Montana/Region

Governor signs bill limiting power of local health boards

Published on Tue, 04/20/2021 - 4:13pm

HELENA (AP) — Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte has signed a bill limiting the power of local public health boards to issue mandates in response to emergencies like the coronavirus pandemic.

Local elected officials such as county commissioners can change or rescind health mandates following Gianforte’s signature Friday. GOP Rep. David Bedey sponsored the bill in response to what some Republicans have said is unelected health officers overstepping their authority.

Bills allowing expanded hunting and snaring of wolves get approved by governor

Published on Mon, 04/19/2021 - 3:46pm
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About two months after Gov. Greg Gianforte trapped and dispatched a collared black wolf that had roamed from Yellowstone National Park, he signed into law two bills allowing for expanded opportunities and means to hunt and trap wolves in Montana.

Guide dies of grizzly mauling injuries

Published on Mon, 04/19/2021 - 3:43pm

WEST YELLOWSTONE (AP) — A Montana backcountry guide has died after he was mauled by a large grizzly bear just outside Yellowstone National Park who was probably defending a moose carcass, officials said Monday.

Carl Mock, who lived in the park gateway community of West Yellowstone, died Saturday, two days after he was attacked while fishing in a forested area along the Madison River several miles north of West Yellowstone, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Christine Koosman said.

Bill would make NorthWestern a more attractive purchase

Published on Fri, 04/16/2021 - 3:28pm
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 By Keila Szpaller
Daily Montanan

NorthWestern Energy would look like a pretty good company to buy.

That’s one scenario that hasn’t been talked about much in relation to a bill that aims to help NorthWestern and its ownership of the coal fired plants in Colstrip, according to an energy industry consultant.

Constitutional ban on legal marijuana dies in Idaho House

Published on Fri, 04/16/2021 - 3:27pm

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A proposed constitutional amendment that would have prevented the legalization of marijuana and other drugs without the approval of two-thirds of the Idaho Legislature died in the House on Thursday.

The legislation failed to attain the two-thirds majority needed for a proposed constitutional amendment and died on the 42-28 vote. It needed 47 votes to pass.

The legislation had already cleared the Senate. Had it passed the House, it would have gone to voters in 2022, needing only a simple majority.

Nevada GOP censures elections official who defended results

Published on Thu, 04/15/2021 - 2:53pm
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LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nevada’s Republican Party voted to censure the secretary of state, accusing her of failing to fully investigate allegations of fraud in the 2020 election. She says there was no widespread fraud and that her own party is attacking her for refusing to “put my thumb on the scale of democracy.”

Barbara Cegavske, the only Republican statewide office holder in Nevada, said members of her party are disappointed with the election results and believe fraud occurred “despite a complete lack of evidence to support that belief.”

Bills would limit governor’s powers in emergencies

Published on Thu, 04/15/2021 - 2:52pm

HELENA (AP) — A slate of bills limiting the governor’s powers during states of emergency are nearing passage in Montana.

The GOP-controlled state House voted Wednesday in favor of three bills brought in response to what some Republicans say was an overstepping of authority by former Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock, who last year issued a stay-at-home order and allowed for mail ballots to be delivered to all registered voters in the state in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Gov. Gianforte bans the use of vaccine passports in Montana

Published on Wed, 04/14/2021 - 2:35pm

HELENA (AP) — Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte issued Tuesday an executive order banning the development or use of vaccine passports in Montana.

The move by Gianforte comes as vaccine passports — documents used to verify COVID-19 immunization status and allow inoculated people to more freely travel, shop and dine — have been portrayed by Republicans across the country as a heavy-handed intrusion into personal freedom and private health choices.

Bills to defund Idaho GOP attorney general’s office die

Published on Wed, 04/14/2021 - 2:33pm

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Two bills that cleared the Idaho House with overwhelming Republican support to significantly defund Republican Attorney General Lawrence Wasden’s office for not being sufficiently partisan have died in the Senate.

The powerful Republican chairwoman and chairman of Senate committees with control of the bills said Monday that they will not get hearings and are dead. They said the legislation could needlessly cost Idaho taxpayers millions of dollars if turned into law.

Montana Supreme Court quashes subpoena of judicial emails

Published on Tue, 04/13/2021 - 4:16pm

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The Montana Supreme Court has temporarily quashed a legislative subpoena for the state court administrator’s emails, which are believed to contain responses to a poll of District Court judges on legislation to give the governor more power in filling judicial vacancies between elections.

Gov. Greg Gianforte, a Republican, signed a bill into law in March to eliminate the Judicial Nomination Commission and allow the governor to directly fill judicial vacancies. A legal challenge was filed with the Montana Supreme Court the next day.