On the steps of the Montana State Capitol, Governor Greg Gianforte was officially sworn in Monday for his second term as the 25th Governor of Montana. Accompanied by his wife, First Lady Susan Gianforte, the ceremony marked a historic milestone, as Gianforte became the first Republican governor to secure a second term since 1996. Chief Read More…
In a historic milestone, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) has announced the investment of more than $92 million in public schools, marking a record-breaking revenue contribution from the state’s trust lands. “Thanks to DNRC’s responsible management of state trust lands, this historic $92 million investment will provide our students with the Read More…
U.S. Senator Steve Daines has announced his committee assignments for the 119th Congress, taking on influential roles in the Senate Committees on Finance, Foreign Relations, Energy and Natural Resources, and Indian Affairs. These assignments place Daines at the center of critical policy discussions affecting Montana and the nation. “It’s an honor to serve Montanans in Read More…
Kenneth Britton “Britt” Cotter, 48, who was recently elected District Court Judge for Lake and Sanders counties, has been charged with one count of solicitation to commit criminal distribution of dangerous drugs and two counts of attempted criminal possession of dangerous drugs. The Montana Attorney General’s Office announced the charges following a months-long investigation led Read More…
MISSOULA – Wildfires in Montana are nothing new. Last year, the Treasure State saw a bad fire season with more than 114,000 acres burned. In an attempt to better understand how wildfires may affect weather, climate and even health, a group of University of Montana scientists will fly directly into the smoke of a wildfire. Read More…
It seems like hardly a day goes by when you don’t see someone arrested in Gallatin County for a methamphetamine-related offense. It could be when a Bozeman police officer pulls over a driver for a traffic offense and discovers a small baggie with a crystalline substance and a residue-covered pipe. It could be when Read More…
Missoula tech firm Submittable announced a $5 Million Series A investment led Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm, True Ventures. Submittable is a cloud-based submission platform that was founded in 2010. The company now has more than 35 employees. “We are positioned as the matching and reviewing platform for any organization looking for work or any Read More…
KALISPELL –Kalispell Regional Healthcare officials confirmed on Sunday that over 50 people were injured and transported in Saturday’s deck collapse at Glacier Camp, south of Lakeside. 36 of these patients were treated in the Flathead area, with 9 at North Valley Hospital and 27 at Kalispell Regional medical Center. Significant numbers of orthopedic and neurological injuries Read More…
Bozeman Mayor Carson Taylor said this week that he doesn’t intend to act on a request by neighborhood preservation activists that the city place a moratorium on major downtown developments. “I haven’t found any interest in the commission in discussing a moratorium,” he said in an interview Thursday. “I think we’re pretty comfortable with the Read More…
HELENA — Secretary of State Corey Stapleton said Friday that mail ballot voter fraud occurred in Missoula County during the May 25 congressional special election. The case involved a signature forgery on a mail-in ballot, he said. Stapleton said his office has notified the Missoula County Attorney’s office. “We’ve had mail ballot security issues in Read More…
BILLINGS – The White House sent its $4.1 trillion dollar spending plan to Capitol Hill Tuesday. President Donald Trump is looking to balance the budget in 10 years with big spending cuts and faster economic growth. That includes an almost $3.6 trillion dollars in cuts to programs including Medicaid, food stamps, and Social Security Disability Read More…
Billings – Governor Steve Bullock refused to answer questions about infrastructure funding from a constituent at a fundraiser. Mr. Bullock appeared at a democrat political fundraiser at a private golf club in Billings on Thursday. Bullock’s representatives told those present that the Governor would not be answering any questions on infrastructure funding. The 2017 legislative Read More…
Democrat congressional candidate Rob Quist’s venereal disease, drug use, and marriage problems were revealed to the public this week when a national media outlet uncovered documents from a medical malpractice lawsuit filed by Quist. The documents show, among other things, that Quist suffers from depression, has genital herpes, tested positive for tuberculosis, uses recreational drugs, Read More…
Helena – The tumultuous tenure of Jonathan Motl as Montana’s Commissioner of Political Practices came to an end Monday with Jeff Mangan taking over. Mr. Motl’s time as Montana’s top political cop was marked by allegations of unethical behavior, partisan chicanery, and numerous lawsuits over his conduct. Mr. Motl was a controversial figure since his Read More…
Helena – On the final day of the 65th legislative session, Democrats in the House of Representative voted to kill a bill that would have provided $41 million in loans to local communities for water projects. House Bill 8 would have provided $41 million in loans from the coal tax trust fund to water, sewer Read More…
Helena – For the third consecutive legislative session, Democrat Governor Steve Bullock has failed to get an infrastructure bill passed by the Legislature. In the waning days of the 2017 legislative session, there seemed to still be a chance for the infrastructure package to pass, but in the end, it came down to a simple Read More…
Two recent publicly-available opinion polls show Republican Greg Gianforte besting Democrat Rob Quist in the special election to replace Congressman Ryan Zinke. The latest poll was released this week by the Emerson College Polling Society. That poll shows Mr. Gianforte leading with 52%, Mr. Quist with 37% and longshot, Libertarian candidate Mark Wicks with 5%. Read More…
