News
Glacier Park sees record October, spike in November
Everybody wants to be first in line to make a reservation for the historic Granite Park Chalet or Sperry Chalet inside Glacier National Park. That was one observation Monday from Kevin Warrington, chalet coordinator, the day the backcountry lodges opened for reservations for the 2021 season. “So it’s not unusual for there to be thousands […]
Bill to broaden places firearms can be carried advances
A bill that aims to broaden the places people can legally carry firearms — and strike down the Montana Board of Regents’ authority to regulate guns on college campuses — advanced Monday on party lines. The House Judiciary Committed voted 12-7 to move House Bill 102 forward. The bill is proposed by Rep. Seth Berglee, […]
‘Millions of birds will die’
In July 2011, a pipeline owned by ExxonMobil burst near Laurel, Mont., dumping 42,000 gallons of crude oil into the nearby Yellowstone River. As federal officials reported the damage for weeks afterward, they found American white pelicans, owls and other bird species covered in oil, injured or dead. ExxonMobil agreed to pay $12 million to […]
Second lawmaker announces COVID-19 diagnosis
Rep. Fiona Nave, a Republican from Columbus, has tested positive for COVID-19, the Legislature announced Monday afternoon. Nave, the second legislator to come forward with a positive diagnosis, has not been at the state capitol in person since the legislative session began. She received her test results yesterday, according to an announcement from Sen. Jason […]
Biden: Republicans “irresponsible” to refuse masks while sheltering during riot
WASHINGTON—President-elect Joe Biden on Monday chastised GOP lawmakers for refusing to wear masks while they were held in a safe location as a violent mob of pro-Trump supporters stormed the Capitol last week. As lawmakers waited for law enforcement to secure the Capitol on Wednesday, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) went around a packed room […]
Gianforte: Scott Osterman to lead Commerce
HELENA – Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Monday his nomination of Scott Osterman to lead the Montana Department of Commerce. “Getting our economy going again, getting Montana open for business, and getting Montanans back to work and thriving in good-paying jobs require a strong leader at the Department of Commerce,” said Gianforte in a news release. […]
Montana alcohol sales surge in pandemic
When COVID-19 hit, people couldn’t go to their favorite restaurants and bars, and they started stocking up on alcohol supplies for home. Montanans have purchased more beer, liquor and wine in the months since the pandemic hit compared to 2019, according to data from the Montana Department of Revenue. Gross liquor sales alone are up […]
Politics is a family business for Speaker Galt
Peel back the layers of Montana’s political history and you will quickly encounter the Galt family. Or just drive around central Montana. There’s a chance you’ll travel on Galt Road in the northeast Helena valley, or more likely, that you’ll end up near the family’s considerable land holdings, the bulk of which are centered around […]
Biden to ship all available vaccine doses to states
WASHINGTON — More COVID-19 vaccine doses will be available to states sooner under changes that the incoming Biden administration is expected to make to how the Trump administration has been allocating those shots. That’s according to comments a Biden transition spokesman made to CNN on Friday, indicating that President-elect Joe Biden will shift to “releasing available doses immediately.” […]
Gianforte’s budget to boost new teacher pay
Teachers in Montana run roughly in the middle of the pack when it comes to average salaries across the country, according to education officials here. But new teachers? In the Treasure State, rookies take home the smallest paychecks of those in all other states. Thursday, education officials who represent schools and educators said Gov. Greg […]
Multiple investigations opened into the death of U.S. Capitol Police officer in pro-Trump riots
WASHINGTON—A Capitol Police officer died late Thursday from injuries he sustained while a violent mob breached the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers were set to vote to certify the presidential election results. The officer, Brian Sicknick, died at 9:30 p.m. at a local hospital, according to U.S. Capitol Police. His death is being investigated by several […]
Legislature to hire part-time contact tracer from county
The Lewis and Clark County Board of Commissioners will decide next week whether to approve a contract for a county contact tracer to work for the state Legislative Services Division part-time, a move that some within the Legislature fear could be too late now that one lawmaker has already announced a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. The […]