News you can use
News you can use
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BILLINGS — Federal emergency officials started arriving Tuesday in Montana to gauge the damage from flooding expected to continue for possibly several more weeks. Rain that had plastered the state for more than a week finally eased, allowing authorities in the swamped town of Roundup to start pumping water from some areas. Water levels dropped more than 2 feet in Roundup, said First Sgt. Levi Doll of the Montana National Guard. As the Musselshell River receded, Doll said, authorities were finding damage to roads and other i...
HELENA — The second phase of Montana's new medical marijuana overhaul will go into effect Wednesday, allowing the state health department to issue pot cards under new regulations — but patients are confused about what happens next under the new restrictive law. When Gov. Brian Schweitzer allowed the law to go into effect May 14, the power to issue cards under the old marijuana law was immediately repealed for the Department of Public Health and Human Services. The new restrictive law isn't fully implemented until July 1, but...
House backs bill to toughen laws for repeat DUI STEPHEN DOCKERY, Associated Press HELENA — A proposal to toughen the penalties against repeat drunk drivers was endorsed by the House Monday, one of a number of measures attempting to crack down on high drunk-driving rates in Montana. House Bill 14 carried by Democratic Rep. Mike Menahan would let courts look back to impaired driving offenses up to 10 years old when someone is being punished for a drunk-driving charge, a change from the current five-year cutoff. The measure, w...
Medical marijuana overhaul bill gets first hearing STEPHEN DOCKERY, Associated Press HELENA — A new plan to overhaul Montana's medical marijuana law needs to be improved for it to be a workable plan, both supporters and opponents of the bill said Friday. Senate Bill 423 would overturn the state's current law and replace it with tighter, law enforcement-friendly regulation. The sponsor, Republican Senate Majority Leader Jeff Essmann, said the measure could reduce the number of legal marijuana users from more than 28,000 to a...
Bill to overturn Missoula gay policy on hold STEPHEN DOCKERY, Associated Press HELENA — A Republican senator says a measure to overturn a Missoula city ordinance that protects gay people from discrimination lacks support from GOP leadership. The Senate Local Government Committee passed House Bill 516 last week. But the bill was returned to the committee Tuesday and chairman Sen. Jon Sonju says it is doubtful the measure will go to the Senate floor. Sonju says he moved the measure back to committee because it doesn't have t...
CUT BANK — Teepee rings in northwestern Montana are talismans of another time, hundreds of years ago when the Blackfeet Indians roamed the plains. But some of these relics may meet their end if plans are realized to build a $213 million wind-power transmission line that connects Montana and the Canadian province of Alberta. A new Montana law expressly grants utilities and transmission companies the power of eminent domain to condemn and take private property. AP Photo/Stephen Dockery Larry Salois walks the circumference of t...
Some Republicans now backing health care exchange STEPHEN DOCKERY, Associated Press HELENA, — A plan to set up a state-regulated health insurance marketplace is getting a second chance in the Montana Legislature. Republican legislative leaders have often spoken out against the Obama administration's federal health care law, part of which calls for state-run health care exchanges that offer people a choice of health plans with a range of coverage levels and pricing. Many Republicans call it an unjust mandate that unfairly t...
Montana marijuana overhaul begins taking shape STEPHEN DOCKERY, Associated Press HELENA — A new option to do away with the state's marijuana law and replace it with a new one is taking shape in the Legislature after a proposal to repeal the law stalled in the Senate and lawmakers said they don't think overhauling the current law would go far enough. Senate Majority Leader Jeff Essmann, R-Billings, is leading a subcommittee to try and quickly cobble together a proposal before the legislative session ends. Essmann said Monday h...
Montana House OKs concealed carry without permit STEPHEN DOCKERY Associated Press HELENA, — The state House backed a bill Monday that would allow people to carry concealed weapons in urban areas without a permit, giving a victory to lawmakers and gun rights supporters who are pushing a slate of firearms legislation. House Bill 271 would allow anyone eligible to obtain a concealed weapon permit to carry without actually applying for a permit. It is already legal to carry a concealed weapon in rural areas without a permit. Gun...
HELENA — Federal enforcement agents raided a Helena medical marijuana provider on Friday, the latest development in a continuing crackdown on pot distributors in the state. Paul Schmidt, the owner of Sleeping Giant Caregivers, was out of town Friday afternoon, but confirmed to The Associated Press in a brief telephone interview that agents were at his marijuana operation on the eastern edge of Helena. A search and seizure warrant signed Thursday by U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah Lynch of Missoula authorized federal agents t...
HELENA — A health department official said Wednesday it's not feasible to stop issuing medical marijuana cards as the state moves to a more restrictive law, so the agency will continue to process hundreds of applications for pot cards. The marijuana overhaul became law on May 14, immediately repealing the Department of Public Health and Human Service's authority to issue new cards. Roy Kemp, who oversees the card issuing process, said that is far too abrupt. His department will continue to distribute cards under the old l...
HELENA — After Republican plans to repeal the state's medical marijuana law went up in smoke last week with the governor's veto, lawmakers have one last chance and just a few days to hash out an overhaul of what's become a booming industry. Many lawmakers from both parties say something needs to be done to rein in medical marijuana in Montana now that it has reached beyond those with severe illnesses for whom voters in 2004 meant the law to apply. Medical marijuana has been a massive growth industry in Montana since 2009 when...
