tried to give voters more options, while Democrats called the effort misleading and asked people who signed the petition to withdraw their signatures. The Montana Commissioner of Political Practices ruled Republican efforts broke campaign finance law, which the party disputes. The state supreme court followed suit, finding unauthorized groups cannot put a party on the ballot. The back and forth

With the number of active local cases declining slightly over the past week, the region remains on alert, with the Fort Peck Tribes shuttering operations and some schools transitioning to distance learning. As of Monday, Oct. 5, Roosevelt County has 113 current active cases of COVID-19, down from 131 last week. Recoveries numbered 372 and there has been eight confirmed deaths. There have been

Northeastern Montana farmers who were hit hard by crop losses last year due to excessive moisture still have not received disaster relief funds. U.S. Senator Jon Tester has written the Trump Administration to criticize the nearly 12-month delay. Tester secured an expansion of the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus to cover these farmers and increased funding for the program by $1.5 billion

Fort Peck Tribes The Fort Peck Tribes moved to Phase 1 Tuesday, Sept. 29. Phase 1 puts non-essential employees and residents on the reservation under stay at home orders and limits gatherings to 10 people or fewer. All households are being asked to maintain 6 feet distance, wear masks and sanitize. The governor’s July 15 directive for counties with four or more active cases requires face

Montanans interested in creating or expanding their agricultural businesses are invited to apply for funds through the Growth Through Agriculture state grant program. “Our Growth Through Agriculture program has a long history of helping Montana’s producers and small businesses add value, scale up, and access new markets,” said director Ben Thomas. “Investing in the diversification and

Governor Steve Bullock announced the new Montana Working Capital program Sept. 3. It builds off the Montana Loan Deferment program by allowing Montana businesses to take out a new loan to support economic recovery. “We are getting money out the door to keep employees on the job, support Montana businesses, and ensure longterm stability,” said Governor Bullock. “With this new program,

Congressman Greg Gianforte, along with U.S. Reps. David B. McKinley (R-W.Va.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) led a group of 243 Members of Congress in an effort to protect rural patients and hospitals Sept. 15. In a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services secretary Alex Azar, the lawmakers requested immediate

With the goal of assisting small businesses in the region, the Great Northern Development Corporation is offering Desktop Quickbooks seminars in the area from Sept. 22-24. “Quickbooks is probably one of our most popular classes,” said Shandy Hanks Moran, Small Business Development coordinator. Dates for the seminars are Sept. 22, at the Valley Event Center in Glasgow, Sept. 23, at the