Environment ~ Missoula Current

Poverello Center names new director in veterans advocate Jill Bonny

05-05-2021

The Poverello Center looked inward in selecting a new executive director, tapping its veteran services manager to head Missoula's largest

Opinion: Missoula County defends bid reduction, pursuit of equity and inclusion

05-05-2021

Missoula County commissioners write, "We created this policy to recognize the historical disadvantages the caste system has engendered and to

Missoula's transportation plan heavy on non-motorized travel, light on discretionary funding

05-05-2021

While the recommendations in the new Long Range Transportation Plan begin to emerge, the future of mobility remains in flux,

Missoula's affordable housing committee taking shape with new county appointment

05-05-2021

On Tuesday, the county named Christine Littig to a three-year term. She represents the county's only appointment to the 10-member

Expanded unemployment benefits are out; return-to-work bonuses are in

05-05-2021

Citing Montana’s “severe workforce shortage,” Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte said Tuesday the state will be the first in the nation

Letters: Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act cuts through partisan politics

05-05-2021

Riley Egan writes, "This long overdue legislation would be a much-needed shot in the arm for Montanans like me who

Report: Montana GOP conspired with Governor's Office to 'hack' judiciary records

04-05-2021

Misty Ann Giles, head of the Montana Department of Administration, was in “constant communication with the Governor’s Office” about a

Bison transplants, voting rights among losses cited by Native lawmakers this session

04-05-2021

Missoula Democrat Sen. Shane Morigeau said, “It’s always a challenge to explain to people in the Legislature that Native American

Missoula County backs plans to study local food production, consumption and barriers

04-05-2021

With locally sourced food growing in popularity and importance, Missoula County on Tuesday placed its support behind a countywide food

Grants help 21 women entrepreneurs pursue success through UM program

04-05-2021

Morgan Slemberger, director of Women's Entrepreneurship and Leadership at the University of Montana's Accelerate Montana program, said the $15,000 in

New infrared counters help State Parks track visitors

04-05-2021

Montana State Parks has installed new technology to help managers learn more about park visitation. With the huge increase in

City Council vacates downtown right-of-way to meet federal parkland requirements

04-05-2021

In an otherwise slow Monday night, the Missoula City Council answered a request by the mayor to vacate a small

Montana opts out of federal unemployment, launches return-to-work effort

04-05-2021

Governor Greg Gianforte on Tuesday announced two measures to address the state’s severe workforce shortage and provide incentives for unemployed

Letters: Northside residents deserve full residential cleanup of rail yard

04-05-2021

The DEQ must hold Burlington Northern Santa Fe fully responsible to clean up this Superfund site to a residential standard—ensuring

As Early Stage director, Missoula's Jenn Graff looks to boost startup activity, innovation

03-05-2021

Missoula's Jenn Graff is the first full-time staff member of Early Stage Montana, founded in 2018 to help accelerate Montana’s

Montana GOP sends mailers attacking state Supreme Court

03-05-2021

The mailer, sent late last week, is the latest salvo in the GOP’s assault on the reputation of the Montana

Missoula County to provide $90K in down payment assistance for Habitat housing

03-05-2021

Citing the power of partnerships on the affordable housing front, Missoula County has agreed to allocate up to $90,000 in

Missoula County secures key easements for Mullan Road roundabouts

03-05-2021

With construction set to begin on portions of the Mullan infrastructure project, Missoula County last week secured three property easements

Pharmacy costs lead Missoula County to propose 3% increase to benefits plan

03-05-2021

Citing an increase in pharmacy claims, Missoula County has proposed a 3% increase to its employee benefits medical plan for

Harmon's Histories: Missoula's 1888 housing crisis left locals searching for shelter day and night

03-05-2021

Interestingly, Missoula's current housing shortage, and the skyrocketing prices for limited inventory in western Montana, is not a recent phenomenon.

Close of 67th Legislature sees changes to election laws, taxes, guns and trapping

02-05-2021

With Republicans free to pursue an across-the-board conservative agenda following 16 years of veto threat from a Democrat governor, leaders

Montana lawmakers wrap up 2021 session with marijuana delay, parting barbs

02-05-2021

Montana lawmakers wrapped up the 2021 regular session here Thursday – but not without a technical glitch, big delays on

Benefits for hunting outfitters snuck into FWP bill headed for Gianforte's desk

02-05-2021

At the end of the session, the Legislature passed a bill that had language inserted at the last minute that

Chief Justice: ‘There has been no misuse of state resources’

01-05-2021

Montana Supreme Court Justice Mike McGrath said that lawmakers may have not made the distinction in law and administrative rule

Zinke's back: Files to run for new MT Congressional District

30-04-2021

Former Secretary of the Interior and Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke has filed once again to represent Montana in Congress. The Republican

