Several bills, including ones dealing with seatbelts and vaping, are being worked on by State Rep. Frank Smith, D-Poplar, for the Montana legislative sessions that starts on Monday, Jan. 4. Smith is seeking primary enforcement of seatbelt laws in the state. His proposal reads that a driver may not operate a motor vehicle upon a highway in the state unless each occupant of a designated seating

U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ bipartisan bill supporting Montana breweries and distilleries across the state was recently signed into law. Daines’ bill, the “Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act,” provides permanent tax relief for small craft breweries and distilleries, supporting jobs across Montana. Daines’ bill makes the excise tax relief enacted by the “2017 Tax Cuts

The Montana State University Extension series is offering a free soil fertility webinar series this winter. The seminars will run Wednesdays from Jan. 6 through Feb. 17 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Registration is encouraged. Each week, Clain Jones will cover a new topic with time for questions specific to your farming system. Recordings will be available after the live date at https:// landresources.montana.edu/

The hunting of female mountain lions in north eastern Montana Region 6 except HD's 690, which includes portions of Hill, Garfield, Blaine, Phillips, Valley, Daniels, Sheridan, Roosevelt, Mc-Cone, Dawson and Richland counties closed at one-half hour after sunset on Thursday, Dec. 31. The closure notice for the hunt came shortly after Montana, Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials received word

start of 2021. The federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour hasn’t changed since 2009. A total of 20 states will continue to have a minimum wage either equal to or below the federal level. Other states that increased their minimum wage on Jan. 1 included Alaska to $10.34; Arizona, $12.15; Arkansas, $11; California, $14; Colorado, $12.32; Florida, $8.65; Illinois, $11; Maine, $12.15; Maryland,

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Montana is accepting applications for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program. While NRCS accepts easement applications on a continuous basis, applications for the next funding consideration must be submitted by Feb. 5. “Easements are sometimes a perfect fit for a landowner who is looking to protect his or her land from future development

Jaron Schillinger, 59, of Circle died during a low-speed accident near Circle Dec. 31. Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Steve Nard told the Northern Plains Independent that Schillinger’s pickup was northbound on Highway 13 when his truck crossed the centerline, skidded into an embankment and struck a grain silo. At press time, Nard said MHP is waiting for a report from the medical examiner

A spokesperson from Burlington Northern Sante Fe has confirmed that an individual was killed in a train accident in Wolf Point on Monday, Dec. 28. The Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the deceased was Greg Badhawk of Wolf Point. BNSF spokesperson Courtney Wallace said a train struck Badhawk in Wolf Point. The incident occurred around 7 p.m., Wallace said. “An investigation

Area health officials are stressing that flu shots are more important this year than ever because the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to keep the community safe, health officials offer advice and information on these two infections are related. COVID-19 and the flu are each highly contagious respiratory infections, but have some key differences. They are caused by different viruses. COVID-19