News

U.S. Senator Steve Daines recently announced that $953,954 in funding has been granted to make needed safety improvements at the Amtrak stop in Shelby. “Improving the safety and reliability of Montana’s rail network is critical to connecting people in our communities,” Daines stated. “Folks depend on public transportation and these funds will go a long way towards ensuring that Shelby is able to maintain their Amtrak stop.” This project will upgrade two pedestrian and motor vehicle crossings by extending the existing Amtrak platform and installing fencing, signage, two quadrant gates, and wayside horn advance warning systems to provide safe and

MISSOULA, Mont. – U.S. Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines introduced a new measure to let the Veterans Administration expand its Missoula outpatient clinic. The expansion plan would increase the clinic by 24 percent. Both Tester and Daines say the clinic is too crowded, offers little privacy and veterans cannot get the help they need when they need it. Turns out the clinic project has been waiting for one year for congressional approval. Missoula is not alone. The senators say another 24 VA medical facilities in 15 states are faced with a similar problem. It is not the only challenge

Sapphire Community Health Center has moved across the street on North 3rd in Hamilton. In fact, it’s a situation of trading places with Human Resource Council. The health center is moving across North 3rd Street into the Ravalli County Human Resource Council building at 316 North 3rd. At the same time, the Human Resource Council is moving into the former health center. The community health services agency accepts all patients and assigns fees on a sliding scale, based on household size and income. Recently, mental health services were added to infant care, cancer screening, women’s care and other medical issues.

Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) is pressing House and Senate conferees to consider controversial drought legislation for inclusion in any compromise energy bill. In a lengthy letter to top conferees, Daines yesterday urged the adoption of a bill, S. 2902, that seeks to overhaul the Army Corps of Engineers’ forecasting methods to improve planning for water storage in times of drought. “This legislation would improve the efficiency of existing water supply infrastructure, ease the regulatory burden on new projects and protect water rights that are critical to the prosperity of the western United States,” Daines wrote, noting that it would authorize the Dry-Redwater Rural