Continuing his aggressive effort to protect Montana’s family farms, ranches, and small businesses, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden stating his continued opposition to proposed changes to the “stepped-up basis” provision of the tax code as the Senate negotiates pay-fors for the 2021 reconciliation

Senator Jon Tester announced Oct. 25 that an additional $325,000 in Department of Justice Adam Walsh Act grant funding for the Montana Department of Justice will now be used to reinforce the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. “Keeping Montanans safe from dangerous individuals is critically important,” said Tester. “Every Montanan has the right to safety and security, and

As of Sunday, Oct. 24, all local calls in Montana must be dialed with the 406 area code to connect. Montana’s 406 area code previously allowed seven-digit dialing to complete local calls. That will change this month due to a Federal Communications Commission order designating 988 as the new, nationwide, 3-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Some seven-digit phone

Glasgow-based Steven Beardshear will be CEO and executive chef for a new restaurant slated to open at the Glasgow Elks November 1. Beardshear told the Northern Plains Independent that he and chef de cuisine Kevin Bennett will be hosting a soft opening Oct. 31 at the 309 2nd Ave. S address. The restaurant, Tequila Breeze, will be in the former Fiesta Mexicana location. Beardshear says the menu

Montana Gov. Governor Greg Gianforte announces the number of employed workers in Montana hit an all-time high in September and the unemployment rate fell to 3.3 percent, a low not seen since June 2007. “Montana is in the midst of a historic economic recovery. We’ve recovered all jobs lost since the start of the pandemic, and more Montanans are working now than in our state’s history,”

A new audit of the Montana State Lottery found that with the new services added to the lottery with the introduction of sports betting in 2020, security requirements are not being met, possibly compromising people’s credit card and bank data. The report found that with the implementation of sports betting and new services, the Montana Lottery is not playing a significant enough role in actively

Roosevelt County reports 59 active cases including 12 new positive cases as of Monday, Oct. 25. There are three current hospitalizations. Call ahead to a health care professional if you develop symptoms of COVID-19 and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or have recently traveled to an area with ongoing spread. Tell your health care professional about your recent travel

Republican legislative leadership on Monday, Oct. 25, approved a special counsel investigation proposed by state Democratic leaders into reports that Attorney General Austin Knudsen used state resources, including law enforcement, to harass and intimidate physicians and staff at St. Peter’s Hospital in Helena. “Speaker (Wylie) Galt and I strongly believe in government transparency and accountability.