Government

News from the Office of the Governor MONTANA — With every region of Montana facing severe to extreme drought conditions, Governor Greg Gianforte called on U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to identify all counties in Montana as primary natural disaster areas. “As we continue to see record-breaking temperatures from Libby to Glendive, it is imperative that the U.S. Department of Agriculture aid Montana communities in accessing critical resources, such as the Livestock Forage Program, Emergency Conservation Program, and Emergency Livestock Assistance Program, to respond to continued severe drought conditions on the ground,” the governor wrote in a letter to S...

More help is on the way for Montana families trying to strike a balance between work and taking care of their children, but concerns remain about whether more one-time funding will bring about long-lasting change.  Governor Greg Gianforte announced June 29 that $31 million in funding from the America...

News from CSKT  PABLO — Winona Tanner, long-time Chief Judge of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Court and tribal employee for almost 40 years, passed away Friday. CSKT’s Tribal Council ordered that flags be flown at half-mast in her honor. Tanner began working at Tribal L...

News from DNR HELENA — The Northern Rockies Coordination Group and collaborating federal, state, and local agencies are launching: www.MTFireInfo.org to keep Montanans and our visitors updated on current fire restriction information. “We have a personal responsibility to each another and ...

News from the Office of the Governor MONTANA – Governor Greg Gianforte ended the state of emergency in Montana he declared in January of 2021 to address the COVID-19 pandemic in the state. “Months ago, the light at the end of the tunnel was distant and dim. As we’ve worked together ...

News from DPHHS HELENA — Governor Greg Gianforte announced that the state will devote America  Rescue Plan Act funds to increase access to quality child care services for Montana families, protect Montana seniors, and provide home energy and home water assistance to low-income Montanans. T...

Municipal elections in the Mission Valley’s three incorporated communities suddenly became races when multiple candidates filed on, or just before, the deadline of June 21.  All three towns went from one, or in Polson’s case, no candidates for mayor to contests for each seat. In St. Ignat...

HELENA — The Legislature on Tuesday, June 22, announced it will withdraw all outstanding subpoenas issued against members of the judiciary over the past three months, a major reversal in the rancorous dispute that centered on whether the Legislature acted properly in seeking extensive records from Supr...

News from the Montana Department of Commerce MONTANA —  The Montana Departments of Commerce and Natural Resources and Conservation announced that Montana communities can now apply for federal water and sewer infrastructure improvement grants through the American Rescue Plan Act. “The...

LAKE COUNTY — With a June 21 filing deadline fast approaching for municipal elections, there are still ample opportunities to serve in city government up and down the Mission Valley.  In Polson, the question facing the city commission post-election might be: who fills the mayor’s seat if ...