Government

POLSON – At the Jan. 7 commission meeting, all commission members present voted to provide former City Manager Mark Shrives six months of salary and benefits in the wake of his departure from the city.  The city will pay Shrives $45,176.82 in severance pay, $3,209.04 in health insurance benefits and $4,323.42 in retirement benefits. The request for severance compensation was dated Oct. 26, 2018, which was three days before Shrives’ contract with the city ended.  Shrives declined to renew his contract after a routine contract renewal discussion became contentious. The commission offered Shrives a one-year contract renewal rather than the previously agreed upon two...

Anti-abortion legislation has failed consistently under Gov. Steve Bullock’s tenure, but three bills, and perhaps more, are in the works before the 2019 session begins. As he did in 2017, Sen. Al Olszewski, R-Kalispell, has requested a bill that would ban abortions after a fetus is considered &ldquo...

From The Governor’s Office of Community Service  HELENA — The Governor’s Office of Community Service is accepting nominations for the ninth annual ServeMontana Awards, the office announced today. The ServeMontana Awards recognize and thank Montanans for their everyday contribut...

Legislators in Helena are preparing for a complete overhaul of the state DUI code, hoping to simplify laws and change Montana’s dialogue when it comes to drinking and driving.  The Montana Attorney General’s office is suggesting several bills aiming to clarify confusing rules, close looph...

Legislators in Helena are preparing for a complete overhaul of the state DUI code, hoping to simplify laws and change Montana’s dialogue when it comes to drinking and driving.  The Montana Attorney General’s office is suggesting several bills aiming to clarify confusing rules, close looph...

News from the City of Polson POLSON – The City of Polson is committed to ensuring safe and accessible pedestrian passage on all sidewalks during winter months, and we need your help. As snow season approaches, here is a friendly reminder regarding snow removal ordinances.  Snow and ice mus...

News from the City of Polson  POLSON – All Polson city issued dog licenses expire every year on Dec. 31. Dog licensing is required and ensures rabies vaccination, which protects the health of your pet and others. Additionally, licensed dogs when found at large are able to be returned to their...

RONAN – With the next legislative session on the horizon, three representatives to the Montana State legislature conversed with local residents on topics ranging from healthcare to aquatic invasive species. Mission Valley Rises: Democracy Engaged! sponsored the forum. The local group works to promot...

News from the office of Senator Steve Daines U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced he will cosponsor and support legislation to reform the criminal justice system after working to ensure meth and sex offender provisions were included in the bill.  “Meth use has skyrockete...

News from the office of Senator Jon Tester WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Tester is taking on the Trump administration over a plan that could expand junk insurance in Montana. In a scathing letter to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, Administrator Seema Verma, Tester demanded CMS reconsid...