Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Sorted by date Results 326 - 350 of 394
U.S. Senator Steve Daines, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, introduced the “Lower Costs, More Cures Act,” which will support Montanans by lowering prescription drug prices, increasing transparency in the complex prescription drug pricing process and encouraging American ingenuity in the development of new treatments and cures. “Year after year, Montanans continue to face out of control prescription drugs costs. Folks in Montana and across the country should not have to choose between putting food on their table...
As a part of his years long fight to increase local meat processing capacity in Montana and reduce consolidation in the meatpacking industry, U.S. Senator Jon Tester has secured $55.2 million in competitive grand funding that will provide critical resources for currently operating processing facilities that are working toward Federal inspection. “In order to break the stranglehold that large packers have on the marketplace, we have to bolster local processing capacity and increase competition—that’s exactly what these dollars will do,” said Tes...
The Montana Department of Revenue is mailing property classification and appraisal notices to all owners of residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural land properties, showing their market and taxable values for the 2021-2022 two-year valuation cycle. These notices are not tax bills. They include the department’s determination of market or productivity value for your property and will be used by your county treasurer to determine the property taxes owed. “It’s important that Montana property owners review this information thoro...
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Rural Business-Cooperative Service Administrator Karama Neal unveiled a new grant program to help rural communities create good-paying jobs and support new business opportunities in high-growth fields. Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) is intended to help rural communities identify and maximize local assets and connect to networks and industry clusters within their region. The new grant encourages a regional, innovation-driven approach to economic development. “USDA is i...
With record-breaking heat and dry fuels conditions keeping firefighters nervously eyeing the horizon for smoke plumes, the North Hills near Helena are particularly vulnerable to the smallest spark. The area is still reeling from the 2019 fire which ripped through 5,000 acres—a fire that was caused by an individual illegally shooting exploding targets. With that in mind, the Bureau of Land Management is putting fire restrictions in place on BLM-administered lands within the North Hills. The restrictions begin at 12:01 a.m. June 18. The f...
As part of his ongoing work to keep Montanans connected to boost the economy, several commonsense provisions championed by U.S. Senator Jon Tester to cut red tape and improve infrastructure in the transportation industry cleared the Senate Commerce Committee this week, including a critical portion of Tester’s Haulers of Agriculture and Livestock Safety (HAULS) Act that will give ag and livestock haulers the flexibility in hours they need to safely deliver their products to market. Tester successfully attached the provisions to improve safety at...
Representative Rosendale introduced the Expanding Access to Mental Health Services Act, which would permanently broaden mental health options, including intake examinations and therapy, via telehealth for Americans on Medicare. Before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Medicare offered limited options for telehealth, and during the pandemic the Trump administration temporarily expanded telehealth options to help those who were vulnerable to COVID-19 maintain access to the medical treatment they needed. This bill would expand Medicare...
The ARPA Infrastructure Advisory Commission will hold a virtual meeting Monday, June 28, 2021, at 10 a.m. The meeting will be live-streamed at leg.mt.gov. To join the meeting via Zoom, please email Shawna Swanz at Shawna.swanz@mt.gov to register. During the June 28 meeting, the Commission will discuss public comments received regarding match requirements for water and sewer projects, any program updates, and commission meetings. The Infrastructure Advisory Commission is responsible for reviewing applications for water and sewer grants and state...
June is PTSD Awareness Month. Though most often associated with veterans who experienced atrocities of war, anyone, including children and teens, can suffer with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Children typically recover quickly from stressful events, but when it comes to severe stress, especially serious injuries, the death of a close family member or friend, sexual assault, living through a disaster, or witnessing a violent act such as a school shooting, children can often suffer the long-term effects of PTSD. The National Center for P...
Public access along the lower Yellowstone River is a rare commodity. However, a new committee convened by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and sponsored by Gov. Greg Gianforte is looking to improve access here and as a result protect fish and wildlife habitat and provide for more outdoor recreation opportunities. “The lower Yellowstone is a unique Montana treasure with some of our most important agriculture lands, thriving rural communities and amazing hunting and fishing opportunities,” said Gov. Gianforte. “We’re looking to engage a broad c...
Governor Greg Gianforte launched a website as part of the administration's new campaign to encourage Montanans, who have moved to other states, to come back home to Montana. "For too long, Montana's most valuable export has been our kids and grandkids," Gov. Gianforte said. "Our quality of life is second to none, and we're reminding former residents of what a great place Montana is to live, work, and raise a family. We're growing opportunities and creating an environment so more Montanans can...
Governor Greg Gianforte announced four commissions to provide recommendations for allocating federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. The commissions – focusing on infrastructure, communications, economic stabilization/workforce, and health care – are comprised of three members of the Montana Senate, three to four members of the Montana House of Representatives, and three appointees from the executive branch. The commissions, their purposes, and their members are: Infrastructure Advisory Commission: The Infrastructure Advisory Com...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) published the first notice of funding availability (NOFA) (PDF, 242 KB) announcing loan payments for eligible borrowers with qualifying direct farm loans under the American Rescue Plan Act Section 1005. The official NOFA will be published in the Federal Register early next week and USDA expects payments to begin in early June and continue on a rolling basis. A subsequent notice addressing guaranteed loan balances and direct loans that no longer have collateral and have been previously...
