Supporters of a bill aimed at reducing property taxes in Montana say the agricultural industry needs help because of dropping commodity prices. House Bill 558 would reduce the amount of property taxes agricultural landowners and commercial properties pay in the state. Agricultural landowners would see a tax reduction of .15 percent, and commercial landowners, .11 Read More…
A bill introduced at the Legislature calls for legalizing the game of blackjack, or twenty-one, in Montana, and dividing the tax proceeds among pension, educational, social services and tribal scholarship programs. Rep. Wylie Galt, R-Martinsdale, is sponsoring House Bill 578, which would allow up to three live blackjack games in a bar or casino and Read More…
A bill limiting the length of contracts for small, renewable power projects would undercut a $100 million-plus proposed solar-power project near Billings, an attorney for the developer says. “We are at the point right now where my clients are coming into this state and saying, `We want to do business here’ – and Senate Bill Read More…
Establishing public charter schools and an increase in the fuel tax took up much of the discussion during a town hall meeting featuring State Sen. Steve Hinebauch, R-Wibaux, and Rep. Scott Staffanson, R-Sidney, in Sidney on Saturday night. The meeting took place during the midway point of the Montana legislative session. Sidney Superintendent of Schools Read More…
NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) – I spend a lot of time at Fox 5 covering startups. One of the biggest compliments you can pay a startup is to call it a disrupter, changing not just local business, but entire industries across the country and even around the world. Former TLC Commissioner Matthew Daus says we haven’t had such Read More…
Wikileaks today published a trove of documents, allegedly taken from the CIA, that detail the government’s efforts to hack popular devices like iPhones, Android phones, and Samsung smart TVs. But Apple is pushing back against claims that the CIA’s hoarded vulnerabilities for its devices were effective. The documents, if they are indeed legitimate, include charts that Read More…
Norwegian startup Gobi raised $500,000 at a $15 million valuation to take on Snapchat with its “Stories” communication tool. The platform enables users to create public and private groups where users can share photos and videos that stay around for three days before vanishing into digital pixel-dust. “We originally created a Snapchat group for our college,” says Kristoffer Lande, Read More…
WikiLeaks will give technology companies access to information it has about the CIA’s hacking tools, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said Thursday. Assange said the organization will give details to let technology companies “develop fixes” before the information is published more widely. “We have decided to work with them,” Assange said during an online press conference Read More…
The head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said Thursday that he does not believe carbon dioxide is a “primary contributor” to climate change. “I think that measuring with precision human activity on the climate is something very challenging to do and there’s tremendous disagreement about the degree of impact. So no, I would not Read More…
The head of the Environmental Protection Agency program aimed at protecting minority populations from pollution has resigned. Mustafa Ali, who has worked at the EPA for 24 years, is leaving as the Trump administration is proposing to completely defund environmental justice efforts at the EPA. Ali submitted a resignation letter Wednesday to EPA Administrator Scott Read More…
Instead of CPAC, it’ll be the Ideas Conference. Instead of taking place at National Harbor, it’ll be in the main room at the St. Regis Hotel, a few blocks from the White House. Instead of featuring President Donald Trump, it’ll be the first real cattle call of the Democrats nosing around 2020 presidential runs. And Read More…
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday that his message to Republicans skeptical of the legislation introduced by House leadership to repeal and replace Obamacare is that “we need to deliver” because “we’re in the outcome business now.” Unlike his party’s efforts under the administration of former President Barack Obama, McConnell (R-Ky.) said GOP lawmakers Read More…
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has awarded the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce with one of its top honors, recognizing the local organization for its effective structure and positive impact on the Flathead Valley. The Kalispell chamber received a five-star accreditation for its sound policies, effective procedures and positive impact on the community. The chamber advocates Read More…
About a dozen Flathead residents opposed to a controversial water-bottling plant proposed in Creston testified in the Montana State Capitol Wednesday afternoon, lending their support to legislation that would subject the facility to an additional environmental review before it can be approved. Sen. Bob Keenan, R-Bigfork, is sponsoring Senate Bill 215, which would add water-packaging Read More…
A pair of local nonprofits plan to buy the 270-acre Bohart Ranch Cross Country Ski Center to create a 500-acre recreational area adjacent to Bridger Bowl, the groups announced Friday. Crosscut Mountain Sports Center, in partnership with the Bridger Biathlon Club, will finalize the sale of the Bridger Canyon ranch by early June, before setting Read More…
Montana’s campaign regulator has reached a settlement with two elite universities whose professors caught grief for experimenting with Montana voters in 2014. In it Stanford and Dartmouth universities agreed to pay the state a combined $13,599. The cash and a previous apology from the universities’ presidents — mailed to all Montana voters at a cost Read More…
Helena – Democratic Congressional candidate Rob Quist’s campaign says it will only take political action committee (PAC) money from unions and liberal special interest groups. In a statement released to the media on Wednesday, the banjo player and singer turned politician said he will not accept any PAC money from committees associated with corporations. Campaign Read More…
Montana is blessed with vast landscapes of public lands. Our great outdoors attracts millions of visitors each year and is part of why I love Montana so much. And in Montana, conversations about our public land often go hand in hand with talking about the federal government. The federal government owns 28.9 percent of Montana. Read More…
Helena – Governor Steve Bullock vetoed House Bill 202 which would have provided new protections for state employee whistleblowers. The bill sponsored by Representative Kirk Wagoner passed both the House and Senate with bipartisan support. It would add new protections for public employees who report “matters of public concern” to the legislature. In a press Read More…
