By Bill Vander Weele Amtrak’s Empire Builder will resume daily service throughout Montana starting in early June, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said during a press conference call last week. The funds come as part of the America Rescue Plan, the $1.9 trillion COVID relief package. Paul Tuss of Bear Paw Development in Havre said during the call that Amtrak’s 12 stations in Montana

Montana is the only state in the U.S. that has unisex rates for all insurance. A bill in the Legislature seeks to undo that. House Bill 379, sponsored by House Majority Leader Sue Vinton, R-Billings, would allow insurance companies to charge different rates for males and females. The bill passed the House of Representatives 70-28 last month before moving to the Senate Business, Labor and Economic

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., is cosponsoring the “Protect and Serve Act,” to help protect law enforcement officers by creating federal penalties for individuals who deliberately target local, state, or federal law enforcement officers with violence. “Montana law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every single day to keep our families and communities safe,” said Senator Daines.

The Town Pump Charitable Foundation is offering $1,000 grants to public libraries in Montana to help fund summer youth-reading programs. Libraries can apply now through April 30 at www. townpumpfoundation.com using the Keep Kids Reading application. Grants will be awarded in May 2021. The total grant pool is $60,000. “The Town Pump Charitable Foundation appreciates the critical role

Former Valley County undersheriff Luke Strommen was convicted in July of 2020 on the charge of sexual intercourse without consent, or rape. He has now filed a notice of appeal to the Montana Supreme Court on the conviction and sentencing in the case. A12-personjuryfoundStrommen guilty of sexual intercourse without consent after a five day trial in Glasgow. On Dec. 8, Strommen was sentenced to

As lawmakers implement a 2020 ballot initiative that legalized recreational marijuana, supporters of a bill that would change the ballot initiative process say it would increase transparency and protect Montanans from out-of-state interests. Critics say it would threaten the public’s ability to participate in policy. House Bill 651 would require lawmakers to vote on proposed ballot initiatives

Montana agriculture was center stage last week at the capitol. In the midst of challenges, frustrations and sometimes fears for the future on a national scale, it is encouraging and important to recognize the support we have in our state for Montana’s No. 1 industry. The theme for this year’s National Agriculture Week was “Food Brings Everyone to the Table,” and we sat around a lot of valuable,

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte has announced that Montana is one of four states selected to participate in the National Governors Association’s (NGA) 2021 Policy Academy to Advance Wholeof- State Cybersecurity. In the new policy academy, Montana will work with the NGA on developing and implementing cybersecurity workforce development plans. “As one of four states selected for this critical

Montana’s first watercraft inspection stations are opening for the 2021 season. Inspection stations near Dillon and Ravalli opened earlier this month. The Anaconda station opened Saturday, March 20, and intercepted the first mussel fouled boat of the year. A used motorboat that had been recently purchased in Wisconsin was found with zebra mussels attached to the anchor. The Anaconda inspectors

For those looking for some good books this year, the University of Montana Alumni Association has it covered. The UM Alumni Association just launched its first Alumni Book Club, featuring books by four acclaimed UM alumni writers, and a series of Zoom discussions with the authors. The alumni authors will share their UM experiences and backstories on how their ideas and writing evolved with readers.