All posts by Big Sky Headlines

Bald eagles and hawks poached in Mission Valley

Someone is poaching bald eagles and hawks in the Mission Valley and selling their feathers. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service along with Tribal game wardens are working the case to find whoever is doing it. Last weekend, residents in the Saint Ignatius area between Missoula and Polson found several bald eagles and hawks dead Read More…

Transportation department gives out $2.4 million in raises while seeking tax increase

Helena – A recently released state audit that included the Montana Department of Transportation shows that MDT gave out raises to 82% of employees while postponing construction projects and asking the legislature to raise the state gas tax. The audited conducted by the Legislative Audit Division revealed that MDT handed out raises of $2.4 Million Read More…

Aetna CEO: Obamacare markets are in a ‘death spiral’

Obamacare is in a “death spiral,” the influential CEO of Aetna, Mark Bertolini, declared Wednesday morning. Bertolini’s doomsday prophesy: More insurers will pull out of the government-run marketplaces in the coming weeks and many areas will have no insurers to provide Affordable Care Act coverage in 2018. From Politico

Lawyer’s comments raise prospect of federal investigation for Fox News’ parent company

Federal prosecutors may be investigating Fox News Channel’s parent company for not reporting settlements related to sexual harassment cases to the Securities and Exchange Commission, an attorney representing a former Fox News host said in open court on Wednesday. The lawyer, Judd Burstein, said that he had received a federal grand jury subpoena from the Read More…

Labor nominee Puzder withdraws

Andrew Puzder withdrew his nomination Wednesday to be secretary of labor after Senate Republicans informed the White House that he lacked the votes to be confirmed. GOP senators advised the White House that Puzder could not pass through the narrowly divided Senate, sources said, and shortly thereafter the White House confirmed his intention to pull Read More…

Homeless advocates pitch tiny houses for Bozeman

Could a collection of tiny home-style units, clustered into a village with on-site social workers, help Bozeman get a handle on homelessness? It’s worth trying, say advocates with St. James Episcopal church and social service agency HRDC. From Bozeman Daily Chronicle

Job Surge in Bakken

There has been a sudden surge in job openings in the Bakken – particularly for hydraulic fracturing and completion crews – as companies ramp up to put more wells on line in the first half of 2017, reports Oil Patch Hotline. Pay scales are running between $16 and $30 an hour. The number of job Read More…

Bozeman sanctuary city request shot down by mayor, commissioners

People stood up again during the public comment period at the Bozeman City Commission meeting Monday evening to again ask commissioners to consider making Bozeman a sanctuary city. After everyone supporting the request had commented, Mayor Carson Taylor read aloud the proclamation he presented last week declaring Bozeman a safe and inclusive place for everyone. From KTVQ

Bozeman leads Montana in Airbnb guests

About 77,000 visitors to Montana used Airbnb accommodations last year spending more than $10 million. Bozeman led all of Montana cities in 2016 in Airbnb use with 13,000 guests spending $1.9 million for their accommodations, according to an Airbnb press release issued Wednesday. From KTVQ

Wyoming budget committee to be named today

State lawmakers are continuing to work on Wyoming’s supplemental budget bill, and a committee is expected to be appointed today to iron out the differences in the House and Senate versions of the budget.   The House passed its version of the budget Monday, and the Senate passed its version Friday. From Wyoming Business Report

Don Jones

Montana is broke

MONTANA IS BROKE. As Subcommittee Chairs of House Appropriations, we are the first stop for spending bills in the Montana Legislature. We are responsible for hearing testimony in our area of focus, then making decisions and moving bills to the full Appropriations Committee. In a low budget situation, like we are currently experiencing, we are Read More…

Steve Bullock

MDT Chief: Bullock wants to raise gas tax

Helena – Despite months of campaigning on fiscal responsibility and opposition to a statewide sales tax, Governor Steve Bullock is now supporting a raising the state fuel tax. At a contentious confirmation hearing this week, Department of Transportation director Mike Tooley admitted the Bullock administration wanted to propose an increase in the fuel tax but Read More…

Nancy Ballance

Straight talk on Montana’s Budget

Following the Governor’s State of the State address and the response by the Speaker of the House, the media reported on the stark differences the two made regarding Montana’s fiscal condition. However, the more important point that needs to be made is an explanation of the underlying factors contributing to these views and our differing Read More…

Two applicants seek to replace Jon Motl as commissioner of political practices

Only two people filed applications by Friday’s deadline to indicate their desire to replace the state’s commissioner of political practices, Jon Motl.   Michael Larson of Billings submitted his application to be the state’s campaign watchdog last week. Larson was a Billings City Commissioner from 1996 to 2004, a nonpartisan office. From Bozeman Daily Chronicle

Tim Fox

Fox overturns Missoula gun ordinance

Helena – Montana Attorney General Tim Fox has issued an Attorney General opinion that nullifies a Missoula City Council ordinance that would require background checks for private gun purchases within Missoula city limits. Fox ruled Thursday that the ordinance violates state law stating that, “Plainly interpreted, the Montana Legislature has prohibited all forms of local Read More…

Poll: Voters liked Trump’s ‘America first’ address

Dark. Negative. Divisive. That’s was the immediate narrative about President Donald Trump’s inaugural address. But many Americans liked it. A new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll shows that the new president’s message is resonating with voters, refuting the idea that Trump bungled his first speech as commander in chief. From Politico

Gov. Steve Bullock slated to speak at David Brock-led Democratic conference in Florida on Saturday

The nation’s capital descended into inauguration madness today. Masked protesters smashing store windows. A former America’s Got Talent competitor crooning “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Our new president promising a skittish country that “I will never, ever let you down.” Quite a ways down the coast, at Miami’s Turnberry Isle Resort, politicians and progressive donors are presently Read More…

Austin Knudsen

Lawmakers question Bullock’s budget ahead of State of the State address

Helena – Montana’s state budget has been the biggest issue of the legislative session so far, that will likely continue when Governor Steve Bullock delivers the annual State of the State address this week. When he released his budget proposal in November, Bullock said in a press release that “Montanans expect our state’s leaders to Read More…

Defense and Homeland Security Secretaries confirmed controlling $86.7 billion in tech spending

As the nation’s capital prepared to celebrate the inauguration of the nation’s 45th President, Senators confirmed President Donald Trump’s nominees for Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Retired Generals James (“Mad Dog”) Mattis and John F. Kelly were approved by votes of 98-1 and 88-11, respectively. Attorney General nominee Read More…

Scammers using GFPD phone number to steal money

The Great Falls Police Department wants to warn people of a new scam that has hit the Electric City. It was reported that a phone scam has called Great Falls residents, and the number shows up as the police department’s phone number. They released this message on their Facebook page earlier Wednesday. From KFBB

Committee chair prepares insurance company’s amendment on air ambulance bill

The state Senate’s Business, Labor & Economic Affairs Committee on Wednesday delayed voting on legislation that hopes to protect Montanans from exorbitant air ambulance bills so that it could consider amendments. Committee Chair Sen. Ed Buttrey, R-Great Falls, had substantial amendments drafted for SB 44, the bipartisan air ambulance committee bill being carried by Republican Read More…