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DEQ issues air quality alert for 12 counties; smoke to worsen Tuesday – Daily Montanan
Smoke from wildfires burning through bone dry forests and grasslands in the West covered the city of Helena, Montana on July 19, 2021 (Photo by Matt Volz | Kaiser Health News). The Montana Department of Environmental Quality issued Monday an air quality alert for 12 counties, and if you’re looking for clean air in the state, you’ll likely have to wait. “Unfortunately, there’s nothing in the forecast that’s indicating we’re going to get a big breath of fresh air,” said Kevin Stone of the DEQ.
Missoula opens 'transformational' $38M library – Daily Montanan
Roughly a decade ago, the Missoula Public Library Foundation’s Karl Olson made a passing remark to Honore Bray, the library director. At the time, it looked like the library’s plan to expand would not be possible in its existing building. “It just might be worth asking a few other organizations if they want to share that (new) footprint and then make it convenient for the community to have this one-stop cultural experience and resources,” Olson said.
Attorney General intervenes in NorthWestern Energy application – Daily Montanan
Attorney General Austin Knudsen. (Provided by the Montana Attorney General's Office for the Daily Montanan.) An uncommon party is intervening in NorthWestern Energy’s application to add power with the Laurel Generating Station and a couple of other contracts. In addition to the usual suspects, such as other companies working in the energy industry, conservation groups, and the Montana Consumer Counsel, the intervenors include the State of Montana through Attorney General Austin Knudsen.
Teacher shortage 'crisis' escalates – Daily Montanan
Montana is facing a worsening teacher shortage “crisis” even as education officials worry that a key support to students — mental health care through the Comprehensive School and Community Treatment program — remains in limbo. Beth Brenneman, with Disability Rights Montana, said parents of roughly 4,500 children who receive mental and behavioral health services in schools through CSCT don’t know if the program will continue, and she requested lawmakers give families assurances.
UPDATED: Two dead, hostage safe in incident that ended outside Glacier National Park – Daily Montanan
A view from the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park. Overall visitation dropped more than 50 percent in 2020 compared to 2019, according to a park spokesperson. But October hit an all time record. (Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan) The suspect in a Great Falls homicide and kidnapping is dead and an investigation is underway after the suspect fled Cascade County following police’s response early Thursday to a domestic disturbance, according to law enforcement officers.
Student athletes can profit from their brands, but details still scant – Daily Montanan
Fans fill the stands at the University of Montana Washington-Grizzly Stadium for a football game in September 2017. (Provided by Brockton Gnose for the Daily Montanan.) The door opened this month for student athletes at both of Montana’s flagship campuses to profit from their name, image and likeness, and with it a flood of questions. How much earning potential might students have?
Montana State volcanologist awarded $638K NSF grant – Daily Montanan
Myers, pictured here at Ijen, was awarded a $638,000 National Science Foundation grant. (Provided by Myers for the Daily Montanan.) Madison Myers, a Montana State University researcher who studies the Yellowstone volcanic system, has earned a 2021 CAREER grant of $638,000 from the National Science Foundation. “Yellowstone is unique because it doesn’t erupt very frequently, if at all,” said Myers, a volcanologist and assistant professor at MSU in Bozeman.
Missoula College's ASN nursing degree ranked No. 1 in Montana – Daily Montanan
BRIEF Students in the nursing program at Missoula College gain experience with starting IV's by practicing on each other or fake arms that simulate real arms. Here, instructor Linda Barnes feels for a vein in Hilena Roche's arm as Leone White looks on. Leone's goal is to become a nurse practioner whilee Hilena has her sights set on returning to Ethiopia to provide medical care to her community and her country.
The bison are back: Bison could appear in Glacier soon – Daily Montanan
A bison herd near Sun Prairie, Montana on the American Prairie Reserve. (Photography by Gib Meyers; courtesy of American Prairie Reserve) A herd of at least 75 or 85 bison may be released even within a year or so to land in the Chief Mountain area of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, with freedom to wander onto their native land, now Glacier National Park, according to the Buffalo Program of the Blackfeet Nation.
