HELENA — An attorney for a Missoula man who’s fought more than 12 years to overturn a rape conviction told the Montana Supreme Court this week the man should get a new trial — even though the victim took back an earlier statement that the rape didn’t occur.
HELENA — A board of irrigators on the Flathead Indian Reservation has sued the Montana Legislature and top state officials, asking a district judge to block Gov. Steve Bullock from signing the bill ratifying the Flathead tribal water-rights compact.
HELENA — The state House Monday endorsed a bill barring Montana governments from using license-plate scanners to gather data on vehicles on public highways, with supporters arguing the practice violates citizens’ privacy.
HELENA — A key budget panel began work Thursday on the 2015 Legislature’s major spending bill, which Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock’s budget director called “unacceptable” in its current form.
HELENA — Legislative Republicans Tuesday rolled out their proposals to expand health coverage for the poor in Montana and reform health care, saying the plan is focused on “getting the right services to the right people.”
HELENA — A state House panel Wednesday strongly endorsed a package of bills to beef up local mental health services in Montana, as a key Republican lawmaker said that’s the best approach to solve the state’s mental health crisis.
HELENA — A conservative group is targeting Republican state legislators — including Frank Garner of Kalispell — who won’t sign a pledge to oppose Medicaid expansion in Montana and is holding events this week in the lawmakers’ districts to publicize the no-pledge stance.
HELENA — The Montana House Wednesday endorsed a bill giving the governor power to overrule the Board of Pardons and Parole on clemency decisions for felons — a measure spurred in part the case of convicted murderer Barry Beach.
HELENA — Ohio Gov. John Kasich visited the Montana Legislature Wednesday to promote a federal balanced-budget amendment — but also got into why he supported expanding Medicaid in Ohio.
HELENA — The accuracy of Montana’s welfare system came under the microscope Monday at the Legislature, spotlighted by rare, under-oath testimony from state workers subpoenaed by Republican legislative leaders.
HELENA — Annette Russ told a legislative budget panel Thursday that when her son was released from Montana State Prison recently, he had a 10-day furlough and no medication for his schizophrenia — and quickly had a “psychotic episode.”
At least $1.6 million was spent on the Montana Supreme Court race between Justice Mike Wheat and challenger Lawrence VanDyke this year, records show, likely making it the most expensive judicial race in state history.
In perhaps the most expensive residential tax-appeal case in Montana history, a California real estate mogul is asking a state board to reduce the assessed value of his Flathead Lake island home by $32 million.
