Over the next two months, school districts across Montana will be submitting plans to the state Office of Public Instruction specifying how they intend to use federal COVID-19 relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. But Superintendent Elsie Arntzen has recently expressed concern that some districts may fail to meet federal standards governing ARPA funds, and informed the U.S. Department

Amid a historic drought gripping Montana, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., has announced that impacted Montana farmers and ranchers will begin receiving financial and technical assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA also announced that, following a Tester push, emergency haying and grazing of Conservation Reserve Program acres may be authorized to provide additional relief

President Biden has issued 72 directives to promote competition and jumpstart the U.S. economy. According to a press release by the White House, a lack of competition in the market place is estimated to cost American households $5,000 annually. Many directives pertain to the agriculture sector including: a directive to the Federal Trade Commission to limit equipment manufacturers from restricting

A new mobile clinic in Fort Peck has the potential to be a great new asset in the area. Julian Shields, tribal health director, said the mobile clinic features two exam rooms and a hydraulic lift to make it handicapped accessible. The $560,000 purchase was made using CARES funds as well as a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The mobile clinic arrived in Poplar on Monday,

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte has issued an executive order declaring a statewide wildland fire emergency in Montana. “Montana faces critical fire conditions that pose significant threats to our communities, infrastructure, first responders, and way of life,” Gianforte said. “As our firefighters battle active fires across the state with more to come, this executive order helps ensure they

Kai Irwin Leigh Underdahl received a four-year deferred sentence for two counts of criminal endangerment. The sentence came during a hearing in district court on Wednesday, July 14. Underdahl apologized to victims for his actions. “I feel terrible for what I did,” he said at the hearing. The charges pertain to an incident involving Underdahl chasing another vehicle and shooting gunshots