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Articles written by matt gouras,associated press writer


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  • Fed judge dismisses states' gun suit

    MATT GOURAS,Associated Press Writer

    Fed judge dismisses states' gun suit MATT GOURAS,Associated Press Writer HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A federal judge in Missoula has dismissed a lawsuit by gun rights advocates and states seeking freedom from federal gun laws, a move that the advocates promised to appeal. The decision Wednesday from U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy was expected since his magistrate a month ago recommended tossing out the lawsuit because Congress has the authority to regulate firearms with its constitutional power to regulate interstate commerce. M...

  • Breaking news: Montana allows conservative group in charity program

    MATT GOURAS,Associated Press Writer

    Mont. allows conservative group in charity program MATT GOURAS,Associated Press Writer HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A conservative group that claimed it was unfairly banned from a state employee charity campaign will be allowed to participate after a settlement with the state. The state Department of Administration said it was glad to remove its ban on sectarian-based groups in the program — which dates back to the mid-1990s — after looking into the issue. The program allows state employees to automatically donate to their favor...

  • Board won't pay Dennison's higher pension

    MATT GOURAS,Associated Press Writer

    ntana board won't pay Dennison's higher pension MATT GOURAS,Associated Press Writer HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A state retirement board on Friday shot down a request from outgoing University of Montana President George Dennison to increase his pension based on his recent 35 percent pay increase. State rules prevent big salary increases near retirement from causing a similar increase in pension payments. But Dennison was asking the Teacher's Retirement Board to grant an exception to the 10 percent cap on such last-minute pay h...

  • Montana tea party gets mired in attacks on gays

    MATT GOURAS,Associated Press Writer

    Jim Ravndal, former president of the Big Sky Tea Party Association, said he's wasn't nervous about attending the rally after being ousted over an anti-gay exchange on Facebook. Behind him stand student counter-protesters. Montna tea party gets mired in attacks on gays MATT GOURAS,Associated Press Writer HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Tea party leaders stung by turmoil over anti-gay rhetoric from their ranks acknowledge the publicity over the issue hurts the movement but hope the rancor will be short-lived. The Big Sky Tea Party A...

  • Schweitzer corners Travelocity over tax dispute

    MATT GOURAS,Associated Press Writer

    Schweitzer corners Travelocity over tax dispute MATT GOURAS,Associated Press Writer BUTTE, Mont. (AP) — Gov. Brian Schweitzer publicly hammered Travelocity leaders Tuesday over a growing tax dispute — the same day the online travel reservation company announced a program aimed at promoting the state. The Internet travel giant rolled out sponsorship of Montana festivals and highlighted its promotion of the state at the Montana Economic Development Summit in Butte on Tuesday. Schweitzer took some of the wind out of the ann...

  • Breaking news — Panel sends tougher DUI measures to Legislature

    MATT GOURAS,Associated Press Writer

    Panel sends tougher DUI measures to Legislature MATT GOURAS,Associated Press Writer HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Lawmakers hoping to change Montana's drinking and driving culture agreed Friday to send a series of tougher proposed laws to the full Legislature. Montana has long ranked among the worst states in drunken driving statistics. Lawmakers and policy leaders are increasingly deciding the time has come to crack down. Proposals approved Friday by the Law and Justice Interim Committee include efforts to reduce the number of m...

  • AP Interview: Ousted tea party leader seeks return

    MATT GOURAS,Associated Press Writer

    AP Interview: Ousted tea party leader seeks return MATT GOURAS,Associated Press Writer HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The Montana tea party association leader ousted over an anti-gay exchange on Facebook says he wants his leadership post back. The Big Sky Tea Party Association fired Tim Ravndal Sunday after learning of his online comments about same-sex couples made in July. The post spurred an exchange that appeared to joke about the 1998 beating death of a gay college student in Wyoming. Ravndal denies he was making a connection t...