Helena – On Monday night, Bozeman businessman Greg Gianforte easily secured the Republican nomination for the special election to replace Congressman Ryan Zinke. Gianforte was selected in the first round of voting securing 150.5 votes, 123 votes were needed to win the nomination. Greg Gianforte beat out six other Republican candidates, Rep. Carl Glimm, Sen. Read More…
Helena – At their special convention on Sunday, March 5, Democrats nominated banjo player and singer Rob Quist to run under their party’s banner to fill Montana’s congressional seat that was vacated by Ryan Zinke, who was sworn in as Interior Secretary last week. Rob Quist currently resides in the Flathead Valley and was nominated Read More…
Gov. Steve Bullock says he believes the Montana Board of Regents would have to at least consider closing a state campus to make up for the $23.3 million budget cut proposed in the current Legislature. Bullock made the comment Wednesday while meeting with the Chronicle’s editorial board. The Democratic governor came to advocate Read More…
Here’s a look at the people hoping to replace Ryan Zinke as Montana’s congressional representative. There are eight Democrats hoping for their party’s nomination. Amanda Curtis is a member of Montana House of Representative… She sponsored the “hire Montana first act”. When not in session Curtis works as a high school math teacher… She serves Read More…
High tech companies brought in more than $1 billion dollars in revenue in 2016 and the industry is growing seven times faster than the rest of the Montana economy. A University of Montana Bureau of of Business Economic Research (BBER) study showed $1.09 billion in revenue last year, up from $867 million in 2015. Companies in Read More…
IT HAS been many years since France last had a revolution, or even a serious attempt at reform. Stagnation, both political and economic, has been the hallmark of a country where little has changed for decades, even as power has rotated between the established parties of left and right. Until now. This year’s presidential election, Read More…
On Wednesday morning, the United States Senate voted to confirm Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke as Secretary of the Depart of Interior on a vote of 63 to 31. Both of Montana’s Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester voted to confirm Zinke. The Whitefish native will become the first Montanan to serve in a Cabinet position. Read More…
The Billings Gazette editorial blasting my opposition to SB305 is alarmingly short on facts. The only voters being suppressed under the bill are those that want to vote at the polls to ensure their ballot makes it to the ballot box and is counted. SB305 would actually reduce voter choice and require all voters to Read More…
State Sen. Eric Moore, R-Miles City, was expected to introduce legislation this afternoon to modernize the way workers’ compensation insurance is purchased in Montana. The measure, if approved, would eliminate the state-operated Montana State Fund, which is currently the largest provider of workers’ compensation insurance in the state. The bill would allow for greater competition Read More…
For a state that has the highest ratio of entrepreneurs, Montana does not rank well in how it treats those entrepreneurs, and the impacts of those policies are far reaching for every citizen. Montana ranks 32nd in the 21st annual ranking of all states by the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council (SBE), regarding policies which Read More…
On a recent Wednesday night, Montana State University channeled its inner Silicon Valley. A group of startup businesses gathered to present their various ventures — from a rideshare app to a bioengineered toothpick — in front of a crowd in the atrium of Jabs Hall. The startups, six in total, represented the first cohort of Read More…
Helena – A Democrat legislator from Bozeman has introduced a bill to raise the state income tax. House bill 452, by Representative Tom Woods would cost taxpayers more than $78 Million over the next 4 years. If it becomes law, Rep. Tom Woods’ bill would increase income taxes by $6.6 million in fiscal 2018, $24.5 Read More…
Two Republican state lawmakers from Hamilton are asking for $5.5 million to expand a healthcare program. “This bill is not only a good bill, it may be the most important we have to do all session.” That’s Representative Nancy Ballance. She and Representative Ron Ehli are teaming up to spend more public money on healthcare Read More…
Talen Energy is pushing Montana lawmakers for a tax break worth millions to keep two units of the coal-fired Colstrip power plant open, with one Republican leader saying Tuesday the units could close within the year without some form of assistance. House Speaker Austin Knudsen, R-Culbertson, said the $10 million coal severance tax reduction proposed Read More…
The Wyoming Legislature has passed a bill that will require large retailers that don’t have a presence in the state – including online retailers – to collect sales tax on purchases that are delivered into Wyoming. As long as House Bill 19/House Enrolled Act 41 makes it past Gov. Matt Mead’s desk, the law Read More…
A Senate committee on Wednesday tightened a bill that deals with penalties for possession of marijuana-infused products. House Bill 197 originally created a tiered penalty system for possession of small amounts of marijuana or marijuana-infused products. The penalty system applied to possession of marijuana in plant form of less than 3 ounces and marijuana-infused products Read More…
People who live in Missoula or are just going to be in the area will no longer have to leave their cars to pay for parking downtown. On Friday, the Missoula Parking Commission will roll out a pay-by-phone option. Tiffany Brander, administrative services manager with the Missoula Parking Commission, says people will never have to wait in line or Read More…
Some House Republicans on Tuesday defended their party’s work on the public health and human services budget for the next two years and offered cost-saving ideas to ensure more is spent on critical human services for the elderly, disabled and children. At a press conference, House Majority Leader Ron Ehli, R-Hamilton, said Republicans wanted Read More…
Distillers and a brewer testified at the Montana Capitol on Wednesday to support a bill that would make their businesses operate under the same tasting room laws. Montana breweries can serve up to 48 ounces of beer per customer until 8 p.m., and it may be consumed on premise until 9 p.m. Distilleries can Read More…
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…
Montana’s Democratic Senator Jon Tester said Monday there is an agenda behind new attack ads aimed at the politician. The ads from the Judicial Crisis Network claim Tester is threatening to block support for Supreme Court Judge nominee Neil Gorsuch, creating gridlock in Washington. From KULR 8