The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
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A broad assortment of industry groups, conservation nonprofits, ranching families and hunting and fishing access advocates on Tuesday testified in opposition to a bill that would impose term limits on many conservation easements acquired with state funding. If passed, Senate Bill 357 would put a 40-year term limit on many conservation easements purchased with state funding by agencies such as Montana, Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The measure includes exceptions for easements that are smaller than 1,500 acres or purchased with fo...
Republicans' number one goal this legislative session has been to provide financial relief to Montanans struggling with Joe Biden's inflation and the high cost of living. An early, priority package of eight pieces of legislation is aimed at delivering on that mission. Together, these bills combine to immediately put money in Montanans' pockets, provide long-term tax relief, and reduce taxpayer obligations into the future. House Bills 192 and 222 return over $700 million of...
Apparently, somebody won something last week, because MEIC and other anti-coal groups are claiming a VICTORY! On Friday February 10, 2023, Donald W. Molloy, US District Court Judge, Missoula, ordered that mining cease at Bull Mountains Underground Mine (north of Billings) in the 5 sections of federal coal that have been leased since 2012, until a new environmental report is written (20 months). This is not a new or future mining area. This "expansion" area has had all the...
This coming February 22nd - 24th, Drum Brothers will be returning to Lincoln, Montana. Sponsored by the Lincoln Council for the Arts, the group will be presenting 2-day school residency in the Lincoln School and they'll be offering a Community Concert and Hand-Drumming Workshop for the general public. Their last visit to the community was in 2018. Point of Interest: Since 2021, Drum Brothers have been featuring the next generation of family performers, Matthew and Tracy's sons...
HELENA – Gov. Greg Gianforte made it clear in his second State of the State address that Montana's 68th Legislature should focus on giving families the ability to be more involved in the decisions that affect their child's education. "Too often throughout our country, we've seen education bureaucrats fighting to keep parents out of their kid's education. Let's be clear – government should never stand between parents and their kid's education," Gianforte said. "Every par...
A slate of bills advanced by a prominent Republican lawmaker would try to lower Montana property taxes by requiring revotes on some local tax levies while also raising the approval margins required to pass levies and bond measures in low-turnout local elections. Senate Taxation Committee Chair Sen. Greg Hertz, R-Polson, said at a Wednesday hearing before his committee that he believes rising property taxes are the "No. 1 concern" for many Montana residents and voters. Hertz...
HELENA – Scammers are continuing their attempts to obtain personal information from unsuspecting Montanans over the phone by claiming to be law enforcement officials, Attorney General Austin Knudsen warned today. The fraudsters are disguising their phone number, so on caller ID, it appears the number is coming from a legitimate local number, which is also referred to as "spoofing." Attorney General Knudsen also reminded Montanans that law enforcement and court officials w...
HELENA – Hunting regulation booklets for deer/elk/antelope, moose/sheep/goat and light goose are now available on Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' website at fwp.mt.gov/hunt/regulations. Hard copies of the deer/elk/antelope booklets are also available at FWP offices; hard copies of other regulations will be available soon. Hunters can reference the regulations booklets as they prepare for the new license year, which begins March 1. Hunters will notice that the booklets for d...
Bella Nyman has struggled with her mental health since age 7, when she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and anxiety. Nyman said she was afraid to tell her parents she had thoughts of suicide. Looking back, a mental health screening might have helped her to stop hiding her struggles from adults and peers, she said. "Hard things don't get better if we don't talk about them," Nyman said. Today, Nyman works with the Rural Behavioral Health Institute, a Livingston,...
Lawmakers Table Bill That Would Have Added Additional Penalties to First-Time DUI Offenses The House Judiciary Committee on Friday tabled a bill that would have increased minimum penalties for first-time driving under the influence offenses to four days in jail and a minimum fine of $1,000. Current Montana law penalizes an individual's first DUI with a minimum of 24 hours in jail and a minimum fine of $600. "This bill addresses concerns I have with people dying on our roads...
