Daily News Roundup
February 13, 2024
Watch Out For Slick Commute Tommorrow
Montana Independent News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Missed Opportunity: How and Why Mexican Drug Cartels Have Come to Montana
By Denise Rivette The article below first appeared two days ago in the Daily News Roundup but was only read by 13 people. You can skip what I wrote, but if you do not understand how and why there are so many street drugs in Montana and how the Sinaloa and the Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) cartels are operating in our state, please read
Daines and Tester Urge USPS to Continue Service in Missoula
By Denise Rivette U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester have sent letters to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy urging the United States Postal Service (USPS) to maintain current operations in Missoula to protect jobs and improve mail service in the community. The Postmaster General is currently considering the relocation of Missoula’s Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC) to Spokane, Washington.
Montana Senators Split Vote on Aid Bill
By Denise Rivette The Senate convened at 12:00 p.m. on February 12 and adjourned on February 13 at 7:16 a.m. After over 19 hours of deliberation the bill passed with a vote of 70-29 with Montana’s U.S. senators splitting their votes. Senator Jon Tester voted for the bill while Senator Steve Daines voted against. The bill includes $95.3 billion in military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
Applications Open for Veteran Suicide Prevention Grant
By Denise Rivette The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is now accepting applications for the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program for fiscal year 2025. This first-of-its-kind grant program was created under the Senator Jon Tester’s bi-partisan landmark
In Fight Over Medicare Payments, the Hospital Lobby Shows Its Strength
By Phil Galewitz and Colleen DeGuzman for KFF Health News In the battle to control health care costs, hospitals are deploying their political power to protect their bottom lines. The point of contention: For decades, Medicare has paid hospitals — including hospital-owned physician practices that may not be physically located in a hospital building — about double the rates it pays other doctors and facilities for the same services, such as mammograms, colonoscopies, and blood tests.