Weekly News Roundup
For week ending May 26, 2024
By Denise Rivette
Warm Weather with Possible Small Stream and River Flooding Next Week
The Billings office of the National Weather Service just announced it is expecting warm weather will move into the area next week, resulting in snow melt which could cause flooding of waterways. Keep an eye on children and animals. Be aware of your surroundings and let others know your travel and recreational plans if they involve being around waterways.
2024 Primary Candidates Answer Questions
By Denise Rivette Below are links to candidates answers for each statewide race on the primary ballot. A survey with four questions was sent by Montana Independent News to each candidate on May 17 with follow-up emails and phone calls. The only race with no responses was for Attorney General. There were two races with only one response: Governor and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
ELKS CANDIDATE FORUM RESCHEDULED TO MAY 30 DUE TO WEATHER
By Denise Rivette Due to an unexpectedly large snow event, the Elks Carbon County Candidate Forum has been rescheduled and will be held next Thursday, May 30, at the Elks Lodge in Red Lodge. Brad Barker and Lisa Bennett were expected to attend this evening and the hope is that they will be able to attend next week. An update on who will be attending and debating is forthcoming.
POSTPONED UNTIL JUNE 8: Bear Awareness Day at Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary - Special Demonstration at 11:00 a.m.
By Denise Rivette Itโs bear season! Do you know where your bear spray is? Do you know how and when to use it? Do you remember the physical and behavioral differences between black bears and grizzlies? On Saturday, June 8, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM., Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary (YWS) in partnership with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) is observing Bear Awareness Day as they do every year by providing an enjoyable day with the animals while providing education through a variety of optional activities that are included with the price of admission.
The Duties of American Citizenship 1883
Forward by Denise Rivette Below are excerpts from a speech by Theodore Roosevelt delivered in Buffalo, NY on January 26, 1883 as presented on the National Park Service website. At the point in his life that this speech was given, Roosevelt was a 24 year old Republican New York State Assemblyman, representing the 21st district. According to the
Prepare for the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer
Department of Justice Press Release HELENA โ Attorney General Austin Knudsen and the Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) are reminding drivers to stay safe on the road ahead of the holiday weekend and unofficial start of summer. Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of the โ100 Deadliest Days of Summer.โ State troopers will increase their presence on Montana roads and highways throughout the summer, cracking down on drunk and drugged drivers.
One Teen Dead, Three Teens Injured in Billings Traffic Accident Early This Morning
By Denise Rivette This morning at 2:11 a Ford Explorer carrying four teen aged Billings boys was traveling west on North Frontage Road at a high rate of speed when the driver failed to stop at a stop sign and then failed to negotiate a left-hand curve. The Explorer exited the road to the right continuing down the embankment and over a service road. The passenger side of the vehicle hit the embankment of the railroad and traveled over the tracks before striking a barbed wire fence pole. The 18 year old driver was ejected and sustained fatal injuries before the vehicle finally came to a rest on its driverโs side. Two 17 year olds and an 18 year old were injured in the accident. Their conditions have not been reported at this time. All were wearing seat belts. Speed, alcohol and drugs are suspected contributing factors in this accident.
Tim Sheehyโs Former Employees Sue Over Alleged Breach of Contract
By Blair Miller for the Daily Montana Tim Sheehy and his aerial firefighting and surveillance companyโs former parent company have been accused of breach of contract by allegedly forcing two former employees to sell off stock that was part of their compensation package before the company sold a subsidiary for hundreds of millions of dollars and then took Bridger Aerospace public in 2023.
After Exposure to Agent Orange at U.S. Bases, Some Veterans Face Cancer With VA Support
By Hannah Norman and Patricia Kime for KFF Health News As a young GI at Fort Ord in Monterey County, California, Dean Osborn spent much of his time in the oceanside woodlands, training on soil and guzzling water from streams and aquifers now known to be contaminated with cancer-causing pollutants.
Knudsen Campaign Says Demsโ Complaint Doesnโt Specify Broken Law or Statute
By Darrell Ehrlick for the Daily Montanan The campaign for Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has responded to a complaint filed by the executive director of the Montana Democratic Party that accuses the top law enforcement officer of campaign violations, including raising more campaign funds than allowed by law and recruiting a primary candidate who is not qualified.
USDA Chief Voices โDeep Concernsโ Over U.S. House GOP Farm Billโs Nutrition Cuts
By Jane Norman for States Newsroom WASHINGTON โ Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on a call with reporters Wednesday strongly criticized a farm bill draft written by U.S. House Republicans, saying it would damage the coalition that traditionally has united behind farm bills and โraises the real possibility of being unable to get a farm bill through the process.โ
County Commissioners Propose Taxing Tourists to Help Residents with Property Taxes
By Nicole Girten for the Daily Montanan Tourists get to enjoy all the amenities of Missoula without having to pay local taxes for them, and Missoula County Commissioner Josh Slotnick told lawmakers Wednesday he thinks they should pay their fair share.
4 Ways Vaccine Skeptics Mislead You on Measles and More
By Amy Maxmen and Cรฉline Gounder for KFF Health News Measles is on the rise in the United States. So far this year, the number of cases is about 17 times what it was, on average, during the same period in each of the four years before, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Bipartisan Border Bill ;Likely Doomed in Approaching U.S. Senate Vote
By Ariana Figueroa for States Newsroom WASHINGTON โ U.S. Senate Democrats are pushing for a second attempt to pass a bipartisan border security bill that failed in February after Republicans walked away from the very deal they helped craft, and itโs likely to fail again when the Senate votes on the legislation Thursday.
Managers Confident Flathead Lake Will Fully Fill, but Say Late Summer Could Pose Challenges
By Blair Miller for the Daily Montanan Though the Flathead River Basin currently sits about 1.5 million acre-feet of water below its normal levels for the end of May, a spokesperson for the company that owns the Seliโลก Ksanka Qlispeโ Dam told lawmakers Monday the company is confident that Flathead Lake will fill to full pool at least to start the summer.
Gianforte Supports Limited Financial Assistance for Flathead Reservation Law Enforcement
By Nicole Girten for the Daily Montanan In a recent letter, Governor Greg Gianforte said he is amenable to providing temporary financial relief to Lake County for as long as three years in the transition period following the countyโs withdrawal from handling law enforcement on the Flathead Indian Reservation.
Medicaid Unwinding Deals Blow to Tenuous System of Care for Native Americans
By Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez for KFF Health News About a year into the process of redetermining Medicaid eligibility after the covid-19 public health emergency, more than 20 million people have been kicked off the joint federal-state program for low-income families.