The National Sheriffs’ Association — a group representing thousands of sheriffs, deputies, and other law enforcement professionals — recently announced their formal support for U.S. Sen. Jon Tester’s bipartisan Assisting Narcotics and Trafficking Officers in Interdicting Drugs Act, legislation that will support law enforcement efforts to combat the drug epidemic and boost border security.

State and local health officials are urging Montanans to protect themselves from mosquito bites as the state health department identifies more cases of West Nile Virus in several counties. Seven residents in Mc-Cone, Richland, Dawson, Rosebud and Yellowstone counties have tested positive for the virus this year, according to surveillance data from the Department of Public Health and Human Services

The Montana Department of Transportation and Knife River have completed paving activities on U.S. Highway 2 and have reopened all lanes in both directions. Next week, crews will begin paving the public parking area next to the school fields, the shared-use path and approaches. In addition, they continue pouring concrete sidewalks and driveways throughout the project area. Work will occur

The Montana Department of Revenue has received the highest number of appeals for property tax appraisals since 2015, before the state went on a two-year reappraisal cycle. “This year we have around 16,000, almost 17,000 appeals that have been filed in our system,” said Robin Rude, deputy administrator for the property assessment division of the Department of Revenue, earlier this month. The

The Montana Meth Project has announced the winners of its Paint the State 2023 art contest. Winners in the Missouri River Country Region Teen Division include the Brockton High School Team, which placed first in the region; the Frazier High School Team, placing second in the region; Gavin and Kaci Marmon from Medicine Lake High School, placing third; Josie Brown from Saco High School, fourth and Mariana