Jacob Fischler
U.S. Interior Department calls for states to submit mine cleanup proposals
The Interior Department asked states Wednesday to apply for $725 million made available this year to clean up abandoned mine sites as part of the 2021 infrastructure bill.
Rent increases, low wages driving eviction crisis, Senate panel told
Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, said that people in his state are also having trouble finding affordable housing.
U.S. House passes major wildfire and drought package
The White House issued a statement that fell short of full support and members of the Senate have not indicated they would take up the legislation.
Old-growth trees on federal land in Montana at risk despite Biden order
Plans for commercial logging of old-growth forests on federal lands, including Montana, have moved forward this year, despite an executive order signed on Earth Day by President Joe Biden, according to a report from environmental groups published Tuesday.
Congress roiled by U.S. Supreme Court decision revoking abortion rights
Republicans in Congress were jubilant at the Supreme Court’s ruling to revoke a constitutional right to an abortion, while Democrats were equally despondent about what they called an extremist decision.
Interior to launch mental health program for wildland firefighters, boost wildfire spending
The U.S. Interior Department will create a health and wellbeing program for wildland firefighters and boost spending on firefighting efforts by $103 million in fiscal 2022, the department said in an exclusive to States Newsroom on Friday.
Democrats from the West push update of 150-year-old federal mining law
Democrats in Congress are hoping to overhaul the nation’s 150-year-old system for mining the elements needed for battery manufacturing, as high gas prices and Russia’s war in Ukraine underline the need to transition from oil and gas to renewable energy sources.
Interior secretary to promote spending boost for tribal, climate programs
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland will ask a U.S. House spending panel to increase funding for the department’s tribal programs and climate resilience efforts, according to written testimony released ahead of a hearing scheduled for Thursday.
Jackson wins 3 GOP votes as U.S. Senate advances her Supreme Court nomination
The U.S. Senate advanced Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s historic Supreme Court nomination in a 53-47 procedural vote Monday evening, hours after the Judiciary Committee deadlocked along party lines.
U.S. House votes to decriminalize marijuana in federal law
The House voted 220-204 to approve the measure, which would fix the split between federal law and 19 states where recreational marijuana is legal. Three Republicans joined all but two Democrats in approving the measure.