Montana

April 21, 2008 -- Newly-released data from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) indicates the number of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in Montana has increased over the last three years.

According to 2007 state data, chlamydia was the most commonly reported STD in Montana. In 2007, 2,757 cases of chlamydia were reported in 2007, compared to 2,368 in 2005.

In addition, nearly 75 percent of all infections in 2007 were diagnosed in individuals 15 to 24 years of age.

April is ‘National STD Awareness Month’ to draw attention to the problem and encourage prevention.    » read more »

4/17/2008 -- (HELENA) – Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer has ordered that the National flag and State flag be flown at half-staff beginning Friday morning, April 18th until sundown Saturday April 19th in honor of United States Navy Seaman Recruit Drew Murray who died while in service to his country on April 10th, 2008

Governor's Proclamation:

State of Montana
Governor’s Proclamation

I hereby order all flags flown in the State of Montana to be lowered on Friday morning, April 18th until sundown Saturday April 19th to honor the memory of U. S. Navy Seaman Recruit Drew Murray, who died while in service to his country on April 10th, 2008.

Dated this 17th day of April, 2008.

Brian Schweitzer, Governor

Source: Montana Governor

Senators Want Assurances Montana Won't Be Hurt By Mega Deal

April 15, 2008 -- (Washington, D.C.) – Montana’s U.S. Senators are reserving judgment on the impending merger between Delta and Northwest Airlines, saying they’ll oppose the deal without assurances Montana’s service and rates will be protected.

NWA jet Montana: Photo by David Moffitt (CC)

Northwest Airlines and Delta serve multiple cities across Montana. The two companies announced the planned merger Monday. The U.S. Justice Department must still approve the merger.    » read more »

4/6/2008 -- Hillary Clinton has proposed an aggressive plan to reduce our reliance on foreign oil, address global warming, and promote alternative energy. Setting ambitious targets, the plan will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, and cut foreign oil imports by two-thirds from 2030 projected levels, more than 10 million barrels per day.

Hillary Clinton: Photo by Angela Radulescu (CC)    » read more »

4/1/2008 -- (HELENA) – Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer has ordered that the National flag and State flag be flown at half-staff beginning Thursday, April 3rd and ending Friday, April 4th at sundown in honor of United States Army Staff Sergeant Shawn Gillespie who died while in service to his country on March 24th, 2008

Source: Montana Governor

March 31, 2008 -- HELENA - Montana Attorney General Mike McGrath released a report Monday that demonstrates the state continues to make progress against the use of methamphetamine.

Methamphetamine in Montana: A Follow-Up Report on Trends and Progress (PDF) was done in conjunction with the Montana Meth Project. Trends identified in the report are based on data that includes drug task force incident reports, law enforcement statistics, crime lab reports, hospital discharge and admission information, survey results and interviews with participating agencies. McGrath's office released a similar report in early 2007.

McGrath said statistics from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted by the Office of Public Instruction were especially encouraging.    » read more »

Montana man’s history of committing sexual assaults on minors spans more than 25 years

WASHINGTON, FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2008 – A child sex offender with multiple prior convictions for offenses against children has been sentenced to life in prison on both counts for which he was convicted, to run concurrently, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division and Timothy J. Fuhrman, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Salt Lake City Division, announced today.    » read more »

Hundreds of Jobs Coming to Butte Area

3/4/2008 -- (HELENA) Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, along with Joachim Fuhrlander, CEO of German wind turbine manufacturer Fuhrlander, announced that the company will construct a manufacturing plant in Butte to assemble 2.5 MW wind turbines to serve wind farms throughout Montana and other parts of the western United States.    » read more »

March 3, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana Attorney General Mike McGrath on Monday joined all of the nation's attorneys general in sending a letter to Congressional leaders asking them to restore funding to the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.    » read more »

February 29, 2008 -- The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services announced today new income guidelines for the state’s Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP). The new guidelines went into effect February 1, 2008.

CHIP provides free or low-cost health insurance for families with children who are not eligible for Medicaid and cannot afford other health insurance.

Each year the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services revises the Federal Poverty Level guidelines to account for inflation and other cost-of-living adjustments.    » read more »

Strategies to address impacts caused by declining timber industry

02/11/2008, WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $250,000 Regional Innovation Grant to Montana to develop strategic plans that move the regional economy from a declining base in timber to high growth industries that offer workers better employment opportunities.    » read more »

2/7/2008 -- BUTTE – State and federal officials on Thursday announced the settlement of the final natural resource damage claims for sites in the Clark Fork River Basin and the governments' environmental remediation claims for the Upper Clark Fork River. Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, Montana Attorney General Mike McGrath and representatives of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Justice and National Parks Service made the announcement at a press conference at the Civic Center in Butte.    » read more »

2/6/2008 -- (HELENA) – Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer today announced that nearly $95 million dollars has gone back to 235,460 Montana households in the form of the $400 homeowner property tax refund since the program began on August 27.

"This is $95 million worth of economic stimulus for main streets all over Montana," said Governor Schweitzer. "Montana is on the move and ahead of the curve in getting money back to taxpayers and stimulating the economy."    » read more »

February 4, 2008 -- KALISPELL, MONTANA - Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul has announced endorsements from the most consistent conservatives in the Montana Legislator leading up to the Republican Presidential Caucus on February 5. They include:

* State Senator Aubyn Curtiss of Fortine
* State Senator Jerry O' Neil of Columbia Falls
* State Representative Rick Jore of Ronan
* State Representative Roger Koopman of Bozeman
* State Representative Tom McGillvray of Billings
* State Representative Diane Rice of Harrison    » read more »

February 3, 2008 -- KALISPELL, MONTANA - In a report just released by the Federal Election Commission showing Presidential campaign finance for 2007, Montanan's have clearly voted for Ron Paul with their wallets.    » read more »