Students in limbo with mental health support in schools – Daily Montanan
(Provided by Pixabay via Pexels.com) Some parents of Montana students received a letter in the mail this month saying the mental health services their children receive in public schools were being suspended. Funding and services for students are on the line, and school officials are worried. To keep counseling going, they worry they’ll be left with holes in their budgets that total hundreds of thousands of dollars.
NorthWestern power bills will tick up – Daily Montanan
The next power bill residential customers will get from NorthWestern Energy will be up $2.28 on average with an interim adjustment the Montana Public Service Commission approved this week. The 2.54 percent bump took effect July 1 and represents an increase in energy market prices, the “base” power that NorthWestern pays, said spokesperson Jo Dee Black. Residential customers on average pay $89.69 a month, and they’ll pay $91.96 on average after the increase, according to NorthWestern.
NorthWestern ratepayers won't get $9.1M rebate – Daily Montanan
(Provided by Pok Rie and Pexels.com.) NorthWestern Energy’s residential customers aren’t going to get a $9.1 million rebate — despite an attempt by Montana Public Service Commissioner Tony O’Donnell to find a way to reimburse them “excess” payments in 2020. But the idea that the utility should return that money to ratepayers, $2.72 a month of an average $90.91 bill, was a “novel” one given the order that was in place, according to PSC staff attorney Zachary Rogala.
Vaccination rates vary among counties, but challenges are similar – Daily Montanan
A close-up picture of a nurse giving a vaccine to a patient (Photo illustration by AdobeStock) Garfield County counted the lowest coronavirus vaccination rate in Montana this week, with just 21 percent of the population fully vaccinated, according to data from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. Tied at second lowest, Powder River and McCone counties weren’t too far ahead at 23 percent. On the other end of combatting COVID-19?
Montana University System will not require vaccinations – Daily Montanan
Healthcare professional in protective gloves holding and organizing a tray of COVID-19 vaccine vials. (Getty Images) Students won’t be required to get a COVID-19 vaccine to study on one of the Montana University System campuses, but they can get a $10 gift card per shot from Town Pump if they do — or $20 for a Johnson & Johnson — said Helen Thigpen, with the Montana Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education.
CenturyLink customer, county commissioner: 'It's a mess in Wibaux' – Daily Montanan
Broadband illustration (Wikimedia Commons) Beth Hinebauch can’t always use her telephone in Wibaux if it rains. “If we get a sprinkle of rain, we start getting buzzing noises,” Hinebauch said. “If we have a nice rain, our phone might go completely out for days, and sometimes, the phone will start ringing randomly, usually at two o’clock in the morning.” At times, telephones will dial 9-1-1 on their own, with no emergency, CenturyLink customers said Tuesday to the Montana Public Service Commission.
Eastern, western Montana differ in reasons for not vaccinating – Daily Montanan
Children in Montana get vaccinated at a lower rate than those in the nation as a whole — just 62 percent of those in the Treasure State complete the recommended vaccination series compared to 71 percent nationally, according to the University of Montana. A new study from the Missoula flagship looks at why.
Bitterroot Valley Community College moves ahead, lawmakers push career, tech ed – Daily Montanan
Bitterroot College received approval by the Montana Legislature to form a community college district. (Provided by the Bitterroot College, UM.) For the first time in a few decades, a new community college in Montana cleared a major hurdle with the Legislature’s approval of the Bitterroot Valley Community College District in Ravalli County. In 2009, the Legislature opted against forming the district, but the Bitterroot College program formed, according to the college’s website. This year, Sen.
Osprey population recovered, but new threats emerge – Daily Montanan
The osprey population has increased significantly since the pesticide DDT was banned in the early 1970s. (Provided by NorthWestern Energy for the Daily Montanan.) NorthWestern Energy was in Augusta earlier this month putting up a nesting platform for ospreys following a fire this spring from a nest built on a power pole. “Traditionally, they look for dead trees, snags, with the tops broken off for a nesting place,” said Marco Restani, NorthWestern biologist, in a statement.
Glacier proposes telecommunications upgrades – Daily Montanan
Glacier National Park has a telecommunications plan out for comment with a July 11 deadline. Mainly, the plan proposes upgrades to existing technology. (Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan) Better internet and cell phone service may be coming to the busiest areas of Glacier National Park in the future, but the backcountry still should stay quiet, as the park proposed in a telecommunications plan out for public comment until July 11.
