Weekly News Roundup
Week ending February 18, 2024
The Most Eloquent Prayer: How the Chippewa Cree are Fighting Suicide on Rocky Boy’s Reservation
By: Meghan Elaine for the Daily Montanan For Tendoy, these must be the perfect moccasins for her son. Her daughter, 18-year-old Charleese Burkybile, would have wanted it that way. As she began meticulously choosing each bead, she recalled her daughter saying, “Mom, you have to shade this like the sunset. There needs to be lavender, and the leaf needs to be sage.”
Cocaine Bust At Red Lodge Vape Shop
By Denise Rivette Kalin Jacob Roberts (42), the owner of Mountain Vape and Glass on Broadway Avenue North in Red Lodge, was charged on February 12 with two felony counts of distributing cocaine from his business. If found guilty of Count 1: Felony Criminal Distribution of Dangerous Drugs, he faces a maximum of five years imprisonment in the state prison or a fine not to exceed $5,000 or both. If found guilty of Count 2: Felony Criminal Possession of Dangerous Drugs with Intent to Distribute, he faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment in the state prison or a fine in an amount not to exceed $50,000 or both.
COMMENTARY: Let’s set the record straight on Montana’s Medicaid
Kim Gillan for the Daily Montana Plain and simple – people get sick. Right now, more than 250,000 predominantly low-income Montanans get help with healthcare through Medicaid—a state-federal partnership. Montana has overall and primary responsibility, while the Feds pick up most of the costs, averaging 80% (of total Medicaid spending). In 2022, the Federal government provided $1.8 billion to cover health care for Medicaid-eligible Montanans who live in every county across the Big Sky. Remarkably, two-thirds of Medicaid recipients live in our rural communities.
Patients See First Savings From Biden’s Drug Price Push, as Pharma Lines Up Its Lawyers
By Arthur Allen for KFF Health News The drugs have kept his cancer at bay. But their rapidly increasing costs so infuriated Mitchell that he was inspired to create an advocacy movement. Patients for Affordable Drugs, which he founded in 2016, was instrumental in getting drug price reforms into the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. Those changes are kicking in now, and Mitchell, 73, is an early beneficiary.
Broadwater County Judge Rules Against Developers in ‘Landmark’ Water Ruling
by Amanda Eggert for Montana Free Press A Broadwater County judge ruled this week in favor of a small coalition of landowners and water rights holders who challenged a subdivision proposed for an area already grappling with water supply and quality issues.
Rosendale Drops US Senate Bid Days After Announcing Run
By: Blair Miller for the Daily Montana Congressman Matt Rosendale speaks at the Montana GOP’s 2024 kickoff event on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, in Helena a day after announcing his U.S. Senate campaign. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan) Just days after
Podcast: Latest Episode of 'Talking Health in the 406' Discusses Community Integrated Health Through EMS
By Denise Rivette Released today by Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) is a 22 minute podcast discussing how medical care in some rural Montana communities is delivered by local Emergency Medical Services (EMS). It follows one woman’s journey in Jefferson Valley and shows how EMS delivered Community Integrated Health (CIH) services can be useful in augmenting routine medical care in the community. .
Billings Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison For Social Media Coersion of Minor Girl in New York and Producing, Possessing Child Pornography
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Montana press release February 15, 2024 (presented in its entirety) MISSOULA -- A Billings man who admitted to coercing a minor girl in New York to make and send him sexually explicit images of herself was sentenced today to 20 years in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Driver Identified in Yesterday's Fatal Crash
By Denise Rivette James Fellows, owner/operator of SOS Pest Control out of Billings, was identified today by Carbon County Sheriff and Coroner Josh McQuillan as the man killed in a one vehicle accident on Highway 212 near Roberts yesterday morning. A native Montanan, Jim was a regular in Carbon County keeping pests at bay while his welcoming good humor made him friends wherever he went. He will be greatly missed.
Hearts Gone Wild A Wild Success!
By Denise Rivette Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary (YWS) held its “Hearts Gone Wild” event at The Pollard Hotel on Friday, February 9. The well-attended event became the springboard for announcing the Sanctuary’s plans to break ground on new habitats come Spring. Samantha Thomas, Chair of the Board of Directors, opened the event with a thank you to the community for its support during the 2023 season of celebrations. “We spent 2023 focusing on our strengths—our wildlife, our educational programs, and this community. We became even more determined to build our future on our existing land within Coal Miners Park.”
