Among several changes to Montana’s income tax system that took effect at the beginning of the year is a provision that makes income from tips subject to state taxes. The shift aligns Montana with the federal tax system, in which tips have long been taxed alongside salaries and wages. It also means that many service-sector workers will likely have their state income tax obligation increased

Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services director Charlie Brereton has announced onetime incentive payments and targeted, historic wage increases to recruit and retain employees at Montana’s staterun health care facilities. The effort is designed to reduce reliance on contracted clinical staff and demonstrates DPHHS’s continued, strong commitment to reforming and investing

Brockton’s boys’ basketball team edged Richey/Lambert, 49-45, to earn a league victory on Saturday, Jan. 20. The Warriors trailed by a 25-22 half-time margin, but Brockton scored 15 points in the third quarter to move ahead by a 37-33 advantage. Jarid Fast Horse led Brockton’s attack with 21 points. Josh Firemoon added 11 points. Also scoring for the Warriors were Kameron Rattling

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will consider two amendments to the proposed 2024 Upland Game Bird Regulations and one to the Black Bear Regulations when it meets Feb. 16. The proposed 2024 Upland Game Bird Regulations are currently out for public comment. The two amendments would adjust the regulations for nonresident bird hunters. The first amendment would move the upland game

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Region 6 Citizen Advisory Committee will meet from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 31, at Fort Peck Multispecies Fish Hatchery in Fort Peck. The public is welcome to attend. FWP will give updates on current Region 6 fisheries, wildlife, enforcement, education, and parks and outdoor recreation happenings. Each of FWP’s seven administrative

The hunting and trapping of wolves in Region 5, 6 and 7 closed a half hour after sunset Jan. 21. The order halting the harvest of wolves in these regions came after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota of five wolves in these regions had been met. With the exception of Wolf Management Unit 313, wolf harvest quotas elsewhere in

more complicated for us,” Gourneau said of the issue. Gourneau said the TEB is discussing the possibility of building a medium security prison facility. Lawrence Hamilton added that it might be a 200-bed facility. Gourneau also reported that TEB is researching ways to provide improved health care facilities. A goal is to have a veterans’ wing in an assisted living facility. She said

Kyle Severson is currently incarcerated in a Montana prison and like so many serving time, he’s waiting for an appeals process to play out at the Montana Supreme Court. That’s not so unlike many appeals to the state’s highest court, which ask the justices to review anything from plea deals to prison discipline. But Severson’s case is unusual because it claims that the former Richland