Keith Schubert
Montana SupCo reverses AG opinion on river protection ballot initiative
A ballot initiative to designate sections of the Gallatin and Madison rivers as “outstanding resource waters” is allowed to gather signatures after the Montana Supreme Court reversed a ruling by Attorney General Austin Knudsen that deemed the petition unconstitutional.
Montana AG Austin Knudsen launches investigation into GoFundMe
The Montana Attorney General launched an investigation into GoFundMe last week after the company announced plans to withhold $9 million from the Freedom Convoy protesting against vaccine mandates in Canada and instead send the money to other charities verified by the company.
Heart Butte basketball team denied service at Conrad Town Pump, but Valier stayed open
Bill McGladdery, director of corporate communications for Town Pump, told the Daily Montanan that the employee was in the wrong by not serving the girls.
ACLU of Montana files brief challenging Knudsen’s appeal in Randall Menges case
The ALCU of Montana filed an amicus brief Friday asking a U.S. District Court judge to dismiss an appeal from the Montana Attorney General’s Office that, if granted, would require a Butte man who engaged in consensual same-sex activity more than two decades ago to register as a sex offender.
Sponsor of property tax initiative is asking court to dismiss lawsuit
One of the sponsors of a constitutional initiative that would cap property taxes at 2019 levels is asking a District Court Judge to toss out a lawsuit challenging the initiative arguing the new law at the center of the legal challenge conflicts with Montanan’s constitutional rights to signature-gathering.
Regulation of facial recognition technology proving difficult
Policymakers in Montana have spent part of the legislative interim working to understand how best to regulate facial recognition technology, a rapidly emerging but poorly understood field with numerous potential government applications and significant concerns for privacy.
Judge allows for signature gathering to continue on property tax ballot initiative
A judge ruled Tuesday that signature gathering for a constitutional ballot initiative that would limit residential property tax increases to less than 2 percent per year could continue while litigation challenging the proposal plays out, reversing a previous order.
Montana only collecting 75% of blood needed; Community Medical half stocked
Community Medical Center in Missoula had only around half of the amount of blood it usually stocks on Tuesday, said Dr. Nicole Finke, a pathologist at the hospital.
State health officials warn of hospital overcrowding with oncoming omicron surge
A coalition of Montana medical groups warned on Tuesday that hospitals are once again at risk of being extended beyond their caregiving capacity as the more transmissible omicron variant starts to spread across the state.
Montana sports bettors wagered $46 million in 2021, but did they win?
After a tumultuous start due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the emergent Montana sports betting market picked up in 2021, with Montana bettors wagering $46 million through December 27.