Wildlife crossings and the ethics of waste
Posted inCoronavirus
UPDATED: Montana COVID FAQ
As Montana’s COVID stats and circumstances continue to develop, MTFP is rounding up expert answers to your latest COVID questions. Now including a new survey so you can tell us more about what you need to know.
Posted inEducation
State superintendent pitches revisions to teacher licensing
The Montana Board of Public Education got its first look Thursday at a host of changes to teacher licensing regulations proposed by Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. Among the revisions are a pitch for reciprocity for military spouses and a shift in which state agency oversees disputes about state licensing requirements.
Posted inPublic Service Commission
Federal judges skeptical of ‘wait until 2023’ argument in PSC redistricting case
A panel of federal judges assembled to hear a lawsuit challenging the districts used to elect Montana’s Public Service Commission indicated in a ruling Thursday that they’re hesitant to wait until 2023 to give the Montana Legislature a chance to update the districts for population change at its next regular session. Instead, the judges extended an earlier ruling preventing the Montana secretary of state from certifying candidates for the two districts up for election this fall while the lawsuit proceeds.
Posted inCoronavirus
Montana coronavirus report
The latest news and information on the coronavirus pandemic in Montana, including updated case count maps and original in-depth reporting.
Posted inTaxes
Lawsuit seeks halt on signature gathering for property tax cap initiative
The backers of a constitutional initiative that would cap property tax increases on Montana homeowners have been cleared by Montana’s secretary of state to start gathering the signatures they need to have the initiative placed on the 2022 ballot. But a lawsuit filed Thursday argues that efforts by Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen and Attorney General Austin Knudsen to review the initiative failed to meet the letter of a new law requiring that ballot initiatives be screened for their potential impact on Montana businesses.
Posted inIndian Country
Centering Native news
In Big Horn County, journalist Luella Brien has launched Four Points Press with the mission of “giving the voice back to the people of this region and getting the story right.”
Posted inCourts
U.S. Supreme Court greenlights vaccine mandate for health workers, blocks emergency rule for large businesses
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday blocked the government from enforcing a rule meant to boost COVID-19 vaccine rates for employees of large businesses, while allowing another Biden administration mandate for more than 10 million health care workers to go into effect while the cases proceed in lower courts.