Senate endorses death penalty repeal STEPHEN DOCKERY, Associated Press HELENA — The state Senate has endorsed a bill to repeal the death penalty. Senate Bill 185 sponsored by Democratic Sen. David Wanzenried of Missoula drew extensive debate Monday before the 26-24 floor vote. The bill now faces one more largely procedural vote in the Senate before going to the House. Supporters of the repeal argue the possibility of putting an innocent person to death makes the death penalty unjust. Those wanting to keep the death penalty a...
HELENA — The House is backing a Senate proposal to overhaul Montana's medical marijuana law after making major changes to the measure. Senate Bill 423 carried by Senate Majority Leader Jeff Essmann is aimed at significantly reducing the marijuana industry in the state. The measure was supported on a 77-23 in the first floor vote on Monday. The bill has been amended and rewritten several times. The House revisions include requiring growers to provide medical marijuana at no cost. Lawmakers from both chambers likely will h...
BILLINGS — Emergency workers ferried supplies to more than 300 people cut off Friday by flooding that has overwhelmed Montana towns and caused an estimated $8.6 million in damages to date. Heavy rain and the runoff from record mountain snowpacks have caused rivers over much of the West to spill from their banks. Montana has been hit particularly hard over the past few weeks, with hundreds of homes inundated and scores of roadways swamped. Glasgow Courier photo An underpass in downtown Glasgow is flooded Wednesday by water o...
HELENA — As the legislative session winds down to its final days, Montana lawmakers appear to be no closer to taking action on eminent domain than they were at the beginning, opening the possibility that massive utility line projects will be put on hold for another year or more. How to resolve disputes over eminent domain, which allows the taking of private property for public use, and private property rights has proven challenging to the Republicans who control the Legislature. The conflict is dividing some Republican l...
HELENA — Medical marijuana supporters are planning to collect signatures for a voter initiative that would block the strict regulations that Gov. Brian Schweitzer says he will allow become law this summer. Meanwhile, advocates for outlawing medical pot altogether say they won't push for their own referendum after the Legislature passed a repeal of the state law, only to see it vetoed by Schweitzer. After that veto, the Legislature passed a bill that aims to rein in Montana's booming pot industry and avoid federal i... Full story
HELENA — The number of gun rights bills likely to clear the Montana Legislature appears to be dwindling significantly, as the session enters its final days, dealing a blow to gun-rights advocates who seem unable to capitalize on having a Republican majority. With the GOP holding one of the largest legislative majorities in years, this session presented a key opening for conservative lawmakers that often favor more lenient gun measures. But the gun-rights supporters seem to be unable to seize the moment. Most of the m...
Stream access hearing draws overflow crowd STEPHEN DOCKERY, Associated Press HELENA — One of the largest crowds of the Legislative session is opposing a bill many say would limit stream access for anglers. The opponents along with a smaller group of ranchers and property owners in favor of the proposal overflowed out of a hearing room that holds 215 people. House Bill 309 reopens a 2008 Supreme Court decision saying a slough that runs through the Bitterroot Valley is a public waterway and open to recreational use under the s...
HELENA — Severe thunderstorms dumped up to 4 inches of rain and golf ball-sized hailstones across Montana, likely causing already swollen rivers to hit major flood stage in eastern and central parts of the state by the end of the week. Meteorologists said Tuesday there were a number of funnel clouds spotted near Billings from a storm system that moved in Monday night. The National Weather Service received several reports of tornadoes. AP/Billings Gazette, Paul Ruhter Lightning strikes as funnel clouds forms north of B... Full story
HELENA — Severe thunderstorms dumped up to 4 inches of rain and golf ball-sized hailstones across Montana, likely causing already swollen rivers to hit major flood stage in eastern and central parts of the state by the end of the week. Meteorologists said Tuesday a number of funnel clouds were spotted near Billings from a storm system that moved in Monday night. The National Weather Service received several reports of tornadoes. The tornado reports came nearly a year after a twister ripped off the roof of the city's sports a...
Senate backs annual Legislature referendum STEPHEN DOCKERY, Associated Press HELENA — The Senate is backing a constitutional referendum to have the Montana Legislature meet every year, rather than every other year. The measure calls for voters to decide if lawmakers should continue meeting for 90 days every other year or for 80 days spread over two annual sessions. Supporters say the annual meetings would make the Legislature more efficient and more open to the public. Those opposing the measure say annual sessions would e... Full story
HELENA — Montana health officials have begun issuing new medical marijuana cards as part of the state's overhaul of its marijuana industry. The new law granted the Department of Public Health and Human Services powers on Wednesday to write temporary rules to issue the cards. Agency spokesman Jon Ebelt said the department has processed about 500 applications so far. The new card rules involve a more restrictive system of forms and procedures for patients and growers to register with the state. There are several new a...
HELENA — High waters from huge amounts of rainfall combined with melting snowpack over the past month are prompting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to release massive amounts of water from Fort Peck Dam earlier than expected. Roosevelt County officials announced Thursday afternoon that engineers plan on releasing 50,000 cubic feet per second of water from the dam starting June 9, revising an earlier plan to release that amount of water in mid-June. That decision likely will spell higher floodwaters sooner in the Dakotas. T... Full story
AP Photo/Matthew Brown: Kellen Backbone prepares to hook up a hose to a pump being installed to remove water from of a low-lying area in Crow Agency, Wednesda. During a break in the rain Wednesday, members of the Crow tribe worked to bolster their flood defenses along the Little Bighorn River after much of the reservation was inundated during the last week. HELENA — Water-damaged Big Horn County is ordering 50,000 sandbags in preparation for more flooding next week. Officials on the Crow Indian Reservation say they will use a...
