Brad Johnson wins PSC race handily
The Associated Press | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 10 years, 6 months AGO
Republican and former Montana Secretary of State Brad Johnson won an open seat on the Public Service Commission.
Democratic state Rep. Galen Hollenbaugh had been looking to break a Republican lock on the five-member panel, but the vote was 61 percent to 39 percent in favor of the Republican.
The Western Montana seat was left open when PSC chairman Bill Gallagher said he was stepping down after being diagnosed with cancer.
Hollenbaugh could not run for his House seat again because of term limits.
The PSC regulates utility companies in the state, most recently approving NorthWestern Energy’s $900 million purchase of 11 hydroelectric dams previously owned by PPL Montana.
Republican Travis Kavulla ran unopposed to retain his seat on the PSC serving central and northeastern Montana.
MORE IMPORTED STORIES
ARTICLES BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Latest: US helped family escape Afghanistan overland
WASHINGTON — The United States is confirming for the first time that it has helped a U.S. citizen and family members to escape Afghanistan through an overland route to a neighboring country.
The Latest: US helped family escape Afghanistan overland
WASHINGTON — The United States is confirming for the first time that it has helped a U.S. citizen and family members to escape Afghanistan through an overland route to a neighboring country.
The Latest: Top Republican says Taliban holding Americans
WASHINGTON — The top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee says some Americans who have been trying to get out of Afghanistan since the U.S. military left are sitting in airplanes at an airport ready to leave but the Taliban are not letting them take off.