Keila Szpaller
Montana property tax initiative off to a slow start
A report from the Montana Secretary of State’s Office showed that as of last Thursday, just 243 valid signatures had been processed. To qualify for the November 2022 ballot, proponents must collect more than 60,000 valid signatures by June 17.
Missoula judge dismisses discrimination complaint against local, national realtors
After an hour of oral arguments, Judge Jason Marks said he would dismiss the case because he believes the plaintiff, realtor and pastor Brandon Huber, should first go through an administrative process through his professional organization before bringing a complaint to court.
Cybersecurity poses risk for Montana universities, also small businesses
Montana’s flagship campuses pledged Tuesday to shore up their cybersecurity, but University of Montana President Seth Bodnar said similar threats to small businesses also can be devastating.
Parents worried Montana to miss out on $36M, Missoula Food Bank sees busiest month in 40 years
A Department of Public Health and Human Services administrator confirmed to the legislative Education Interim Committee that Montana had opted against submitting a plan to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for school year funding, citing a drop in need as the pandemic waned as well as administrative burdens.
Montana Legislature won’t hold special session with recent poll results
A tally by the Montana Secretary of State’s Office showed just 44 of 150 legislators voted to approve the special session by April 19, a total that did not meet the required threshold to call the session to order. Sixty legislators voted to reject it.
Daily Montanan, Montana Federation of Public Employees, sue Board of Public Ed
In a lawsuit submitted Friday, the plaintiffs allege the Board of Public Education violated the Montana Constitution’s guarantee of the right of participation and right to know at its March 10 meeting when it added an action item to the agenda on the spot, without adequate notice.
Montana code of ethics for educators erupted with just the addition of ‘equity’
Earlier this year, the term “equity” came under fire from Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte, who blasted the Council for including it in the updated code of ethics and called for promoting “equality” instead.
Gianforte administration opposes ‘equity’ in educator ethics code, demands change
Against the advice of legal counsel — but under the bullish urging of Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras — the Montana Board of Public Education amended its agenda earlier this month to declare that one of its advisory councils acted without authority when it included “equity” as part of the educator code of ethics.
Panel: 1972 Montana Constitution ‘hard fought,’ ‘inspiring’
Even after the Montana Constitution guaranteed people the “right to know,” reporter Charles S. Johnson had to eavesdrop on at least one secret meeting by listening to legislators through pipes that carried sound in an old building.
Wolverine research underway again in Glacier National Park
One study follows up on research completed five years ago that’s part of an expanded multistate project, and it takes place alongside a separate effort that looks more closely at wolverines inside Glacier National Park.