A coalition of Montana’s top elected officials, lawmakers, and local leaders is pushing back against criticism of Governor Greg Gianforte’s appointment of Jessica Flint to the state’s Criminal Justice Oversight Council, calling it a decisive move toward accountability and balance in Montana’s justice system. In a letter released Monday, 56 officials—ranging from members of Montana’s Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte has urged Congress to support two joint resolutions aimed at overturning a Biden administration policy that threatens Montana’s coal industry and could cost the state’s public schools over $4 billion in future revenue. In a letter to lawmakers, Gianforte expressed strong backing for Senate Joint Resolution 61 (S.J.Res.61) and House Joint Resolution Read More…
U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) has introduced bipartisan legislation to end wage discrimination against workers with disabilities and support their transition into competitive, integrated employment. The Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act seeks to phase out the use of subminimum wages for individuals with disabilities—still legal under federal law—and invest in programs that promote inclusive Read More…
Congressman Ryan Zinke (R-MT), former Secretary of the Interior, and Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT) today unveiled new legislation aimed at shoring up funding for America’s national parks by charging most foreign tourists a dedicated entry fee. Joined by Representative Riley Moore (R-WV) and Senator Jim Banks (R-IN), the group introduced the Protecting America’s Treasures by Read More…
It could become easier for communities to play a role in cleaning up abandoned mine sites in the coming years, if a bill jointly backed by Montana’s two senators gets traction in Washington, D.C. It could be the next significant step in dealing with an environmental problem that not only plagues Montana but the entire Read More…
Montana’s attorney general has launched a civil investigation into the popular social media app TikTok for possible violation of the state’s consumer protection act. Attorney General Austin Knudsen says the app may be misrepresenting the dangers of the platform for teens. Knudsen sent the company a letter demanding answers to 80 questions, including how the app promotes Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has started a comprehensive investigation into TikTok for allegedly serving harmful content to children and for publicly misrepresenting the “dangers” of its social media platform. “TikTok is certainly an application that should raise concerns for parents in Montana and everywhere,” Knudsen said in an interview with Fox News Digital in announcing his office’s investigation. Read More…
HELENA — A federal judge Tuesday struck down a portion of Montana’s “clean campaign act,” saying it’s an unconstitutional burden on free speech to require political committees to notify candidates about last-minute attack campaign material. U.S. District Judge Don Molloy of Missoula said the so-called “fair notice” requirement, which applies only to material distributed within Read More…
ANALYSIS — It’s been 40 years since Montana had to worry about congressional redistricting. The Treasure State was allocated a second seat in the most recent round of reapportionment — the last time that happened was after the 1980 census — and had to go through the process of bifurcating the state. Even though a Read More…
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced a Senate resolution designating today, Jan 16 as Religious Freedom Day. This resolution commemorates the 236th Anniversary of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, a landmark achievement that laid the foundations for the First Amendment. “America stands as a beacon of hope and a symbol of religious Read More…
HELENA — Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte on Monday joined GOP legislators and Montana’s Republican attorney general, in asking the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in their dispute with the Montana Supreme Court over whether that court is improperly “prejudging proposed legislation.” Gianforte, through his chief lawyer, Anita Milanovich, filed a “friend of the court” brief Read More…
The Montana judiciary is in deep trouble. The Wall Street Journal picked up on a local story that has been exploding since last April but has just now started to get national attention. In April, the Montana judiciary was caught red-handed lobbying against bills that would lead to more accountability for judges. This comes right on the heels Read More…
HELENA — Montana Supreme Court Justice Jim Rice said Thursday he will run for re-election this year to a third eight-year term on the state’s highest court, potentially extending his tenure as the court’s longest-serving justice. Rice, 64, was appointed to the court in 2001, by then-Gov. Judy Martz. He ran for retainment in the Read More…
MISSOULA, Mont. — Governor Gianforte will deliver infrastructure funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to the City of Dillon on Jan. 3. This will go to improving drinking water. In Septmeber, Gianforte authorized $1.9 million in competitive and minimum allocation grants to replace a waterline transmission and distribution system. The system previously had leaks Read More…
