Montana News & Current Events | Public News Service

Rachel Winn, right, says her new van should be handicap accessible for her son by November. (Rural Dynamics)

Monday, September 20, 2021

Program Helps Montanans with Disabilities Afford Assistive Tech

HELENA, Mont. - It can be hard for people with disabilities to afford the assistive technology they need to perform daily activities. A program in …

Solar jobs could be an avenue for Montana workers in coal-dependent sectors. (anatoliy_gleb/Adobe Stock)

Upcoming Summit Explores Clean Future for MT Energy

HELENA, Mont. - An event coming up soon looks at the prospects for clean energy in Montana. The Energy Future Summit will be held virtually Oct. 1…

The oil and gas industry has more than 800 approved permits to drill in Montana, according to Wild Montana. (kat7213/Adobe Stock)

Calls for Reform as Oil, Gas Leasing on Public Lands Resumes

HELENA, Mont. -- Conservation groups in Montana are calling on the federal government to overhaul oil and gas leasing on public lands. President Joe …

Sen. Jon Tester helped craft an infrastructure package that won over 69 senators in August. (Carlos M. Vazquez II/Department of Defense)

Montanans Visit Tester's Offices to Urge Support for Climate Policies

HELENA, Mont. -- Montanans are delivering a message to the offices of Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., across the state today: Support bold investments in …

Since Native Americans protested the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2016, multiple states have passed laws restricting protests. (Hrag Vartanian/Adobe Stock)

Anti-Protest Laws Could Jeopardize Native American Religious Rights

HELENA, Mont. - State legislatures across the country have passed laws criminalizing an essential part of civic participation in a democracy - …

Preparing for a doctor's visit is an important part of ensuring children feel comfortable there when they arrive. (Jaren Wicklund/Adobe Stock)

Guide Helps Kids of All Abilities Make Choices in Doctor's Office

MISSOULA, Mont. -- A doctor's office can be an intimidating place for children. A new guide from Montana can help kids of any ability advocate for …

A recent poll finds 68% of Montanans have struggled to pay a medical bill, even while they had health insurance. (Valeri Luzina/Adobe Stock)

Poll: Montanans Eager to See Health-Care Costs Go Down

HELENA, Mont. - As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, Montanans are thinking about the quality of their health care, according to new research. A poll …

The Senate's infrastructure bill was passed 69-30, but split Montana's senators. (Christopher Boswell/Adobe Stock)

MT Conservationists Hail Congress' Moves on Climate, Infrastructure

MISSOULA, Mont. -- Montana conservationists are praising a bipartisan infrastructure bill passed in the Senate as key for addressing the changing …

Native Americans living on reservations sometimes have to drive hours to get to a polling location. (Nathaniel Gonzales/Adobe Stock)

Bill in Congress Could Reshape Native American Voting Access

HELENA Mont. - A measure introduced in Congress could lower barriers to voting for Native Americans across the country. The Native American Voting …

Protecting chickens from bears is one of the top reasons people have used the Electric Fence Incentive Program. (Russ Talmo)

Electric Fencing Incentive Program Provides Bear-Prevention Tool

MISSOULA, Mont. -- Got a grizzly problem? A Defenders of Wildlife program is helping folks deter bears from their property, by reimbursing …

Montana allows voters to track their ballots online. (The Toidi/Adobe Stock)

High Marks for MT Vote-By-Mail, Early Voting – Obstacles Remain

HELENA, Mont. - Montana earns points in a new report for providing access to early voting and vote-by-mail, but the achievements come with a major …

Pronghorn populations migrate more than 200 miles between Montana and Canada. (Sue Smith/Adobe Stock)

Fence Mapping Project Helps Wildlife Move Across West

MISSOULA, Mont. - Wildlife is being fenced in across the West, and researchers are now mapping these lines to understand how they affect animals…

Families with children under age 6 could get up to $3,600 through the federal Child Tax Credit this year. (tomertu/Adobe Stock)

Child Tax Credit Lifts MT Families Out of Poverty, Backers Say

MISSOULA, Mont. - More than 200,000 Montana families are seeing extra money in their bank accounts because of the extended federal Child Tax Credit…

Montana and 14 other states use an independent commission to draw legislative districts. (Natalia Bratslavsky/Adobe Stock)

MT Prepares to Draw Regained House Seat

HELENA, Mont. -- With detailed census data being released this month, the work to draw Montana's new congressional district will begin in earnest …

There are more than 58 million acres of farm and ranch land in Montana. (Annika Charter-Williams)

August Challenge for Montanans: Eat Local Every Day

BILLINGS, Mont. - Montanans are being challenged this month to eat locally grown foods, every day of August. The Northern Plains Resource Council is …

The Blackfeet Reservation is one of seven tribal reservations in Montana. (Kushnirov Avraham/Adobe Stock)

DIY Estate Planning Essential for MT Tribal Members

HELENA, Mont. - COVID-19 is underscoring the importance of ensuring that people's estates are in order, but estate planning can be be tricky for …