Sustainable Missoula: Nourishing a thriving future

30-04-2021

Winona Bateman writes, "As a parent concerned about the climate crisis and my child's future, this has been a frustrating

Opinion: The Republican Party has devolved into a syndicate

30-04-2021

David James writes, "Their position on social issues of white grievance and voter suppression laws is also not popular with

'Crisis into opportunity:' Biden delivers first joint address to Congress

29-04-2021

President Joe Biden delivered his first address to a joint session of Congress Wednesday night, unveiling a $1.8 trillion plan

Missoula City Council appoints housing committee members, tweaks bylaws

29-04-2021

Members of the Missoula City Council this week appointed the first five members to the Affordable Housing Resident Oversight Committee

Downtown Missoula added businesses in 2020 as master plan sees progress

29-04-2021

Despite the pandemic and its economic toll, downtown Missoula saw twice as many new businesses open than close in 2020,

MT Legislature’s final budget: Small increases, tax cuts, fed windfall

29-04-2021

As Montana lawmakers approach the finish line at the 2021 session, they’re wrapping up a $12 billion, two-year state budget

Western Native Voice will fight bill that limits ballot collection

29-04-2021

When House Bill 406 was heard, numerous opponents testified that it resembled the Ballot Interference and Protection Act, BIPA, a

Opinion: Legislature's tags for guides bypasses revenue, locks out hunters

29-04-2021

Andrew Posewitz writes, "This passed in spite of the fact that Montanans abolished these tags by ballot measure, and the

Missoula airport authority, union reach agreement; Unifi workers still out

28-04-2021

The Missoula County Airport Authority this week approved an agreement with members of the Montana Federation of Public Employees that

Passenger counts rebounding at Missoula airport; terminal project under budget

28-04-2021

The steady distribution of a vaccine and growing public confidence continue to push passenger counts at Missoula International Airport closer

‘Environmental groups’ won’t be subject to Department of Justice investigations

28-04-2021

Rep. Bill Mercer, R-Billings, made a bid Tuesday to ax an amendment that was added to the bill calling on

Legislature passes marijuana bill with conservation funding

28-04-2021

On Tuesday, the Montana House of Representatives approved a bill regulating recreational marijuana, including how the sales tax will be

Letters: NorthWestern Energy's carbon intensity misleads

28-04-2021

Gary Matson writes, "The CO2 we emit to our atmosphere stays there for 300 to 1000 years so we cannot

GOP lawmakers extend, widen investigation of judiciary

27-04-2021

Legislative Republicans took more actions Tuesday to investigate the Montana Supreme Court and state judiciary for alleged bias – including

'Red Flag' gun laws get another look after Colorado, Indiana shootings

27-04-2021

Colorado is among the most recent of 19 states to have enacted red flag laws. Connecticut was first, in 1999.

Internal strife contributed to the collapse of ancient Pueblo societies

27-04-2021

Much like modern day residents, Ancestral Puebloans their society experienced prolonged periods of wealth inequality, racial injustice and general unrest

Gianforte signs trio of bills restricting abortion in Montana

27-04-2021

Gov. Greg Gianforte, flanked by scores of GOP legislators, signed three bills Monday to restrict or more tightly regulate abortion

Montana House rejects, then revives compromise marijuana bill

27-04-2021

A compromise bill to implement recreational marijuana in Montana had a roller-coaster ride in the Montana House Monday -- and

Montana Viewpoint: Turkeys in the straw and those fancy feathers

27-04-2021

Jim Elliott writes, "When the turkeys reach critical mass the newcomers call to ask for my sage advice on how

Census: Montana to regain its second representative in U.S. House

26-04-2021

Starting in 2023, Montana will once again have two representatives in the U.S. House, according to results from the U.S.

Missoula's Jen Graff, formerly with MEP, steps in as director of Early Stage Montana

26-04-2021

Jenni Graff, a University of Montana graduate who formerly worked with Missoula Economic Partnership, will serve as Early Stage Montana's

With little help from Legislature, Montana mobile home owners struggle to maintain affordability

26-04-2021

Mobile home parks are one of the last strongholds of affordable housing in Montana, helping people of a wide range

Montana's recreational marijuana bill rolls through Senate

26-04-2021

Months after voters passed a ballot measure legalizing recreational marijuana, state lawmakers have advanced a single bill to regulate and

Bill upping repeat DUI penalties nears passage in state Legislature

26-04-2021

House Bill 115, sponsored by Rep. Bill Mercer, R-Billings, would increase fines and jail time for fifth and subsequent DUI

Harmon's Histories: Arbor Day a leafy rite of spring in Missoula since 1887

26-04-2021

“The day was perfect. The sunshine took a conspicuous part in the proceedings.” The Missoula Brass Band played as “crowds

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Missoula County backs plans to study local food production, consumption and barriers