Montana officials have decided on final rules to guide the drawing of the state’s new Congressional districts. MTPR’s Shaylee Ragar has a rundown of the process.

Montana Officials Debate, Create Rules For Congressional Districting 

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester stopped in Missoula Thursday as he tours parts of Montana to sell a bipartisan infrastructure package that could land in Congress later this month.

Sen. Tester Promotes Infrastructure Bill In Missoula

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte is for the first time flexing a new power to appoint judges after the 2021 Legislature scrapped a decades-old nomination process. The governor has picked a new judge for a vacant post on the Cascade County District court bench.

Gianforte Uses New Power To Appoint Cascade County Judge

Another Democrat has joined the race for Montana’s new Congressional seat.

Missoula Democrat Joins Race For Montana's New Congressional Seat

Montana’s independent commission charged with drawing the state’s new legislative and congressional districts is expected to vote this week on the rules for the map drawing process.

Montana's Districting Commission To Vote On Electoral Map Criteria

A Democrat and Republican have joined the race for Montana’s new U.S. House seat. It’s the first time in 30 years the state will send two representatives to Congress.

Democrat, Republican Join Montana U.S. House Race

For the first time in decades, fireworks like bottle rockets and Roman candles are legal to use in Montana.

Montana Legalizes Bottle Rockets And Roman Candles After Decades-Long Ban

Montana’s public defender's office is asking state officials for help as it continues to face trouble recruiting and retaining attorneys.

Montana Struggling To Recruit, Retain Public Defenders 

The Montana Supreme Court announced on Tuesday it will issue a final ruling on the Legislature’s subpoenas, rejecting GOP lawmakers' request to dismiss the case.

Montana Supreme Court To Rule On Legislative Subpoena Powers

The dust has settled after a historic legislative session. Montana’s governor has now set a benchmark for measuring the success of his campaign promise to lead the state’s comeback from the pandemic.

Gianforte’s Goal: One Year, 10,000 Jobs, 50K Salaries

Montana politics, elections, and government news from Montana Public Radio.

Montana lawmakers declined to override eight vetoes from Gov. Greg Gianforte on bills that saw close votes when passed during the 2021 legislative session.

Montana Lawmakers Decline to Override Eight Gianforte Vetoes

Montana’s lone U.S. representative Wednesday afternoon voted against a bill to establish June 19 as a federal holiday to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. The proposal passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in the House.

Rosendale Votes Against Juneteenth Bill Passed By House And Senate

A Montana Supreme Court justice who voted in a 6-1 ruling to uphold a new law allowing the governor to appoint judges directly to open benches is also condemning Republican lawmakers and the state’s attorney general for their handling of the proceedings.

Justice Rice: DOJ’s Actions On Judicial Appointment Lawsuit Were ‘Contemptuous’

Montana’s senior U.S. senator is among a bipartisan group of 10 lawmakers working on an infrastructure deal after President Joe Biden ended talks with a core group of Republicans earlier in the week.

Tester Joins Lawmakers Working On Pared-Down Infrastructure Proposal

The two Democrats and two Republicans in charge of redrawing the state’s new congressional and legislative districts are in disagreement over how to start drawing lines. The U.S. Census Bureau has not yet released the final data states need to start drawing districts, but Montana’s Districting and Apportionment Commission met Thursday to talk about the rules that will guide the process.

Montana Commission Debates Criteria For New Legislative Districts

Montana’s governor will retain a new power to appoint judges directly to vacant benches without the input of the Judicial Nomination Commission. The Montana Supreme Court upheld the law in a ruling issued Thursday .

Montana Supreme Court Upholds Governor’s New Judicial Appointment Power

Montana lawmakers will consider overriding eight of Gov. Greg Gianforte’s vetoes from the 2021 legislative session. The bills Gianforte vetoed meet the threshold for an automatic poll of lawmakers asking if they’d like to reverse the governor’s decision.

Montana Lawmakers To Reconsider Eight Of Gianforte’s Vetoes 

A record number of Montanans are enrolled in the state’s expanded health coverage program for low-income adults. More than 9% of the state's population is enrolled in the program. Enrollment in Montana’s Medicaid expansion climbed to record levels this spring after rising since early 2020. Nearly 99,000 Montanans were enrolled as of the latest data in April.

Montana Medicaid Expansion Enrollment Hits Record During Pandemic

Montana lawmakers continue their investigation into allegations of bias among members of the judicial branch. After a series of rapid developments, there’s a break in the action and it’s not clear what comes next. MTPR’s Shaylee Ragar shares her reporting with Freddy Monares.

GOP Investigation Into Montana Judiciary Continues, Awaiting Final Court Orders

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen issued an opinion May 27 claiming public schools are prohibited by state and federal law from teaching certain aspects of critical race theory , which says systemic racism is ingrained in American life and law. Some say the opinion is largely symbolic, as other leaders in Republican-controlled states condemn critical race theory.

Montana AG Opinion Says Schools Are Prohibited From Teaching Critical Race Theory

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