Montana's Office of Consumer Protection Warns of Scammers Targeting Montana Non-Profits
The Montana Department of Justice’s Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) is warning non-profit organizations of scammers who are targeting them with fake donations and then asking for a portion of the money back, Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced today.
As ICE Considers Mass Release of Detainees, Tester Presses Congress to Pass Bipartisan Border Security Bill
By Denise Rivette U.S. Senator Jon Tester today sent a letter pressing congressional leaders to pass bipartisan border security legislation in light of new reporting detailing that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is facing a dangerous budget shortfall that could result in the release of thousands of detainees.
Carbon County Vehicle Accident Fatality
By Denise Rivette This morning at 8:55, a Dodge Dakota SXT driven by a 67 year old Billings man was traveling southbound on an icy US Highway 212. A witness stated that the vehicle began fishtailing then exited the roadway at mile marker 80 near Roberts. The vehicle then rolled causing fatal injury to the driver and sole occupant, who was not wearing a seat belt at the time.
Felon Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms
By Denise Rivette A Missoula man with two prior federal felony convictions was sentenced today to five years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after admitting to illegally possessing firearms, U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana Jesse Laslovich said.
Nothing Funny in This Week's Carbon County Law Enforcement Blotter
By Denise Rivette The items below are a small sampling of what first responders deal with in a week. The people involved in these incidents are our fellow citizens, neighbors and loved ones and have often called at the time of their greatest need for aid and compassion. As you read the incidents below, please reflect on the professionalism, care and range of skills required of our first responders in order to deal with the wide scope of life-changing and life and death situations they can expect to encounter at any time.
Local organizations connecting Montanans to social programs fear closure
By: Nicole Girten for the Daily Montanan BUTTE — More than a dozen communities in Montana likely won’t have offices that help connect low-income families to employment training and food assistance if the state of Montana seals the deal on a $15 million contract that outsources the work to a Virginia company, a Butte nonprofit and Democrats said at a press conference Tuesday.
Rosendale says Senate bid is not just about beating Tester
by Eric Dietrich for Montana Free Press U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale’s gleeful Maryland twang cut through a Helena ballroom Friday evening, bringing a speech by fellow Congressman Ryan Zinke to a momentary, laughing halt. Zinke was taking his turn at the podium during the state GOP’s winter kickoff event, addressing the party faithful gathered to gear up for an election season that could see Republicans win the only statewide office not currently under their control: Democrat Jon Tester’s seat in the U.S. Senate.
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.
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
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.
The U.S. Needs Homes; But First, It Needs the Workers to Build Them
By Robbie Sequeira The United States needs an estimated 7 million more homes to house everyone who needs shelter. But to build all those homes, experts say, America would need many more construction workers. “The biggest challenge that the construction industry is facing, to put it tongue in cheek, is that people don’t want their babies to grow up to be construction workers,” said Brian Turmail, vice president of public affairs and strategic initiatives at the Associated General Contractors of America, an industry group that’s been calling for more workforce development.
U.S. Senate Advances $95.3 Billion Bill That Includes Emergency Funding For Ukraine, Israel
By: Jennifer Shutt for Daily Montanan WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate moved past a procedural hurdle Thursday to begin work on a $95 billion emergency spending bill that would provide military and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
Montana’s Effort to Expand Religious Exemptions to Vaccines Prompts Political Standoff
By: Matt Volz for Daily Montanan Montana lawmakers are in a standoff with the state’s health department over a package of sweeping changes to child care licensing rules that includes a disputed provision to allow religious exemptions to routine vaccinations for children and workers.
Indian Country has the highest suicide rates, yet interventions are scarce
By: Cheryl Platzman Weinstock Amanda MorningStar has watched her children struggle with mental health issues, including suicidal thoughts. She often wonders why. “We’re family-oriented and we do stuff together. I had healthy pregnancies. We’re very protective of our kids,” said MorningStar, who lives in Heart Butte, Montana, a town of about 600 residents on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.