In The News

US lawmakers have re-introduced a bipartisan bill intended to create a national online “lost and found” for Americans to track down lost retirement accounts as they move between jobs. Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, and Steve Daines, R-Montana, are sponsoring the Retirement Savings Lost and Found Act in the Senate, while Reps. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, and Jim Banks, R-Indiana, have introduced the bill in the House of Representatives. “Millions of Americans lose thousands in savings each year because of lost retirement plans from previous employers and other roadblocks to tracking multiple accounts,” Warren said in a statement. “Our bipartisan Retirement Savings

CASCADE COUNTY – The Coronavirus pandemic has also had a major impact on Montana’s farmers and ranchers, as Congress starts looking at a second round of food assistance programs for the industry. With agriculture affecting many aspects of everyday life, including the food you cook and eat, those in the field met with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Wednesday to share their concerns in the midst of this pandemic. “I was glad we were able to have enough conversations to be able to figure out what we should do, because there are huge losses,” said Bill Northey, the USDA

Note: This was provided by the Office of Sen Steve Daines U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont, called Tuesday for more robust funding for the development and manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines and drugs in any upcoming coronavirus relief package in Congress. This request for funding follows Daines successfully securing $10 billion in the CARES Act to accelerate the manufacturing and development of drugs to treat and prevent COVID-19. “As you continue your work on critical legislation to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, I write to you today to urge your support for robust funding that will help accelerate the development, manufacturing,

On Wednesday morning, U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) joined USDA Under Secretary Bill Northey and a number of farmers, ranchers and organization representatives from across Montana to discuss the state of the Agriculture industry in the Treasure State, as well as the impact that COVID-19 has had on the industry, and the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program “Nothing beats having an Undersecretary of Agriculture leave Washington D.C. and come to Montana and literally hear directly from our farmers and ranchers across Montana,” said Daines after the roundtable discussion wrapped up. “Some have driven seven hours to be here today, to hear

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) on July 13 continued efforts to fix Montana’s St. Mary Milk River Project and protect stateside jobs and agricultural operations. According to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the Milk River Project in north-central Montana furnishes water for the irrigation of about 121,000 acres of land. Project features include Lake Sherburne, numerous dams, the Dodson Pumping Plant, 200 miles of canals, 219 miles of laterals, and 295 miles of drains. In May, Drop 5 of the Milk River Project experienced a catastrophic failure that stopped the river’s water flows for land irrigation, water users and municipalities

American seniors are struggling today as a result of increased COVID-19 testing requirements. Recent survey results bear this out. The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) published the results of a 2020 survey conducted between June 25 and June 29 of 1,385 long-term care facility staff members. The survey focused on national results. It is by no means definitive. However, it offers insights into what is happening throughout the United States within assisted-living facilities. The survey results are invaluable for Montana seniors, their families and staff who assist the elderly during the most challenging time

When it comes to the cattle markets, and ranchers getting higher prices for their beef- could a piece of legislation known as the PRIME Act be one of the answers that Montana cattle ranchers are looking for? We spoke with the author of the legislation, Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY) on our statewide radio talk show, “Montana Talks” with Aaron Flint. Here’s the audio: Congressman Massie was very pleased to note that Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) is a co-sponsor of the legislation in the US Senate. For background, here’s info from our previous coverage on the PRIME Act: Why are the

Before the coronavirus pandemic began limiting nonemergency hospital visits all over the country in March, Virtual Health Manager Nicki Perisho says Kalispell Regional Healthcare (KRH) was conducting an average of 20 telehealth visits a month. But once the stay-at-home order went into effect, telehealth appointments multiplied to almost 500 per day. While the high volume of virtual visits scaled back to about 150 per day by early July, Perisho says the pandemic has paved the way for telehealth’s future and patients and providers are now recognizing its convenience and effectiveness. While many patients are still anxious about coronavirus exposure in

MISSOULA — Montana has one of the highest populations of veterans in the country and Missoula will soon be home to a new veterans health care center. Community members and politicians all came together on Friday to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new VA clinic which aims to bring healthcare to more Montana veterans. The new clinic will sit on an eight-acre lot on West Broadway in Missoula and will be 60,000 square feet. The facility is named after WWII veteran David J. Thatcher who volunteered to participate in the Doolittle Raid following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Thatcher’s son-in-law