skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Biden says Israel and Lebanon agree to proposal to end conflict with Hezbollah; New survey shows a shift toward 'Indigenous' over 'American Indian;' Tribal leaders call syphilis outbreak public health emergency; Northwest AR development leads to housing crisis for educators.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Israel and Hezbollah agree to a ceasefire in Lebanon. The Trump-Vance transition team finally signs ethics agreements, and a political expert talks about possibilities for the lame-duck session of Congress.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The health of rural Americans is getting renewed attention from the CDC, updated data could help protect folks from flash floods like those devastated in Appalachia, and Native American Tribes want to play a key role in the nation's energy future.

Up In Smoke? MT Bill Would Strip Conservation Program of Cannabis $$$

play audio
Play

Tuesday, February 14, 2023   

Montana lawmakers are reconsidering how cannabis revenue is distributed for a conservation program in the state. A bill in Helena could deprive the Habitat Montana program of more than $30-million in projected cannabis tax revenue. The 2020 initiative legalizing cannabis for recreational use set aside tax revenue for conservation on state public lands through programs such as Habitat Montana, which opens up access to public lands.

Kathy Hadley, a hunter and board member of the Montana Wildlife Federation, called on lawmakers to keep voters in mind.

"That ballot initiative was passed by the voters and it seems like the legislators who are sponsoring this bill are ignoring the will of the voters," she said.

Lawmakers sponsoring the bill are following Governor Greg Gianforte's lead. He wants cannabis revenue to be used to serve veterans, strengthen treatment services and boost law enforcement. A hearing for the bill is scheduled for Thursday at 3pm.

Frank Szollosi, head of the Montana Wildlife Federation, said the state is working with a historic $2-billion surplus.

"With the big surplus that the governor and the Legislature are dealing with, we can support veterans and rural landowners and timber companies without raiding Habitat Montana," Szollosi said.

He added the state recently used Habitat Montana funds to improve public access to nearly 100,000 acres in the Big Snowy Mountains.

Hadley said the program has become increasingly important as more people come to Montana and land values increase, and added that is putting more pressure on public and private lands.

"If we have Habitat Montana, that helps alleviate some of the pressure by providing more access to public lands and more opportunities for hunting on private lands - at the same time, helping agriculture producers stay on their land," Hadley said.

Disclosure: Montana Wildlife Federation contributes to our fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Endangered Species & Wildlife, Environment, Public Lands/Wilderness. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
The NAACP, Human Rights Watch, the ACLU and other groups are voicing opposition to the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

A bill introduced in Congress is facing backlash from nonprofit organizations, warning it could stifle free speech. The Stop Terror-Financing and …


play sound

The latest round of Workforce Ready Grants means $42 million is being divided among 62 projects aiming to foster Oregon's diverse workforce in the fie…

Health and Wellness

play sound

By Kate Ruder for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Service…


On the day after the Nov. 5th election, Planned Parenthood health centers nationwide reported a 1200% increase in scheduled vasectomy appointments and a 350% increase in birth control implant appointments. (Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Health clinics in New England and elsewhere are coping with a sharp uptick in requests for long-acting contraceptives in the wake of the election…

Social Issues

play sound

November is National Family Caregivers Month and AARP Wyoming is working to meet rising demand for caregiver resources. About 58,000 Wyomingites …

The USDA is investing more than $3 billion in about 140 pilot projects for "climate smart" farming initiatives. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Shanteya Hudson for Alabama News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaborat…

Social Issues

play sound

Georgia higher education officials are crediting a program assisting high school students with a wave of new enrollment in the state's colleges and un…

Social Issues

play sound

By Amy Felegy for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for Greater Dakota News Service reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Servic…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021