MSU: Dismiss lawsuit asking for reimbursement of tuition, fees – Daily Montanan
Montana State University is the flagship campus in Bozeman. (Photo provided by MSU.) Montana State University has filed a motion to dismiss the possible class action lawsuit that asks the school to reimburse tuition and fees for students after it shut down in-person classes during the COVID-19 pandemic but continued to charge full fare.
People's Power League takes on HB273 – Daily Montanan
Helena, Montana, United States, North America Carole Mackin plans to pound the pavement the next six months, as do other members of the People’s Power League, to collect signatures to get an initiative on the ballot to make sure voters can decide if a nuclear power plant gets built in Montana. For them, it’s deja vu all over again, having put Initiative 80, the Nuclear Vote Initiative of 1978, on the ballot four decades ago.
Montana Consumer Counsel, others: NorthWestern should provide more information – Daily Montanan
(Provided by Pok Rie and Pexels.com.) NorthWestern Energy needs to provide more information about the bids it rejected and their costs to customers before its application to build a power generation station can be evaluated, according to formal comments filed on the proposal pending with the Montana Public Service Commission.
Lawmaker: Public Service Commission an 'embarrassment' – Daily Montanan
Public Service Commission Chair James Brown, center, is joined by Commissioners Jennifer Fielder and Randy Pinocci at a Legislative Audit Committee hearing. (Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan) Describing the Montana Public Service Commission’s financials as an “embarrassment” to the state, members of the Legislative Audit Committee voted Monday to delay accepting an audit report until the agency can demonstrate progress on compliance.
Jacob Elder: 'I have been exonerated from the sexual assault allegation' – Daily Montanan
Jacob Elder, candidate for mayor in Missoula and student at the University of Montana law school, said an investigation cleared him of a sexual assault allegation. UM could not confirm or deny the statement, citing the investigation process.
Plowing snow (in June) -- the opening of Glacier National Park – Daily Montanan
Indian Paintbrush popped their red blooms along Going-to-the-Sun Road, the Weeping Wall cried buckets, and a bighorn sheep munched above a ravine on the way toward Logan Pass. Later in the season, columbine will join the wildflower chorus, and cars and motorcycles and RVs – and yes, more cars – will jockey to fill the parking lot high in Glacier National Park. Wednesday, though, the road crew, with help from avalanche experts, was still cutting away the last wall of snow along the Big Drift.
Judge temporarily enjoins HB102, sets hearing on injunction – Daily Montanan
Guns and laws (Photo illustration by Darrell Ehrlick of the Daily Montanan) Legislation passed this session significantly expanding permitless concealed carry of firearms won’t take effect on Montana University System campuses until further order from Lewis and Clark District Court. Friday, District Court Judge Michael McMahon granted a request from the Montana Board of Regents for a temporary restraining order over implementation of House Bill 102, the “campus carry” bill.
Audit of PSC finds 'Comfort class' airfare, 'falsified' receipt – Daily Montanan
Montana Public Service Commission (via PSC Twitter account). With a “comfort class” ticket and “falsified” receipt among the abuses, the Montana Public Service Commission needs to shore up its financial controls and its culture, according to a legislative audit from June 2018 to June 2020 —recommendations with which PSC Chairman James Brown agrees.
Board of Regents raises tuition, nixes ACT, SAT score requirements – Daily Montanan
Montana State University is the flagship campus in Bozeman. (Photo provided by MSU.) The Montana Board of Regents approved tuition increases across the Montana University System, albeit with questions from one member, and it also removed a requirement that students submit ACT or SAT scores for admission. The tuition increase for resident undergraduates will be 3 percent and start in the 2023 fiscal year.
NorthWestern proposes to build, run Laurel Generating Station – Daily Montanan
(Provided by Pok Rie and Pexels.com.) In a bid to increase its energy capacity, NorthWestern Energy has filed an application to build and operate a $250 million natural gas fired plant, the Laurel Generating Station, southeast of the utility’s substation in Laurel. If approved, a typical residential customer would see a monthly increase of $6.64, or 7.4 percent, on their power bill, or roughly another $80 a year, according to the utility’s submission to the Montana Public Service Commission.
