The impacts of COVID on the state’s economy can be seen when looking at figures by the Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development regarding lodging facility use tax. Statewide collections of the bed tax for Montana during 2020 was $30,783,419, which was 13 percent below that of the previous year. Regions that suffered the biggest impact as far as percentages were Southeast Montana

The Montana House of Representatives has voted in favor of legislation to prohibit discrimination based on vaccine status or possessing an immunity passport. The bill, sponsored by Jennifer Carlson, R-Manhattan, passed its second reading by a 66-34 margin on Thursday, April 1. During the hearing, Carlson said she had earlier spoke about a bill to prohibit vaccine passports, but the items

Lawmakers have rejected a fourth bill aiming to enhance access to insulin. On Wednesday, March 31, the House Health and Human Services Committee tabled The Montana Insulin Safety Net Program Act on a 10-9 vote, which would have established a program to get insulin to people who need it most. Under the act, people with diabetes would have been eligible for a free bottle of insulin from the

The Montana Law Enforcement Academy recently held graduation for 60 new officers to serve 40 agencies across the state. The new officers include Centennial Colon for the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office and Taylor Matthews for the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office. Basic and advanced training for state, county, city and tribal law enforcement is provided by the academy. The Montana

set an appointment online or over the phone to take the test at a local exam station. After passing the written test, they will receive a temporary learner’s permit. Students must then complete and log 50 hours of behind- the-wheel instruction with a parent or responsible adult, including 10 hours at night. After six months and completing the driving requirements, students take the driving

Get your vaccination shots for COVID. That’s the message that Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte stressed during a press conference on Wednesday, March 31. “Our trend lines remain encouraging,” Gianforte said. “The reason for that is the vaccines are safe and effective.” Gianforte noted how the state’s COVID numbers keep improving during a press conference on Wednesday, March 31.

Senate Veterans’ Affairs committee chairman U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., has announced he has secured $616,110 in funding for two State Veterans Homes in Montana: $403,062.80 for the Montana Veterans’ Home in Columbia Falls, and $213,047.48 for the Eastern Montana Veterans’ Home in Glendive. “Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, folks living in longterm care facilities-like those in the

Currently, 22,000 Montanans are among more than 6 million people in the United States living with Alzheimer’s disease. By 2050, if no cure is found, that nationwide total will approach 13 million. Caring for those loved ones day-to-day is one challenge. Preparing for the potentially staggering costs is yet another. Financial planners estimate that the average cost of a single year in a nursing

The Poplar Town Council has rescheduled their next regular meeting. The new date for the meeting is Tuesday, April 13, at the town hall building in Poplar, The meeting will start at 6 p.m. Among the agenda items, officer elections will be recognized for the Poplar Volunteer Fire Department. Dave Mathison has been re-elected as fire chief; Victor Grant, assistant chief; and Kevin Schindler,