Missoulian: Study: EPA’s Clean Power Plan could lead to closure of Colstrip plants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan, if enacted, could lead to the closure of the four-unit power-generating station in Colstrip, according to a study released last week by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana. “If you look at the emissions of Colstrip and the amount of tonnages that Montana has to eliminate, it does not mathematically show that Colstrip has to go. But it clearly indicates that it’s going to affect Colstrip in some way,” said Patrick Barkey, BBER’s director and the lead author of the report. The EPA released the final rule for
KULR8: $350,000 in grants for rural Montana mental health services
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On National Rural Health Day, Senator Steve Daines announced more than $350,000 in funding for rural Montana telehealth and mental health services. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants have been awarded to Western Montana Mental Health Center and St. Patrick Hospital Foundation. Daines wrote a letter of support for St. Patrick Hospital’s plan to build the Western Montana Telepsychiatry Network – a partnership between St. Patrick Hospital and rural Montana hospitals. By providing access to high-quality behavioral health professionals and services through telepsychiatry and distance learning, St. Patrick Hospital can
KULR8: Sportsmen’s Act ready for Senate decision
The Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015 passes out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee Thursday morning. The “bill promotes and protects access to Montana’s public lands and increases recreational opportunities for hunters and anglers” according to a press release from Senator Steve Daines. Additionally the bill creates an online database that lays out recipients and payments from the Equal Access to Justice Act. The goal of this section of the act is to create more transparency on forest management projects in the the state. The Sportsmen’s Act and the reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund have
Great Falls Tribune: New study of EPA rules shows dire results, sparks debate
HELENA — The Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan could mean the loss of thousands of jobs, millions in income and cause a population decline, bringing about “the most significant economic event to occur in Montana in more than 30 years,” according to a study released Wednesday that was challenged by several audience members. The report commissioned by NorthWestern Energy and the Montana Chamber of Commerce was done by the University of Montana’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research. Patrick Barkey, BBER director, presented his findings at the Red Lion Colonial Inn while on one side of the room people
MTN News: Heart Butte and Lodge Grass schools get construction grants
GREAT FALLS – A $2.5 million grant will will be used to help fix what are described as “emergency health and safety conditions” in two Montana tribal schools. On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) announced that Lodge Grass Elementary School District and Heart Butte School District will receive the money in construction grants for fiscal year 2016. It’s estimated that more than 350 students will benefit from the projects. Heart Butte will receive $1.7 million and contribute just over $1 million to fund the cost of the project, which includes replacing deteriorated and leaking roofs to both the high school and elementary portion of
Great Falls Tribune: Daines announces $2.5M for tribal schools
HELENA — Sen. Steve Daines announced Wednesday that Lodge Grass Elementary and Heart Butte school districts were awarded nearly $2.5 million in construction grants for fiscal year 2016 to be used for emergency health and safety conditions in school facilities. They are among seven educational agencies nationwide to receive Impact Aid Discretionary Construction Grants. “This additional support will help students on the Blackfeet and Crow reservations to have the resources they need to learn,” Daines, R-Mont., said in a news release. Heart Butte School District will receive $1,764,973 to replace deteriorated and leaking roofs of the high school and elementary
Washington Examiner: Senators burning for big fixes to wildfire problems
After a wildfire season that burned up 9.4 million acres and cost taxpayers about $4.2 billion, lawmakers want a comprehensive solution to the budget and management problems that are fanning the fires. In the third hearing about the 2015 wildfire season held by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said her state and other western states cannot endure many more fire seasons like 2015, which took the lives of three firefighters in Washington state. At one point this year, 200 fires were burning in Murkowski’s home state. Alaska accounted for 54 percent of the land
KMMS: Daines’ and AG Fox’s Brawl of the Wild Rivalry Continues
Senator Steve Daines and Attorney General Tim Fox have entered into their third annual wager over the upcoming University of Montana/Montana State University football game. If the Bobcats win the Brawl of the Wild, Attorney General Fox will be forced to wear a blue and gold Montana State necktie for a full day of work. Should the Grizzlies prevail, Senator Daines will likewise wear a University of Montana tie for a full workday. As Fox has won this bet in both of the past two years, the pressure is on to see if the Bobcats can pull through and break
Great Falls Tribune: Montana has no plans to close border to refugees from Syria
WASHINGTON – Montana does not plan to close its borders to refugees from Syria following last week’s attacks in Paris, Gov. Steve Bullock said Monday. “Montana has a process in place for considering refugee settlement requests. We are reviewing those protocols to ensure that if a request comes (that) we take all appropriate steps to ensure that the safety of Montanans will not be jeopardized by their placement.” said Bullock, a Democrat. “If there are safety concerns about any refugees that are requesting settlement, they will be denied.” The governor said no Syrian refugees have settled in the state and he