The Whitefish City Council last week unanimously voted to approve an ordinance that will put zoning requirements in place for certain rentals being rented out for periods of between 30 and 90 days. The ordinance requires rentals of 30 to 90 days that would qualify as “medium-term rentals” to be in zones classified as resort Read More…
BOZEMAN — Montana is set to kick off 2022 with the legalization of recreational marijuana sales starting on January 1. Here are some important things to know before the law takes effect in the new year. Montana Initiative 190 passed 56% to 43% back in Nov. 2020, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to Read More…
Montana’s lone voice in the U.S. House did not join the majority this week in voting to hold former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in criminal contempt of Congress. Democrats and two Republicans approved the resolution after Meadows stopped cooperating with the committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. In a tweet, Rep. Matt Read More…
MISSOULA, Mont. — Governor Greg Gianforte has contributed a quarter of his annual governor’s salary to the Denton Fire Relief Fund which supports the community as it rebuilds. “In the wake of the West Wind Fire in Denton, Montanans have done what Montanans do best: neighbors have helped neighbors,” Gianforte said in a press release. “We’ve Read More…
The Whitefish City Council last week adopted a zoning ordinance to allow recreational adult-use marijuana sales in its downtown and secondary business districts, unanimously approving a framework for pot dispensaries to begin opening storefronts and selling their products after the new year. Council arrived at the final set of rules after careful deliberation, sending an Read More…
For decades, dozens of people spent at least one night — or morning — a month taking public comment, discussing and making decisions on city of Bozeman policies, expenditures and other matters. The vast majority of those volunteers have given up the reins over the past few weeks as most of the former advisory boards Read More…
BILLINGS – Groups on both sides of the abortion issue in Montana are closely watching a key case challenging Roe v Wade, which is currently under consideration by the U.S. Supreme Court. The high court heard arguments for a Mississippi law that would ban abortions after 15 weeks. A lower court had earlier blocked that Read More…
HELENA — A federal judge in Louisiana has granted a preliminary injunction against the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) COVID vaccine mandate following a lawsuit filed by Montana and 13 other states. Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen previously told MTN that the November 5th CMS rule is not only unconstitutional, but also will Read More…
A roughly $2 trillion social spending and climate plan passed out of the U.S House Friday, without the support of Montana’s lone congressman. Montana Republican Representative Matt Rosendale opposed the so-called ‘Build Back Better’ bill. The measure narrowly passed out of the U.S. House Friday morning on a near party-line vote of 220 to 213. Read More…
Republican Montana Sen. Steve Daines implored “just one” Democrat to oppose the president’s “Build Back Better” agenda, which he said was a “hyperinflation bomb” that would most impact the poorest in society. “We just need one Democrat –just one– to oppose it and this bill dies in the Senate,” he said as Democrats try to Read More…
MISSOULA, Mont. — In a few weeks, Montana’s Governor will select two new District Court judges, one in Gallatin County and the other in Yellowstone. It will mark the second time the governor will use a new state law about mid-year election nominations. We’re working for you to explain the law that changed Montana’s constitution. READ Read More…
HELENA, Mont. – Senator Steve Daines has returned from a trip to India after meeting with India’s top trade official, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, and Indian pulse crop buyers. According to a release, Sen. Daines met with Goyal and pulse crop buyers to promote Montana pulse crops and increase market access for Read More…
The Montana Department of Revenue has come out with two more packages of proposed rules, as they prepare for the start of recreational marijuana sales in January. Marijuana advocates say they’re concerned one of the provisions is going to put too many limits on who can take jobs in the industry. The newly proposed rules Read More…
HELENA, Mont. – On Saturday, a federal appeals court temporarily halted the recently announced vaccine mandate on larger businesses, and Senator Steve Daines says he was glad to see it was blocked. Senator Daines gave the following statement: READ FULL STORY
A fourth Democrat and former state lawmaker has joined the race for Montana’s new congressional seat. Tom Winter, a former state representative from Missoula, announced his run for the U.S. House on Wednesday, saying populism and progressivism can win. Winter joins fellow Democrats Laurie Bishop, a state lawmaker, Cora Neumann, who runs a public health nonprofit, and Read More…
