Weekly News Roundup

Week ending January 26, 2025

Speedy the Bison Leaves Lasting Legacy

Emergency Road Closure in Red Lodge

Red Lodge Police Department Investigations Result in Large Drug Haul

Red Lodge and Cooke City Receive $10.5 Million For Infrastructure Improvements

Tourism and Travel Reps Argue Property Tax Bill Would ‘Wreak Havoc’ on Montana Economy

Commentary: Is Greg Gianforte the Great Non-Communicator?

President Trump's first week of executive orders include several measures to cripple the Endangered Species Act from limiting energy development or other federal agency action. ESA protections for creatures like the bull trout can put habitat off limits for mining or oil and gas exploration, while the law's requirement for consultation among agencies regarding species recovery plans can delay or add costs to federal permits. Credit: Courtesy USFWS

Trump energy policy aims to unplug Endangered Species Act

Proposed fee on snowmobile rentals would fund trail maintenance

Montana American Indian Caucus Sets Legislative Agenda

Two bills seeking to roughly halve Montana’s wolf population pass out of committee

Audit report finds Ellsworth committed waste, abuse

Report: If Medicaid Expansion Ends, Be Prepared to Pay More for Private Insurance in Montana

Yellowstone County Chairman Offers MetraPark as Detention Facility for Immigration Crackdown

Gianforte-Backed Property Tax Measure Would Offer Homeowner Relief by Raising Taxes on Second Homes and Airbnbs

Trump pick for USDA secretary says she has ‘a lot to learn’ about bird flu

Montana Eyes $30M Revamp of Mental Health, Developmental Disability Facilities

Annual ‘Medicaid in Montana’ Report Shows Better Health, More Economic Growth

Rat Poison, Drain Cleaner and Diet Pepsi: Some Lawmakers Concerned About Lethal Injection Proposal

DEA Announces Three New Telemedicine Rules that Continue to Open Access to Telehealth Treatment while Protecting Patients

Long-Covid Patients Are Frustrated That Federal Research Hasn’t Found New Treatments

Committee considers repealing continuous ballot count provision

Montana Senator Introduces Bill to Prevent Human Trafficking

Co-Sponsor Will No Longer Support Bill to Redirect Lodging Taxes to Homeowners

Cascade County Judge Says Legislative ‘Junque’ Files are Public Records and Must Be Open

Can the United States Take Back the Panama Canal?

U.S. Senators Tim Sheehy, Martin Heinrich Introduce Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act

U.S. Supreme Court declines to review two Montana voting laws

Supreme Court Orders Montana DPHHS to Turn Over Case Files to State Representative

Trump Issues Pardons for 1,500 Defendants Charged in January 6 Attack on U.S. Capitol

Ellsworth Says Contract Questions are ‘Manufactured Controversy,’ But Moves to Cancel $170K Award

Trump Orders Withdrawal From Paris Climate Agreement, Erases Actions On LGBTQ+ Equality

Major GOP-led immigration measure passed by U.S. Senate, heads to House

Montana House Approves Bills Aimed at Supporting Children and Families

Trump Officials Outline Planned Immigration Crackdown

Commentary: Montana's Delegation Enthusiastically Welcomes Our New President, Others Are Less Enthusiastic

98th Annual DNRC State Nursery Seedling Sale Open for Orders

House wren (photo by Denise Rivette)

Mark Your Calendar: 'Wings and Things' Comes to Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary February 22

Sunset over Butte, Montana on January 23, 2025 photo by Denise Rivette