Gov. Gianforte signed House Bill 701 which implements Montana's adult-use recreational marijuana program and authorizes the Healing and Ending Addiction through Recovery and Treatment (HEART) Fund. The governor released the following statement on signing HB 701: "Since January, we've been focused on implementing the will of Montana voters in a safe, responsible, and appropriately regulated manner. House Bill 701 accomplishes this," Gov. Gianforte said. "From the start, I've been clear that we...
As the top Republican on the U.S. Senate Finance Subcommittee on Heath Care, Senator Steve Daines, on Wednesday, May 12th, led a hearing on improving mental health and addiction services in our communities, where he highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Montana. “May is Mental Health Awareness Month – an issue at the top of my mind and many others following a year of isolation for Montanans and Americans across the country,” Daines said. “Since the pandemic, lockdowns, economic hardships, and social isolation have only helped...
Governor Greg Gianforte signed a pro-consumer bill to bring transparency and accountability to pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) and help reduce the costs of prescription drugs. “A lack of transparency into PBMs’ practices has long contributed to the rising costs of prescription drugs,” Gov. Gianforte said. “By increasing oversight of the middlemen in the pharmaceutical supply chain, we’ll bring generic drugs to market faster, increase drug pricing transparency, and promote accountability. I thank Commissioner Downing for spearheading this effo...
At the May meeting of the Whitehall Town Council new town councilors Bill Lanes and Linda Jung were approved and seated. Lanes, who was mistakenly serving for the wrong ward, now serves in Ward 1 (replacing Logan Reiff) and Jung will serve Ward 2. Jason Crawford, engineer from Triple Tree Engineering, gave a report on the town’s upcoming water treatment facility, breaking the news to the Council that the Town Hall will not be a suitable match for the facility, as it is not large enough to house the entire system. The backup location since t...
Montana businesses are applauding Governor Gianforte’s recent “Return-to-Work Bonus” initiative. The plan is bold, innovative and a welcome bump to our economic recovery. Early last winter, the Montana Chamber Board, led by Chairman Paul Hopfauf of Montana-Dakota Utilities, a subsidiary of MDU Resources Group, Inc., met with Montana’s congressional delegation to express concerns about new labor challenges beginning to develop as businesses were navigating through the COVID-19 shutdowns. Recently, moderate concern has grown to a near crisis...
The Montana Department of Revenue reminds taxpayers that payment options are available for people unable to pay their 2020 Montana income taxes in full. Montana taxpayers can request a payment plan using the department’s TransAction Portal (TAP) at tap.dor.mt.gov or by calling the department’s Collections Bureau at (406) 444-6964 once their return has been filed and processed. “We understand that 2020 was a tough year for a lot of Montanans, and some of us may be facing a larger tax bill than we expected,” said Brendan Beatty, director of the...
Governor Greg Gianforte visited Missoula College to tout the state’s growing cybersecurity workforce through the college’s National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Two-Year Education. (CAE2Y) “Missoula College is nationally recognized for its cybersecurity program that is training Montana’s future cybersecurity leaders,” Gov. Gianforte said. “We’re focused on developing a talented cybersecurity workforce in the state to ensure Montanans’ personal information and data are safe, secure, and protected.” At the college, the governor...
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that agricultural producers in the Prairie Pothole states can now sign up for the Soil Health and Income Protection Program (SHIPP), which provides a short-term option to plant cover on less productive agricultural lands while improving soil health and carbon sequestration. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) made improvements to this pilot program available in South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota and Montana, and signup runs from today to July 16, 2021. “SHIPP is part of a suite of r...
Governor Greg Gianforte announced two measures to address the state’s severe workforce shortage and incentivize Montanans to reenter the labor force. The State of Montana will launch a return-to-work bonus program, utilizing federal funds authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act. Return-to-work bonuses will be paid to unemployed individuals who rejoin the labor force and accept and maintain steady employment for at least one month. The governor also announced the State of Montana will end its participation in federal pandemic-related u...
Montana Farmers Union appreciates the efforts of two state law makers whose work to amend HB 2, a budget bill, which will allow the state to explore more opportunities for meat processing as well as level the playing field for custom butchers. The two bills, sponsored by Rep. Brandon Ler and Sen. Ken Bogner, proposed significant changes to state and custom exempt meat inspection for sale of meats. The USDA threatened to refuse funding for meat inspection if these bills passed in their original form. Montana Farmers Union President Walter Schwei...
Montana will regain its second congressional seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to the 2020 Census state population count released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. The count reveals that Montana’s population grew from 989,415 people in 2010 to 1,085,407 people in 2020 – an increase of 95,992 residents over 2010, or nearly 10 percent. “Thanks to the efforts of Montanans across the state, the 2020 Census shows what we’ve known to be true – Montana is a great place to live, work, and raise a family,” Gov. Greg Gianforte s...
The Office of the Governor released the 2021 Montana Water and Supply Drought Outlook Report. According to data in the report, 42 percent of the state is classified as abnormally dry, with another 18 percent of the state in severe to extreme drought conditions. May and June are historically the two wettest months of the year in Montana. “Following an unusually mild winter, the conditions we see for the next eight to ten weeks are going to be critical as we head into growing season in Montana,” Gov. Gianforte said. “I am tasking state agenc...
