News in Helena
Union and governor’s office sign agreement to reduce state employees’ healthcare rate hike
Healthcare insurance costs for state employees will go up in January, though a bargaining agreement between the Montana Federation of Public Employees and the office of Gov. Greg Gianforte has mitigated some of the spikes that the Montana Department of Administration announced at…
Confusion and angst follow state’s early rollout of Medicaid work rules
Medicaid advocates worry that the expedited timeline in some states will lead to thousands of people losing coverage because they’re confused about the new rules, even if they are eligible for the program — and that Montana may offer a troubling preview of what will happen…
Justice of the peace candidates talk plans for office
PLUS: A bit of context for an internet expansion announcement.
A history runs through it: Zinke public lands bill follows long trail
Two decades of Wilderness debate took an unexpected turn on Sept. 9 when Montana Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke announced a bill creating 132,000 acres of new wilderness alongside 181,000 acres of forest restoration areas and 60,000 acres where motorized and bike recreation activity…
Supreme Court: Butte-Silver Bow data center initiative will miss November ballot
The Montana Supreme Court has vacated its own injunction, which temporarily allowed a proposed data center initiative to appear on the November ballot in Butte-Silver Bow County, less than 48 hours after issuing it. The justices said they would not have granted initiative…
State committee votes to replace Capitol’s iconic ‘Montana’ statue
A new statue will replace the state Capitol’s iconic copper “Montana” as part of an extensive renovation of the building’s exterior, according to state officials.
Cost of living leads Montana voter concerns in new poll
With a midterm election on the horizon, Montana voters say kitchen-table issues such as the cost of living and the economy will influence their ballot choices most, according to a Montana Free Press-Rutgers Eagleton Poll. Living expenses were identified by 80% of voters as very…
Supreme Court puts Butte’s data center initiative back on the ballot
General election voters in Butte-Silver Bow County may now consider a proposed ballot initiative that would require citizen approval of data center development, after the Montana Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling that prevented the initiative from appearing on the…
Meet the Flathead Valley judges squaring off for a state Supreme Court seat
11th District Court judges Amy Eddy and Dan Wilson are competing for the state Supreme Court in an unusual race between two judges from the same court. But more interesting than the commonality of the candidates’ current jobs is the politicized flavor of the nominally nonpartisan…
Most Montanans say state is on ‘wrong track,’ poll shows
Montanans aren’t confident about the direction of the state and generally disapprove of their top elected officials, according to a Montana Free Press-Rutgers Eagleton poll.
Brereton to leave helm of Montana state health department
After four years helming the state’s largest agency, Charlie Brereton is leaving the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services for a job in the private sector, the governor’s office has announced. He will be replaced by Dr. Doug Harrington, the department’s state…