Darrell Ehrlick
New American Prairie purchase will open up nearly 10,000 acres to the public
When American Prairie acquired the 73 Ranch last month, it got a wildlife rich ranch located along the Musselshell River in Garfield and Petroleum Counties. But the public will get more than 9,300 acres of public land that it has never had access to in the deal.
Helena Jewish community looks to reclaim city’s synagogue
Members of the Jewish community are fundraising to buy back the synagogue and provide a meeting place for the faithful – something that hasn’t happened in nearly a century – and establish the first Jewish Community Center in the state and region.
Nurses, Community Medical Center reach tentative agreement on payroll problem
More than 250 nurses at Community Medical Center in Missoula have reached a tentative agreement with the administration for a third-party auditor to help resolve missing or incorrect payroll for the previous month.
Nurses give Community Medical until Wednesday to audit payroll issues or face lawsuit
Nurses at one of the largest medical centers in the state are giving Community Medical Center until Wednesday at 1 p.m., to agree to a third-party auditor who can help untangle payroll issues, including missing pay from more than 250 nurses there.
Billings Public Schools to decide whether to pull two books from district’s libraries
The Billings Public School Board will decide whether to pull or keep two books in school libraries throughout the state’s largest public school district at its Monday night meeting, after a subcommittee recommended keeping one book and pulling another.
Supreme Court won’t intervene in constitutional property tax question
The Montana Supreme Court has left a constitutional ballot issue in legal limbo, rejecting a plea from the group to intervene in a case where a Lewis and Clark County judge has issued a temporary restraining order halting signatures on a measure that would cap property taxes.
DEQ to hold meeting about restarting some mining activity at Zortman Landusky
The DEQ staff has determined the overall exploration project will have little impact on the current environment. However, environmental groups and the president of the Fort Belknap Indian Community are speaking out against the proposal.
A mother’s loss becomes her mission at Montana veterans cemetery
Sgt. Nathaneil G. Irish was laid to rest in the sprawling cemetery along Central Avenue in Montana’s largest city. Irish, who called Billings home, was killed in Iraq in 2019, after dying by suicide there.
Court hears challenge to Montana’s new birth certificate law
Senate Bill 280 changed how sex could be changed on birth certificates in Montana. Previously, a person could attest to their gender and have it changed. However, the law now requires a person to undergo “surgery” and have a court order before changing it.
New claims may mean gold mining again at Zortman Landusky
A 48-hour lapse in federal paperwork, and private lands that have been held by Montana resident Luke Ployhar for nearly 20 years, mining at the defunct Zortman Landusky sites could resume, which tribal leaders say could once again endanger their water and land.