Legals for October, 15 2023

Education advocates sue 56 counties over property tax dispute

A coalition of education advocates filed a lawsuit Wednesday against all 56 Montana counties, asking the Montana Supreme Court to issue an emergency order curtailing a tax revolt that has many county commissions refusing to collect the full amount of the state’s “95 mill” school equalization property tax.

Transgender, intersex Montanans challenge law defining ‘sex’ as binary

Attorneys for a group of transgender and intersex Montanans said this week that they have filed a lawsuit challenging a new law that enshrines binary, reproduction-based definitions for “male,” “female” and “sex” across the state’s legal code.

Montana prep football scores Friday, Oct. 13

Montana prep football scores Friday, Oct. 13

State commission moves to strike standard for library directors

The Montana State Library Commission voted Wednesday to strike a longstanding professional requirement applied to the directors of Montana’s eight largest libraries, one that dictates whether those libraries qualify for state funding.

Legals for October, 13 2023

Death at addiction treatment center puts admissions on hold

State inspectors have required one of Montana’s largest substance use disorder treatment providers to stop accepting new patients following the September death of a patient. A complaint-based investigation by the state health department is underway.

Legals for October, 12 2023

Legals for October, 11 2023

Herb and Omni offers five-star experience in Whitefish

The Whitefish building seated on the corner of Central Avenue and First Street took on a new look this summer and is now serving up what the owners hope will be a five-star dining experience.

Bipartisan U.S. Senate bill aims to boost bison tribal management, restoration

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has again introduced a bill that aims to create a permanent bison program within the Department of Interior to help bolster tribal involvement in the restoration and management of the creatures on tribal lands.

Montana data shows 44% who lost coverage in Medicaid unwinding were kids

Nearly half of the roughly 55,000 Montanans who lost Medicaid coverage through the disenrollment process between April and August were children, according to new data provided to a legislative committee by the Department of Public Health and Human Services.

Legals for October, 10 2023

New Audubon president excited to return to world of birds

Whether someone attracts them with a feeder or just sees them occasionally through a window, birds are a part of life on Earth, according the newly elected president of the Flathead Audubon Society.

Staff to present three public safety levy options to Kalispell City Council

Discussion of a possible levy emerged in later summer following independent audits of the city’s Fire and Police departments.

Whitefish couple fashions custom hats made to last

Glacier Rim Hats, the couple’s current business, is based out of the family’s Whitefish home, operating out of a spare guest room and garage.

Flathead Business Watercooler

Business events, trainings and seminars

Legals for October, 8 2023

FWP chief takes responsibility for toxic culture at wildlife agency

At a Legislative Audit Committee meeting Thursday, lawmakers had their first chance to address a scathing report that showed more than half of Montana’s game, fish and wildlife wardens fear retaliation and believe the culture in the department is bad, while state auditors found a dearth of required personnel records.

Hydropower generation drops in Montana, Pacific NW due to drought

Hydropower generation in the northwest, including Montana, dropped 24% in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period last year mainly because of a snowpack that melted quickly and drought conditions, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said in a recent report.