Identifying such health factors as autism spectrum disorder or cerebral palsy at a young age can help kids when they start school. (StaCheck Photography/Adobe Stock)

MT Effort Helps Identify Developmental Delays Before Kids Start School

HELENA, Mont. - A Montana campaign is renewing its efforts to help identify developmental delays in young children. The Centers for Disease Control …

About 39 miles of the Gallatin River would be designated Wild and Scenic under legislation in Congress. (Matt/Adobe Stock)

Diverse Coalition Backs Legislation to Protect MT Rivers

HELENA, Mont. -- A wide range of groups are supporting an effort to protect cherished rivers in Montana. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., has introduced …

There are more than 1,100 wolves in Montana, according to recent state estimates. (gatito33/Adobe Stock)

Film on Indigenous People's Connection to Wolf Calls for Endangered Listing

HELENA, Mont. - With the gray wolf imperiled across the country, a new film explores the cultural connection between indigenous people and wolves…

There are about 50,000 college students in Montana. (Jitze Couperus/Flickr)

How MT's New Student ID Voting Law Could Affect Turnout

HELENA, Mont. -- Voting-rights groups are concerned a new Montana law could depress student turnout in elections. This session, state lawmakers …

Loosened COVID-19 restrictions could draw more people to events over the July 4th weekend.(Maridav/Adobe Stock)

As July 4th Approaches, Far-Right Appeal to Veterans Raises Concerns

HELENA, Mont. -- Far-right groups could be active over the Independence Day weekend, prompting the Department of Homeland Security to release a …

The Bureau of Land Management is responsible for managing 8 million acres of land in Montana. (Bob Wick/BLM)

Varied Group of Backers Urge Stone-Manning's Approval to Head BLM

HELENA, Mont. - A diverse group of supporters is speaking up for Tracy Stone-Manning as the process to nominate her for director of the U.S. Bureau …

Independent cattle ranchers feel the squeeze from large meatpacking companies such as JBS. (Gerwin Schadl/Adobe Stock)

Cyberattack Offers Chance for Reform in Meat Industry

HELENA, Mont. -- Ranchers see opportunities for reform in the wake of a cyberattack on the world's largest meatpacking company. JBS controls nearly …

About 52,000 children were living in households with high housing cost burdens in 2019. (melissadoar/Adobe Stock)

Discouraging Trends for MT Children Leading into Pandemic, Data Shows

HELENA, Mont. -- Troubling trends in Montana may have made the pandemic harder for children, a new report shows. The latest Annie E. Casey's KIDS …

A study compared the number of women in municipal office and in the state Legislature in Montana. (mandritoiu/Adobe Stock)

Study: MT Women Better Represented at Local Level Than in Most States

HELENA, Mont. -- A new study found Montana ranks high for the percentage of women office holders. Women are steadily becoming more prominent in …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know "a little bit" or "nothing at all" about Juneteenth, the date that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. (DoDEA.edu)

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

HELENA, Mont. -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by both …

Students now have to show a second form of identification if they use their student ID to register to vote in Montana. (Jos/Adobe Stock)

Students Targeted by MT Legislation This Session

HELENA, Mont. - Montana students were the subject of multiple pieces of legislation during this year's session. Amara Reese-Hansell, program …

Wild Montana's Executive Director Ben Gabriel announced the organization's new approach at an event in Helena. (Wild Montana)

Name Change Refocuses MT Org on Wild Places of All Kinds

HELENA, Mont. -- One of the country's oldest grassroots conservation groups is changing its name, and also broadening its mission. The Montana …

Advocates point to three bills passed by Montana lawmakers that will have a negative impact on trans community members. (USDA NRCS Montana/Flickr)

MT Legislative Session's Emotional Toll on Trans Community

HELENA, Mont. -- The transgender community faced an unprecedented number of attacks from the Montana Legislature this session, advocates said…

Cutting off federally enhanced unemployment benefits will affect more than 30,000 Montana workers, according to the Century Foundation. (skrotov/Adobe Stock)

MT Sets Off Wave of States Ending Fed Unemployment Benefits

HELENA, Mont. - Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte's announcement in early May that the state would stop paying the higher, pandemic-related federal …

Conservation groups call a bill securing funding for public lands from the recreational marijuana program a victory for the 2021 legislative session. (Frank Jr/Adode Stock)

Report Grades MT Lawmakers on Conservation, Energy Votes

HELENA, Mont. - Conservation and clean-energy advocates found themselves playing defense on many occasions during Montana's 2021 legislative session…

C-PACE financing can be used to install renewable energy sources like solar panels on commercial buildings. (anatoliy_gleb/Adobe Stock)

MT Program Makes Building Efficiency Upgrades Affordable

HELENA, Mont. -- Montana lawmakers passed a measure this year which will make it easier for commercial building owners to upgrade aging …

The Court Help Connect program in 11 locations across Montana helps folks fill out legal documents. (BillionPhotos.com/Adobe Stock)