NOAA: 'The West is still largely riddled with drought' – Daily Montanan
A double rainbow near Box Elder Creek (Photo by Dennis Lingohr. Courtesy of the American Prairie Reserve). Get outside and breathe that cool clean air while you can. Yes, Montanans saw a dump of snow and rain the last couple of days, but a drought is plaguing much of the West. Although a normal fire season is predicted for Montana, California again looks crispy.
KIDS COUNT: Child care critical to modern Montana economy – Daily Montanan
Last year, Montana counted one licensed child care slot for every three children under the age of 6. If looking at only children with all parents working, Montana meets the need of 48 percent of children who need care. Those are two statistics from the Montana KIDS COUNT report released Thursday from the Montana Budget and Policy Center, “Child Care is Critical to a Modern Economy.
Superintendent Arntzen recommends rescinding mask mandate for remainder of school year – Daily Montanan
Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen (Provided by the Office of Public Instruction) Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen recommended in a memo Wednesday that school districts rescind mask mandates not only for the upcoming academic year but for the remainder of the current school year.
Updated: Regents direct Commissioner to pursue HB102 legal challenge – Daily Montanan
Guns and laws (Photo illustration by Darrell Ehrlick of the Daily Montanan) After hearing an “unprecedented” amount of public comment, the Montana Board of Regents voted Wednesday to ask the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education to go to court over House Bill 102. The Board of Regents approved the resolution on a unanimous voice vote. A lawsuit will ask the courts to decide if the bill oversteps the Constitutional authority of the Regents to manage the Montana University System.
Lawsuit demanding partial refund of fees for MSU students moves toward class-action – Daily Montanan
Montana State University is the flagship campus in Bozeman. (Photo provided by MSU.) Anthony Cordero couldn’t go to the library last year at Montana State University in Bozeman, and he had to take his courses online. But Cordero, enrolled at MSU last spring, wasn’t offered a partial refund for the tuition and fees he paid when the flagship shut down in-person classes and activities after the pandemic hit.
Glacier announces Artist-in-Residence artists for 2021 – Daily Montanan
BRIEF Glacier National Park’s 2021 Artist-in-Residence program will host Brad Einstein, Kyle Niemer, and Imma Barrera, Glacier said Tuesday in a news release: Brad Einstein and Kyle Niemer (June 1 – June 29) Brad Einstein and Kyle Niemer are self-described “natural comedians.” Their work melds stunning visuals, unexpected humor, and the odd person in an animal costume to create nature documentaries that explore America’s wild wonders and the issues facing them.
Montana Board of Regents to consider lawsuit over HB102, guns on campus bill – Daily Montanan
Photo illustration by Getty Images. The Montana Board of Regents will meet Wednesday to take up a resolution to direct the Commissioner of Higher Education to file a lawsuit over House Bill 102, which allows guns on campus and seeks to limit the Board’s authority to oversee the Montana University System.
Snow plow crew nears Logan Pass – Daily Montanan
Snow plow driver clears winter's dump off the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park. The Park estimates the road will be open all the way through Logan Pass by July 1. (Provided by Glacier National Park for the Daily Montanan) A snow plow crew inching up the Going-to-the-Sun Road on Thursday was just a couple of miles away from Logan Pass, according to Glacier National Park.
Mayor candidate said he's under investigation for 'sexual assault,' being 'sexual predator' – Daily Montanan
Jacob Elder, candidate for mayor in Missoula, confirmed he is under investigation for "sexual assault" and for being a "sexual predator." Elder denies the claims. (By Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan) Jacob Elder, who filed to run for mayor of Missoula, said this month he is under investigation for “sexual assault” and a claim he is a “sexual predator,” and the inquiry could conclude as soon as this week. In a brief phone call last week, Elder said the claims were baseless.
Members of public push back against guns on campus in Montana – Daily Montanan
Photo illustration by Getty Images. Lindy Kolb, who has worked as a resident advisor at Montana State University, said she has faced belligerent students she is documenting for conduct violations. Kolb said she was deeply concerned about a draft board policy to implement a law that allows guns on campus, and she said it’s inevitable that a person will be harmed as a result. “Guns are tools, but so are hot plates, and we don’t allow those in the residence halls for safety reasons,” Kolb said.