BILLINGS, Mont. – While Americans head to the polls on Election Day during National Native American Heritage month, groups in Montana look to engage Native Americans in building political and personal power to address local community challenges. Western Native Voice, a non-profit, non-partisan organization in Billings continues to work to increase Native American participation and engagement Read More…
The differences between Kalispell mayoral candidates Mark Johnson and Sid Daoud came down to questions of small and smaller government during a virtual question-and-answer session with the Daily Inter Lake on Thursday. Johnson, the incumbent two-term mayor, and Daoud, the Ward 4 City Council representative, generally agreed in their desire to see reductions in development Read More…
As visitation to Flathead Lake’s state-managed islands continues to increase, so do the negative consequences on wildlife habitat, including an uptick in instances involving human waste, garbage, vandalism, and unattended campfires. To that end, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) has released a draft environmental assessment on a suite of proposed rule changes, which the agency crafted Read More…
The commission in charge of drawing Montana’s new political boundaries remains stuck in a deadlock over how to split the state into two congressional districts. The bipartisan Districting and Apportionment Commission failed to find consensus Thursday. Instead of putting forth a single map for consideration as planned, they advanced two. Still, commissioners are getting closer Read More…
U.S. Senator Jon Tester visited with AP government students at Hamilton High School via Skype on Monday. Educator Kiah Nisly had arranged the opportunity for her students to have a visit with the senator. “The future electorate of America sits in my classroom so I like to create as many opportunities as possible for the future voters Read More…
GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte traveled to the Texas-Mexico border as the fight to re-open the southern border continues. Gov. Gianforte joined nine other GOP governors addressing the issue of illegal immigrants and brought forth a security plan they believe will help the situation. The security plan includes 10 steps, like continuing Title Read More…
SIDNEY, M.T. — As part of his 56-county tour of Montana, Governor Greg Gianforte made a stop in Richland County, touring a local meat processing plant. Eastern Montana Meats is a family-owned plant that opened up last December. Governor Greg Gianforte met with owner Steve Lunderby and his son Dillon to see how things are Read More…
A Democratic state lawmaker Wednesday questioned the head of the state health department about whether medical experts were involved in making a controversial emergency rule issued last month regarding masking in schools. Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Director Adam Meier was questioned by a Democratic lawmaker from Bozeman about the origin of Read More…
BILLINGS – Whether three of Montana’s four new abortion laws will go into effect as planned next week hangs in the balance. Yellowstone County District Court Judge Gregory Todd heard arguments from the state and Planned Parenthood on Thursday morning. Judge Todd’s ruling will determine if there will be a preliminary injunction on the three Read More…
HELENA — Drawing two new, compact congressional districts for Montana in 2022 with equal populations is a piece of cake – but, when their political leaning is a consideration, things get prickly. Joe Lamson, one of two Democratic members of the five-member commission that will decide the boundary by November, says a goal should be Read More…
MISSOULA — Attention is once again turning to a legislative solution to wildfires as the Northern Rockies fire season winds down, and California’s rages on. MTN News takes a closer look at the proposals being floated by U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT). Whether it’s logging projects to thin the forest or other measures like prescribed Read More…
HELENA — The Helena City Commission says it wants to take a closer look at new ways to address homelessness in the community – including a proposal to build a new temporary shelter. During an administrative meeting Wednesday, commissioners heard about the growing impact homelessness is having and some possible responses. “The question is how Read More…
BILLINGS – At some places around the country, people can be excluded from events, employment, and buildings for not taking the COVID-19 vaccine. That can not happen in Montana because House Bill 702 prohibits discrimination against those who have not been vaccinated. The bill passed by the Montana Legislature this year covers many vaccines and has caused Read More…
Students are returning to fall classes at Montana Universities at a time when COVID cases are increasing. Mask mandates are now in place at Montana’s two largest universities. Two days after classes began at Montana State University in Bozeman, mask guidelines for inside classrooms changed from a recommendation to a mandate. The university had previously Read More…
MISSOULA — Montana’s two senators are blasting the Biden Administration, with the latest announcement that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is extending the closure of the Canadian border now until Sept. 21. While vaccinated Americans have been able to enter Canada since Aug. 9, the same isn’t true for southbound traffic. The DHS order keeps the gates Read More…