Montana Public Radio

Steve Daines

Campaign Beat: Can Montana Dems Win On Health Care?

By & Holly Michels & Rob Saldin • Jul 10, 2020
'Campaign Beat' is Montana Public Radio's weekly political analysis program.

Montana's U.S. Senate race is now rated a toss-up. New ads highlight health care as a top issue in that race and in the race for governor. President Trump's waning approval could also impact Montana's down ballot candidates. And a former Republican candidate for governor disavows his party and its top candidates running for high office.

Listen now on Campaign Beat, with Sally Mauk, Rob Saldin and Holly Michels.

VA Breaks Ground On Missoula Veterans Clinic

By • Jul 10, 2020
Tony Incashola, director of the Selis-Qispe Culture Committee, blessing the construction site of Missoula's new David J. Thatcher VA Clinic, July 10, 2020.
Edward O'Brien / Montana Public Radio

Critics have complained that Western Montana’s veterans have had to make do with an undersized clinic, but that’s about to change. Friday in Missoula was the groundbreaking for a vastly updated outpatient veteran’s clinic in Missoula.

Appeals Court Maintains Yellowstone Grizzly Protections

By • Jul 8, 2020
Grizzly bear.
(PD)

The roughly 700 grizzly bears in and around Yellowstone National Park will remain federally protected under the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Wednesday. 

Bullock Raises $7.7M In Second Quarter Of Bid For Senate

By • Jul 6, 2020
Montana Gov. Steve Bullock speaking at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair, August 16, 2018.
Clay Masters / Iowa Public Radio

Gov. Steve Bullock's campaign said Monday that it raised $7.7 million in the second quarter of 2020. The Democrat's bid against Republican incumbent Sen. Steve Daines has emerged as a critical race in the fight for control of the U.S. Senate.

27 Republican Lawmakers Call For Local Hearing On Federal CSKT Water Settlement Bill

By • Jul 2, 2020
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Water Compact narrowly passed the state Legislature in 2015 after more than a decade of negotiation. It settles water rights in and around the Flathead Reservation.
David Wiley (CC-BY-2)

A group of 27 state Republican legislators are asking federal lawmakers to hold a hearing on the federal Montana Water Rights Protection Act in Kalispell. The group includes prominent opponents to the legislation.

If passed, the bill would be the largest water-rights settlement agreement in history between the U.S. Government and a federally recognized tribe. The Montana Water Rights Protection Act would settle a decades-long dispute over thousands of water-rights claims filed by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

Tester Spearheads Senate Resolution To Protect Affordable Care Act

By • Jul 2, 2020

 

U.S. Senator Jon Tester joined other congressional Democrats this week in rebuking the Trump administration's latest attempt to overturn the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare. 

Telehealth Appointments On The Rise, Offer Options For Patients And Doctors

By editor • Jun 30, 2020

This story is part of a series that looks at potentially lasting ways Montana adapted during the pandemic. It’s funded in part by the Solutions Journalism Network. 

After the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began advising against face to face interactions, Montana healthcare providers sought to expand non emergency telehealth appointments. It's a trend that could keep going.

Outside Groups Try To Influence Montana U.S. Senate Race

By • Jun 26, 2020
Montana Gov. Steve Bullock (D)

An outside group is running ads trying to influence voters in Montana's U.S. Senate race — a battle between Republican U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock that could be key in determining which party holds the majority in the U.S. Senate.

Blackfeet Propose Bill To Further Protect Badger-Two Medicine

By • Jun 26, 2020
Solenex well site is the last remaining oil lease in Badger-Two-Medicine.
Corin Cates-Carney / Montana Public Radio

The Blackfeet Nation released draft legislation Thursday that would permanently protect the Badger-Two Medicine region bordering Glacier National Park from industrial resource development. Montana’s congressional delegation says they are reviewing the draft language of the proposed bill.

Border Patrol Extends Restrictions At Northern Ports Of Entry

By • Jun 26, 2020

Six ports of entry between Montana and Canada will continue to operate at reduced hours through July 21. Travel between the two countries is still restricted to essential only amid the new coronavirus pandemic.

Pages