Daily Montanan
![After 2 years, governor’s mansion in Montana sits vacant still](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2024/01/attachment-governor-housing.jpg?w=980&q=75)
After 2 years, governor’s mansion in Montana sits vacant still
Money to renovate the mansion, more than $2.4 million, has been sitting in a state account, even after two bids were put out, in 2021 and 2022, both coming back at more than $1 million above budget.
![Judge pauses ‘affordable housing’ bills passed by Legislature](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2022/12/attachment-Housing-lofts-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Judge pauses ‘affordable housing’ bills passed by Legislature
A judge has temporarily stopped several bills passed by the 2023 Montana Legislature that aimed to address the affordable housing crisis by allowing additional buildings in neighborhoods zoned for single-family.
![Daines criticizes efforts to ‘cover up’ Chinese spy balloon incident](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2023/02/attachment-china-spy-balloon.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Daines criticizes efforts to ‘cover up’ Chinese spy balloon incident
Daines and U.S. Sen Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, both have demanded more information from the Biden administration about the balloon, the reasons it was carrying American technology, and the Department of Defense’s response.
![Gov. announces first allocation out of $300M for behavioral health](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2023/06/attachment-Gianforte.jpeg?w=980&q=75)
Gov. announces first allocation out of $300M for behavioral health
The first set of funds allocated from $300 million approved this year to support behavioral health and developmental disabilities will include money to catch up on a longstanding backlog in forensic fitness evaluations at the Montana State Hospital.
![Montana Jewish Project, others, call out antisemitism](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2023/12/attachment-jewish-religion.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Montana Jewish Project, others, call out antisemitism
In a letter to the Great Falls Republican, the Montana Jewish Project said harmful tropes like the one he reposted were used as a justification for the mass murder of Jews, which “horrifically reached its apotheosis in the Holocaust, when 6 million Jews were killed.”
![Homeowners group challenges four laws as unconstitutional](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2023/01/attachment-Construction-housing-traffic.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Homeowners group challenges four laws as unconstitutional
A group of homeowners have challenged four bills that were championed by Montana Senate Republicans during the 2023 session to address affordable housing in the state.
![Montana ACLU sues state over sex definition law](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2022/12/attachment-trans-PRIDE.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Montana ACLU sues state over sex definition law
At least two nonbinary plaintiffs allege the state is asking them to commit fraud to comply with a law defining sex as binary — strictly male and female — in a new lawsuit filed by the Montana ACLU.
![Lessons learned from Medicaid difficult redetermination](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2022/10/attachment-money-health-care.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Lessons learned from Medicaid difficult redetermination
During the legislative session this year, professionals and members of the public said facilities that care for people were closing because Medicaid rates were too low — and lawmakers boosted rates.
![Groups sue BNSF for grizzlies killed by trains lacking safety measures](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2023/12/attachment-grizzly.jpeg?w=980&q=75)
Groups sue BNSF for grizzlies killed by trains lacking safety measures
Two groups have sued BNSF Railway for ignoring the Endangered Species Act as well as failing to take actions to lessen the number of grizzly bears killed on railways.
![American Prairie partners with tribal nations to restore bison](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2023/12/attachment-bison.jpeg?w=980&q=75)
American Prairie partners with tribal nations to restore bison
American Prairie announced Thursday that 107 bison from its bison herds have found new homes with tribal nations in Montana, South Dakota and Washington.