Keila Szpaller
![Panelists: Housing crisis hamstrings economic growth in Montana](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2021/11/housing-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Panelists: Housing crisis hamstrings economic growth in Montana
The lack of housing in Montana is stifling economic development because potential employees can’t find places to live, so even businesses that offer high salaries and want to expand can’t grow. But some say too many people bristle over new development as the construction industry works to provide housing at all levels.
![Montana organizations push back against tax cap initiative](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2019/03/Housing3.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Montana organizations push back against tax cap initiative
CI-121 aims to end “runaway property tax hikes” with a 1% cap on residential tax rates, but at the meeting, representatives of numerous statewide organizations noted a host of unintended consequences that would result if the initiative passes.
![Montana Board of Regents greenlight facility requests, hear campus concerns](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2018/10/University-of-Montana.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Montana Board of Regents greenlight facility requests, hear campus concerns
The Montana University System will be holding back a total $2.4 million in performance funding from eight of 12 campuses in fiscal year 2023 because they haven’t hit graduation and retention targets, according to a presentation this week to the Board of Regents.
![Report: Montanans say state overcrowded with tourists](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2020/02/Yellowstone.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Report: Montanans say state overcrowded with tourists
Among other things, the report found that for the first time since 1992 when the Institute started collecting information, most respondents, 56 percent, agreed that the state is becoming overcrowded with tourists.
![Judges order new Public Service Commission map, find 2003 map unconstitutional](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2021/12/PSC.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Judges order new Public Service Commission map, find 2003 map unconstitutional
Some Montana voters will find themselves in new districts this year for the Montana Public Service Commission elections following an order Tuesday from a judge panel for the U.S. District Court in Montana.
![Missoula judge hears case that forces medical providers to choose between state, federal law](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2017/05/healthcare-e1470695772735.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Missoula judge hears case that forces medical providers to choose between state, federal law
Nurses, doctors and healthcare centers found themselves at the center of a controversy in federal court on Thursday in a hearing about medical providers being ground zero between state and federal law.
![Montana AG to SCOTUS: ‘Unresolved question will only grow in importance’](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2021/10/Knudsen.jpeg?w=980&q=75)
Montana AG to SCOTUS: ‘Unresolved question will only grow in importance’
The Montana Attorney General’s Office reiterated its argument in a legal filing Wednesday that the U.S. Supreme Court should take up the legal question of whether Montana Supreme Court justices violated the state Legislature’s due process rights when they declined to recuse themselves from a case.
![University of Montana professor called on to resign by students](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2021/11/University-of-Montana.jpg?w=980&q=75)
University of Montana professor called on to resign by students
Pressure is mounting on a University of Montana professor to resign his position in the College of Business after he made racist remarks and used the “n” word in private communications.
![Montana health department changes chief counsel qualifications, recruits D.C. lawyer](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2022/03/Health.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Montana health department changes chief counsel qualifications, recruits D.C. lawyer
When the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services dropped the requirement that its chief legal counsel be a member of the state bar, it opened the door for the Gianforte administration to hire a conservative heavyweight from Washington, D.C., to lead the legal division of the state’s largest agency.
![Proposed changes to educator licensing in Montana draw fire](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2021/08/education.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Proposed changes to educator licensing in Montana draw fire
Education leaders in Montana pushed back this week against some of the changes the Office of Public Instruction has proposed to teacher licensing requirements and asked the Board of Public Education not to sacrifice quality for quantity.