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Tuesday, April 29, 2025

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Trump marks first 100 days in office in campaign mode, focused on grudges and grievances; Maine's Rep. Pingree focuses on farm resilience as USDA cuts funding; AZ protesters plan May Day rally against Trump administration; Proposed Medicaid cuts could threaten GA families' health, stability.

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Trump marks first 100 days of his second term. GOP leaders praise the administration's immigration agenda, and small businesses worry about the impacts of tariffs as 90-day pause ends.

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Migration to rural America increased for the fourth year, technological gaps handicap rural hospitals and erode patient care, and doctors are needed to keep the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians healthy and align with spiritual principles.

Montana

Montana lawmakers discussed a bill which would have legalized cigar smoking in designated rooms in bars, despite a 2006 declaration by the U.S. Surgeon General there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke. (Marco Mayer/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Indoor cigar smoking bill, unpopular with voters, fails in Montana House

A bill to legalize cigar smoking in designated Montana barrooms has failed a third reading in the state House. Similar legislation is introduced most …

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Around 85% of first responders in the United States report experiencing symptoms related to mental health. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 28, 2025

Montana bill could cover PTSD treatment for first responders

A bill headed to the Montana governor's desk would qualify post-traumatic stress disorder under workers' compensation for the state's first responders…

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Western Watersheds Project Executive Director Erik Molvar says a permitting change announced by the U.S. Department of the Interior this week will mean ">
Feds unveil 'emergency permitting' for energy projects in MT, U.S.

This week, the Trump administration announced what it terms "emergency permitting" for energy projects, streamlining a sometimes yearslong process …

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In some parts of Montana's Big Hole River, levels of phosphorus and nitrogen are at two or three times healthy thresholds, according to data from area conservation groups. (Tracy/Adobe Stock)
Montana DEQ denies Big Hole River decision, cites law opposed by EPA

Montana officials have denied a petition asking the state to designate the Big Hole River as "impaired" by pollution. Two conservation groups …

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According to a report from the Montana Nonprofit Association, local governments are among many recipients of federal funding in the state. They receive about $361.3 million annually in federal contracts, grants, loans and direct payments. (Adobe Stock)
Federal funding cuts could hit Montana harder than other states, says report

A new report showed Montana receives a larger share of federal funding than the national average and the effects of continued cuts could be "dramatic.…

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The Empire Builder currently provides rail passenger service through Montana's Hi-Line, paralleling U.S. Highway 2 through the northern part of the state. The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority hopes to expand service through eastern and southern Montana. (Adobe Stock)
Passenger rail funding bill narrowly fails Montana Senate vote

Communities in southern and eastern Montana were connected to passenger rail lines running from Chicago to Seattle until 1979. An effort to fund the …

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Among those who voted down Montana House Bill 838, which would have state Supreme Court candidates to identify a political party while running, were Rep. Marta Bertoglio, R-Clancy; Rep. Sherry Essmann, R-Billings; and Valerie Moore, R-Plentywood. (Adobe Stock)
Push to make Montana judicial elections partisan fails

A handful of Montana bills pushing for partisan judicial elections as part of a broader movement in the state were defeated this month. Montana law …

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Following a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 'Department of Education v. California,' the future of federal Fair Housing grants now sits with a Massachusetts district court. (Adobe Stock)
District court to determine future of MT fair-housing grants

Since February, 66 fair-housing groups across the country have been in limbo while their federal grants were cut, temporarily restored, then tied in …

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Of the nearly half million mining claims on federal public lands across the U.S., more than 120,000 are within 30 miles of a national park or monument. (Billy Clay Myers/Adobe Stock)
Mining claim map shows encroachment on national parks, monuments

The number of mining claims on U.S. public lands is growing. A 27% increase since 2019 has brought the total to nearly a half-million. A new study …

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According to a report from the LOR Foundation, roughly 111 media outlets are producing news in Montana. (Adobe Stock)
Montana map of news shows rural regions lose

By Ilana Newman for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for Big Sky Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collaborati…

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Online datasets already archived include FEMA's Future Risk Index and the U.S. Department of Energy's Local Investments Map. (Adobe Stock)
Groups race to archive federal environmental data before it disappears

As U.S. government website purging continues, the Open Environmental Data Project is one of several groups working to preserve public access to …

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Among Montana workers' compensation cases, those in the construction industry are the most costly, according to the Montana Department of Labor and Industry. (Andrey Popov/Adobe Stock)
Montana workers oppose bill to change compensation laws

CORRECTION: Niki Zupanic is a lobbyist for the Montana Trial Lawyers Association. Her title in an earlier version of the story was incorrect…

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