Mike Dennison
Montana rural water projects awaiting federal infrastructure money
The federal infrastructure bill passed by Congress last month has millions of dollars to help finish five big rural-water and irrigation projects in Montana — but on four of them, the actual amount is yet to be known, a Gianforte administration official said Tuesday.
Judge accepts gun-case plea deal arranged by AG Knudsen’s office
A Montana judge accepted a plea deal arranged by Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s office for a man accused of threatening restaurant employees with a gun last year, after a dispute over wearing a face-mask.
Montana senators vote to block vaccine mandate for bigger businesses
With Democratic Sen. Jon Tester joining all 50 Republicans and one other Democrat, the U.S. Senate voted 52-48 for a resolution blocking the Biden administration’s rule requiring businesses with more than 100 employees to have their workers vaccinated against COVID-19.
Montana Supreme Court upholds $98M asbestos judgment
The Montana Supreme Court has mostly upheld an order that an insurer pay the state of Montana $98 million for asbestos-related injury claims from Libby, stemming from an insurance policy the state held almost 50 years ago.
GOP legislators ask U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in judicial dispute
Republican legislators and Attorney General Austin Knudsen are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in their running dispute with the Montana Supreme Court over legislative attempts to acquire internal court documents.
Rental-assistance program still in place – but has had delays
While some of Montana’s unused emergency rental-assistance funds from federal COVID-19 relief bills may be directed elsewhere by the feds or the state, the program is still disbursing money and processing applications, state officials say.
Another $27 million in fed funds financing affordable housing in Montana
Another $27 million in federal funds and tax credits have been allocated to finance affordable-housing projects in Montana, providing nearly 1,000 rental units in 14 communities, the state Commerce Department announced.
New law: Man exonerated for Missoula rape files 1st claim for compensation
Cody Marble, exonerated in 2017 after spending more than a decade behind bars on a Missoula rape conviction, is the first person to file a claim under a new state law to compensate the wrongly convicted in Montana.
Is Montana’s unused federal COVID-19 rental aid in jeopardy?
As much as $175 million of Montana’s unused federal COVID-19 emergency assistance for renters may be reallocated by the Biden administration – but Gov. Gianforte says his administration is waiting to see if it can use the money on other housing needs.
Zinke files disclosure form; lists substantial income, property
Republican congressional candidate Ryan Zinke filed his financial disclosure form on Monday, reporting almost $800,000 in consulting income and fees and family real-estate holdings worth between $7.6 million and $32.5 million.