The Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission now has nine proposed maps to consider regarding the new congressional districts for U.S. House seats. The commission will meet on Tuesday, Oct. 19, to hear public comment on the nine proposed maps. Commission members will then meet again in a work session on Thursday, Oct. 21, to select a map for an Oct. 30 public hearing. Democrats

Selected Bainville’s homecoming king and queen were Braeden Romo and Lakyn Rabbe. They were crowned during half-time of Bainville’s football game on Saturday, Oct. 9. (Photo by Bill Vander Weele)

After addressing residents in Circle during a swing of eastern Montana last week, Gov. Greg Gianforte discussed the meth problems that many cities including Wolf Point are encountering. Gianforte said the drug epidemic has been a top priority in his budget. His single largest new expenditure was $25 million into the HEART initiative that address addiction recovery and assistance for law enforcement.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released its environmental impact statement in late September regarding a plan that officials feel would benefit the endangered pallid sturgeon. The plan calls to increase water releases from Fort Peck Dam in the spring. The financial impact could be in the millions of dollars due to loss of irrigation water from farmers in the region. “It’s a really