 2016 law doesn’t violate Section 2 of the Voting […]
Livingston Democrat launches Congressional bid
State Rep. Laurie Bishop announced her candidacy for Montana’s newly created congressional district on Thursday, making her the first Democrat to formally enter the field at a unique moment in the state’s political history. For the first time in decades, two lawmakers will represent Montana in Congress’ lower chamber, a function of rapid population growth […]
BLM seeks comments on American Prairie Reserve bison proposal
LEWISTOWN— The Bureau of Land Management invites the public to comment on its draft environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact, often called a “FONSI” for a bison grazing proposal on BLM-administered lands located in Phillips County, Montana. On Sept. 24, 2019, the American Prairie Reserve submitted a proposal (an update to their earlier […]
Officials: No missing Montana mail-in ballots
Even though the 2020 Election in Montana concluded more than a half-year ago, and a wave of Republican candidates were swept into office in margins that hadn’t been seen for a century, Montana is still making headlines in voting news. Ironically, none of the news about Montana or elections is coming from within Montana. A […]
Public comment mostly opposed to proposed wolf hunting rules
In a meeting to get the public’s comments on proposed changes to a wolf hunting season, opponents outnumbered supporters by a margin of nearly 10-to-1, with many criticizing night-hunting, snaring, baiting traps and some threatening to cancel vacation plans to the Treasure State. On June 24, the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commissioners put out […]
Medicaid expansion has nearly doubled mental health resources in some areas, report says
A new report by the Montana Healthcare Foundation shows that since Medicaid Expansion in 2016, Montana has rapidly built out its mental health services and residents have utilized those services equally as rapidly. The report studied how the expansion affected the state’s mental and behavioral health system. In short, Montana’s mental health providers in some […]
Advisory group suggests two candidates for Cascade County judgeship
The advisory council that Gov. Greg Gianforte appointed to review applicants to fill the vacancy in Montana’s Eighth Judicial District will suggest two candidates for the commission, it decided in its first meeting Wednesday. David Grubich, who currently serves as standing master in the Eighth District, which is centered around Cascade County, emerged as the […]
U.S. House backs a select committee to investigate Jan. 6 capitol mob
WASHINGTON—The U.S. House voted Wednesday to establish a select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection, in which a mob of pro-Trump supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol. In a 222-190 vote that was almost entirely party-line, just two Republicans joined Democrats in passing the resolution, which calls for a probe into “one of the darkest […]
Biden discusses wildfires with some western state governors
For years, American presidents have held annual meetings with Federal Emergency Management Agency officials to plan ahead for the Atlantic hurricane season. In an era when the catastrophic impacts of climate change are accelerating from coast to coast, President Joe Biden on Wednesday convened a first-of-its-kind meeting to make similar preparations for what is shaping […]
Gianforte snubbed as Biden announces wildfire initiatives
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte didn’t get the invite to attend a meeting of western state governors at the White House on Wednesday to discuss a worsening forest fire threat across the region, which is once again set to experience a costly and severe fire season amid record-high temperatures, widespread drought and a weather system that’s […]
Montana, other states step up push to regulate pharmacy drug brokers
Under pressure to rein in skyrocketing prescription drug costs, states are targeting companies that serve as conduits for drug manufacturers, health insurers and pharmacies. More than 100 separate bills regulating those companies, known as pharmacy benefit managers, have been introduced in 42 states this year, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy, which […]
NorthWestern ratepayers won’t get $9.1M rebate
NorthWestern Energy’s residential customers aren’t going to get a $9.1 million rebate — despite an attempt by Montana Public Service Commissioner Tony O’Donnell to find a way to reimburse them “excess” payments in 2020. But the idea that the utility should return that money to ratepayers, $2.72 a month of an average $90.91 bill, was […]