Program Brings Civil Legal Help to Rural Montanans

HELENA, Mont. -- Legal documents can be hard to parse, and for rural Montanans, and it also can be hard to find help filling out those documents…

The Bureau of Land Management oversees 245 million acres of land, including eight million in Montana. (Bob Wick/BLM)

Conservation Groups Applaud Montanan Picked to Head BLM

HELENA, Mont. -- Conservationists are praising President Joe Biden's selection to head the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Tracy Stone-Manning …

A law allowing concealed carry of firearms on Montana colleges and universities is set to go into effect on June 1. (jonbilous/Adobe Stock)

MT University System Holds Hearing on Concealed Carry on Campuses

HELENA, Mont. -- Montanans have a chance to weigh in on firearms on college campuses at a listening session today. Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a …

Groups want to honor the native people of Montana by renaming three geographic features. (Djembayz/Wikimedia Commons)

Petition Proposes Change for MT Sites Named after Confederate Leader

HELENA, Mont. -- Groups in Montana are petitioning to change the names of three geographic features that now bear the name of Jefferson Davis…

Montana is one of six states that gained a seat in Congress based on 2020 Census data. (iQoncept/Adobe Stock)

Critics: MT Lawmakers Inserting Themselves in Redistricting

HELENA, Mont. -- After hearing Montana would be regaining a congressional seat, Republican lawmakers added language to a voting bill outlining …

People who advocate for more electric vehicles on roadways are concerned that the prospect of higher registration fees in Montana could dissuade people from buying them. (Artinun/Adobe Stock)

Electric Vehicle Fees Jump Under MT Measure

HELENA, Mont. -- Legislation in Montana that will create some of the highest registration fees for electric vehicles in the nation awaits Gov…

The Swan River National Wildlife Refuge is located in northwestern Montana. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Wikimedia Commons)

Fed Grant to Help MT Refuge Restore Wetlands, Bird Habitat

KALISPELL, Mont. -- A Montana wetland restoration project is among the recipients of a federal grant to preserve migratory bird habitats. The U.S…

Wheelchair-accessible vehicles often are prohibitively expensive for the people who need them. (Harvey Keim)

Loan Program Helps Montanans with Disabilities Afford Assistive Tech

HELENA, Mont. - People with disabilities face a number of barriers to getting the equipment they need in daily life. A program in Montana is helping …

Outdoor recreation is the second-biggest economic driver in Montana. (melissadoar/Adobe Stock)

Conservation Advocates: Water-Quality Bill Could Sink MT Waterways

HELENA, Mont. -- Montana lawmakers have passed a measure to change how water quality is measured in the state. Supporters said it will reduce red …

Critics are concerned a bill allowing NorthWestern Energy to buy more Colstrip energy could pass on costs of more than $700 to each ratepayer annually. (Rachel Cernansky/Flickr)

MT Poll: Kill NorthWestern Bid to Buy More Coal-Fired Power

HELENA, Mont. - Most Montanans are opposed to a bill that would allow NorthWestern Energy to buy greater shares in units at the Colstrip power plant…

Elizabeth Cummings shared her experiences with her son, who has autism and a genetic disorder, through Montana Voices Amplified. (Wisam Raheem/Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities)

MT Organization Amplifies Voices of Disability Communities

HELENA, Mont. -- A project in Montana is raising up the experiences of people with disabilities and their families. Montana Voices Amplified …

Virtual aids like Zoom have become more common tools for attorneys, allowing them to meet remotely with clients during the COVID-19 pandemic. (NicoElNino/Adobe Stock)

Project Gets Affordable Legal Aid to Rural Montanans

HELENA, Mont. - A Montana program is reaching rural residents who struggle to afford legal representation when they need it. The Rural Incubator …

More than a quarter of Montana adults have at least one disability. (rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

MT Voting-Access Bills Create Barriers for People with Disabilities

HELENA, Mont. -- Advocates said some bills in Montana will make it harder for people with disabilities to vote. Election integrity and security have …

Montana and other state legislatures have introduced a record number of bills restricting rights for trans people. (Tracy/Flickr)

MT Lawmakers Focus on Restricting Trans, Reproductive Rights

HELENA, Mont. -- Conservative social issues are a top priority in Montana's legislative session this year, but opponents are pushing back. A slate …

Republicans made big gains in the Montana Legislature in the 2020 election. (pabrady63/Adobe Stock)

Unproven Election Fraud Claims Propel MT Voting-Restriction Bills

HELENA, Mont. -- Critics are pushing back on measures in Montana they say would restrict voting access. Bills introduced this session would end …

An initiative legalizing recreational marijuana in Montana directed nearly half of the tax revenue collected to public lands. (Galyna Andrushko/Adobe Stock)

For Public-Lands Funding, Draft Marijuana Bill is 'Starting Point'

HELENA, Mont. - A draft bill for Montana's recreational cannabis program is out. Conservation and outdoors advocates are hoping to secure more funds …

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PNS Daily Newscast - September 21, 2021

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