In The News

GREAT FALLS — On Thursday, Senator Steve Daines introduced a bill in an effort to save Montana’s Pioneer Baseball League teams. The bill would amend the Small Business Act to prevent Major League Teams from receiving benefits from the Paycheck Protection Program or any lending programs from the CARES Act. Daines said in a press release that the bill is intended to pressure MLB to keep its minor league affiliations after proposed cuts, including those to the Great Falls Voyagers, Billings Mustangs and Missoula Paddleheads. Great Falls Voyagers president Scott Reasoner said in a statement, “This bill is another great

It was just a matter of time before someone in Congress brought out the heavy artillery in the plight of 42 cities who stand to lose their Minor League Baseball teams if Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred has his way. Leave it to someone from Montana to do it. On Thursday, U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R, MT) has introduced legislation which, if passed, would amend the Small Business Act to prohibit MLB teams from receiving loans under the Paycheck Protection Program if any minor league teams are eliminated by contraction. The wording of the bill states that, if the

Six ports of entry between Montana and Canada will continue to operate at reduced hours through July 21. Travel between the two countries is still restricted to essential only amid the new coronavirus pandemic.U.S. Customs and Border Protection reached an agreement with Canada on June 16 to extend the ban on non-essential travel for another 30 days. The limited hours of operation continue for ports of entry Raymond, Opheim, Morgan, Turner, Del Bonita, and Piegan in Montana and Porthill in Idaho. CPB also announced the port of Wild Horse north of Havre will continue on its winter hours, seven days

Amtrak has announced it will reduce service on its long-distance trains including The Empire Builder that runs along Montana’s Hi-Line en route from Chicago to Portland and Seattle. Amtrak plans to reduce long-distance services to three days a week starting Oct. 1. “Due to the long-term impact of COVID-19 on ridership, Amtrak has made the decision to operate with reduced capacity through Fiscal Year 21,” Amtrak Government Affairs and Corporate Communications Public Relations Manager Marc Magliari said. He said Amtrak’s goal is to restore daily service on these routes as demand warrants, potentially by the summer of 2021. Amtrak Executive

Once again public lands brought a divided government together. We saw this last week as I helped bring my colleagues from both sides of the aisle together to pass the bipartisan “Great American Outdoors Act” out of the U.S. Senate. This is one of the greatest conservation victories in fifty years, and the strong, bipartisan support we saw in the Senate last week shows that even during some of the starkest political divides in our nation, we can come together to do what’s right. As a fifth-generation Montanan, I know how important protecting our public lands is to our way

BILLINGS — U.S. Sen. Steve Daines is making another push to preserve affiliated professional baseball in Montana. Daines, a Montana Republican, introduced the “Support Baseball in Communities Act” on Thursday in Washington, D.C. The bill would deem Major League Baseball teams ineligible to participate or benefit from the Paycheck Protection Program or emergency lending programs within Title IV of the CARES Act if it moves forward with plans to reduce the number of minor league franchises across the country. The 30-year Professional Baseball Agreement expires in September, and representatives from Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball have held off-and-on negotiations

Montana businesses have received more than $1.75 billion in mostly no-payback federal loans from the Paycheck Protection Program, according to figures released this week. The U.S. Small Business Administration reported Monday that 22,583 loans had been issued to Montana businesses. The program is by far the largest source of small business assistance offered by the federal government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. By comparison, the state government received $1.25 billion to cover COVID-19 expenses, including expenses of local governments. “Montana certainly took advantage of that program,” said Brent Donnelly, Montana district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration. “As

Montana Republican Sen. Steve Daines will introduce legislation today to remove a potential roadblock to forest management projects on federal land. Daines’ bill would remove a requirement — imposed as a result of a lawsuit five years ago — that the Forest Service consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service on land management plans when “new information” emerges about potential effects on endangered species. In practice, the requirement means the Forest Service must reconsult with the Fish and Wildlife Service on forest management plans that have often been in place for years, even when a specific project isn’t in question. That takes