Minority report: GOP conspired with Governor's Office to 'hack' judiciary records – Daily Montanan
Details of the domes and lights beneath the state capitol rotunda in Helena, Montana.
Woman dressed in 'The Handmaid's Tale' outfit walks Capitol – Daily Montanan
Chelsia Rice walked around the Montana Capitol on Thursday, possibly the last day of the 2021 session, to give women a voice. (Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan) When legislators tried to create a panel to review abortions paid for by Medicaid, Chelsia Rice decided she would put on “The Handmaid’s Tale” outfit she owns and head for the Capitol.
Western Native Voice will fight bill that limits ballot collection – Daily Montanan
Stacks of boxes holding cards and letters are seen at the U.S. Post Office sort center December 15, 2008 in San Francisco, California. On its busiest day of the year, the U.S. Postal Service is expecting to process and mail over one billion cards, letters and packages.
Committee tables controversial bill to help NorthWestern – Daily Montanan
One of the staircases leading to the legislative chambers of the state capitol in Helena, Montana. (Photo by Eric Seidle for the Daily Montanan) Rep. Derek Skees, R-Kalispell, said his caucus loves coal. Nonetheless, a House committee voted 11-1 on Wednesday to table a bill that purported to encourage coal-fired energy production at Colstrip. “Montana was built on coal. Many of us want to keep it,” Skees said. Rep.
Colstrip bill reminds many of energy deregulation 'debacle' – Daily Montanan
(Provided by Pok Rie and Pexels.com.) It’s no wonder that people talk about the 1997 energy deregulation debacle in Montana in the same breath as Senate Bill 379. This bill landed later in the session, just like the one more than 20 year ago pushed by then-Sen. Fred Thomas of Stevensville. Like that bill, it comes with a hope that Montana customers can keep flipping on their lights without worrying too much about the cost of electricity.
Montana power customer: 'Bill castrates PSC' – Daily Montanan
(Provided by Karolina Grabowska, Pexels.com.) St. Patrick Hospital isn’t the average NorthWestern Energy customer. The hospital pays a power bill of $1.5 million a year, and Senate Bill 379 will only push up that cost, according to a St. Pat’s physician and former legislator. “This added cost … has to come out of something,” said Greg Lind, division chief for surgery at the Missoula hospital; Lind said he was speaking for himself, not the hospital, in his testimony.
Energy consultant: Bill would make NorthWestern a more attractive purchase – Daily Montanan
(Provided by Pexels.com.) NorthWestern Energy would look like a pretty good company to buy. That’s one scenario that hasn’t been talked about much in relation to a bill that aims to help NorthWestern and its ownership of the coal fired plants in Colstrip, according to an energy industry consultant.
Poll results: Montanans support local health officers – Daily Montanan
Healthcare workers screen a patient for COVID-19 at a drive-through coronavirus testing site on March 18, 2020 in Arlington, Virginia. Arlington County and Virginia Hospital Center have opened a temporary drive-through coronavirus testing site for Arlington residents and county employees with a letter from a licensed health-care provider. The results for patients tested are estimated to be available in 5-7 days.
Montana campuses to get $38M for students with lower incomes – Daily Montanan
Montana State University is the flagship campus in Bozeman. (Photo provided by MSU.) The last time the Montana Legislature directed money to college students who need it most, it set aside $2 million, and the private foundations matched the amount for a $4 million total over the 2021 biennium.
Bill: Stop press from being 'slander machine' – Daily Montanan
The First Amendment of the United States Constitution (Wikimedia Commons, usage CC-SA 4.0) A bill to “stop the press from serving as a slander machine” passed Thursday in the Montana House Judiciary Committee with language and a title that are nearly boilerplate to legislation that’s cropped up in other states. Sponsored by Rep.
Clyde Coffee nearly shutters, will reopen in new space – Daily Montanan
Customers who wanted espresso drinks but didn’t want to wear masks yelled at Lily Anderson at Clyde Coffee during the pandemic. “One time, a man had to pull his wife out because she was screaming at us,” said Anderson, manager of the Missoula coffee shop. Clyde had to revamp its business when the pandemic hit. (Provided by Clyde Coffee) Anderson, trying to keep workers safe, got tough with them: “I would say, ‘Get out. We’re not going to serve you.
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