Helena – Newly-released records show Democrat congressional candidate Rob Quist has not had a hunting or fishing license in Montana in at least 15 years. According to public records released to MTN news by the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the banjo player turned politician has not purchased a hunting or fishing license since Read More…
Helena – In the waning days of the 2017 legislative session, there is still a chance for infrastructure package to pass, but it might not be an easy road. The eventual solution may be complicated but the breakdown is rather simple: Democrat Governor Steve Bullock wants to spend more; Republicans in control of the House Read More…
A new public opinion poll of Montanans shows Republican Greg Gianforte with a 12% advantage over Democrat Rob Quist in the race to replace Ryan Zinke for Montana’s lone Congressional seat. According to the survey, Gianforte leads the pack with 50% of respondents saying they intended to vote for him. Democrat Rob Quist was in Read More…
Helena – Representative Frank Garner, R-Kalispell, joined with a mostly Democrat coalition to pass a 38% increase to Montana’s fuel tax in the House. Rep. Garner is the sponsor of House Bill 473 which increases the state tax on gasoline and diesel fuel by about 38%. The bill has been one of the most contentious Read More…
Helena – A pair of leading state Democrats vowed to block Republican efforts to pass an infrastructure bill this legislative session because the bill doesn’t spend enough money on the projects they want. Senate Minority Leader Jon Sesso, R-Butte, and House Minority Jenny Eck, D-Helena, said the Democrats will not support House Bill 645, known Read More…
Helena – Helena Democrat Representative Moffie Funk has introduced a bill in the legislature to give state employees raises costing $16.5 Million over the next two years. House Bill 13, the state pay plan bill would provide a 1% raise for each of the next two years. State workers previously received raises in January 2016 Read More…
Helena – The state of Montana filed three tax liens to collect approximately $15,000 in back taxes against Democrat congressional candidate Rob Quist. Quist is also finalizing a settlement with a bank over $10,000 loan he defaulted on. The tax liens filed against Quist in 2015 for about $15,000 cover tax years 2007, 2011 and Read More…
While campaign for the Democrat nomination to replace Congressman Ryan Zinke, Rob Quist supported a national gun registry; now that he has the nomination he is trying to walk back his earlier comments. In late January, Quist, a 69 year old banjo player and singer from Creston, told the Bozeman Chronicle, “You register your car Read More…
Helena – Two Democrat lawmakers are proposing legislation to enact a limited sales tax in Montana. Both bills would allow local residents to vote whether or not to pass the tax in their communities. Representative David Fern (D-Whitefish) introduced House Bill 577 which was heard in the House Taxation committee this week and awaits further 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…
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…
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…
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 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…
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is trying to clear the traffic jam of votes on six of President Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees, including Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke, who stands to be confirmed as the next interior secretary. McConnell filed cloture on Monday night for Rep. Mick Mulvaney, who will head the office of management and Read More…
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
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…
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…
Helena – More than 300 people rallied at the capitol Wednesday in support of school choice. Supporters are asking the Legislature to support several bills this session. Montana is one of only three states in the nation with no form of school choice. “Every student deserves the chance to find his or her perfect educational Read More…
Gas prices in Montana are rising even as the national average begins to fall. “Average Gas prices in Montana continued their climb rising about three cents a gallon this past week ( January 8 – 14), the state wide average is about $2.28 while the national average has actually fallen about two and a half Read More…
Helena – A newly released memo shows that Montana Department of Transportation(MDT) officials and Governor Bullock knew of shortfalls in the highway fund before Election Day but kept the information hidden from the public until after Governor Bullock had been re-elected. The memo was obtained by state legislators and released to the media on Thursday, Read More…
Attorney General Tim Fox said Tuesday in court papers that the term of Montana’s top political enforcer should have ended Jan. 1 – and the state Supreme Court should take over and decide the lawsuit trying to extend the term. Fox asked a state judge to allow him to intervene in the lawsuit seeking to Read More…
Legislative Republicans Monday introduced a bill to shore up the state highway fund this year – a move they said would enable the state to finance $144 million worth of construction projects that have been delayed. “We know it’s a temporary fix, but we’ve got to get the money back in there, so we can Read More…
Bullock Hires Planned Parenthood Exec as Health Policy Advisor Helena – Governor Steve Bullock announced Friday that he has hired Jessica Rhoades as his health policy advisor. Ms. Rhoades has had a long career in Democrat political circles, including time with Planned Parenthood. Rhoades was the western regional field director for Planned Parenthood of America Read More…
Helena – In late December, with only a few days remaining in his term a group of Democrats stepped in to try and keep Jonathan Motl in the Commissioner of Political Practices office for another two years by filing a lawsuit in Lewis and Clark County district court. Just days later, the fifth lawsuit involving Read More…