skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, October 25, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Mariel Garza resigns from the LA Times over a blocked endorsement for Kamala Harris, while North Korea sends troops to support Russia, Trump and Harris remain tied in polls, and California faces rising breast cancer diagnoses among younger women.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans defend their candidate from allegations of fascism, Trump says he'll fire special prosecutor Jack Smith if reelected, and California voters are poised to increase penalties for petty crime.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Political strategists in Missouri work to ensure down-ballot races aren't overlooked, a small Minnesota town helps high school students prepare to work in the medical field, and Oklahoma tribes' meat processing plants are reversing historic ag consolidation.

Up In Smoke? MT Bill Would Strip Conservation Program of Cannabis $$$

play audio
Play

Tuesday, February 14, 2023   

Montana lawmakers are reconsidering how cannabis revenue is distributed for a conservation program in the state. A bill in Helena could deprive the Habitat Montana program of more than $30-million in projected cannabis tax revenue. The 2020 initiative legalizing cannabis for recreational use set aside tax revenue for conservation on state public lands through programs such as Habitat Montana, which opens up access to public lands.

Kathy Hadley, a hunter and board member of the Montana Wildlife Federation, called on lawmakers to keep voters in mind.

"That ballot initiative was passed by the voters and it seems like the legislators who are sponsoring this bill are ignoring the will of the voters," she said.

Lawmakers sponsoring the bill are following Governor Greg Gianforte's lead. He wants cannabis revenue to be used to serve veterans, strengthen treatment services and boost law enforcement. A hearing for the bill is scheduled for Thursday at 3pm.

Frank Szollosi, head of the Montana Wildlife Federation, said the state is working with a historic $2-billion surplus.

"With the big surplus that the governor and the Legislature are dealing with, we can support veterans and rural landowners and timber companies without raiding Habitat Montana," Szollosi said.

He added the state recently used Habitat Montana funds to improve public access to nearly 100,000 acres in the Big Snowy Mountains.

Hadley said the program has become increasingly important as more people come to Montana and land values increase, and added that is putting more pressure on public and private lands.

"If we have Habitat Montana, that helps alleviate some of the pressure by providing more access to public lands and more opportunities for hunting on private lands - at the same time, helping agriculture producers stay on their land," Hadley said.

Disclosure: Montana Wildlife Federation contributes to our fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Endangered Species & Wildlife, Environment, Public Lands/Wilderness. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
In 2022, nearly 15,000 children in Ohio were in out-of-home care, with about 8,500 in foster homes, 4,000 with relatives or family friends, and others in residential or alternative placements. More than 3,400 children are waiting to be adopted. (Mediaphotos/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

The growing crisis in Ohio's child welfare system is drawing attention, particularly for its impact on children's mental health. Across the state…


Social Issues

play sound

Voting rights advocates are asking for the immediate reinstatement of more than 1,600 Virginia voters whose registrations were purged as part of a sta…

Social Issues

play sound

Oral arguments were heard this week in a legal fight over redistricting outcomes for North Dakota tribal lands. About a year ago, North Dakota was …


The Black Church PAC is a grassroots movement founded in 2017. Its efforts aim to not only increase voter turnout, but also foster longer-term civic engagement in local, state and national elections.
(Drazen/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Prominent Black church leaders and faith influencers from coast to coast are taking their message beyond the pulpit and going door to door to mobilize…

Environment

play sound

By Angela Dennis and Adam Mahoney for Capital B News.Broadcast version by Shanteya Hudson for North Carolina News Service reporting for the Rural News…

Opponents of Initiative 2117 say repealing the Climate Commitment Act would cut about $30 million in wildfire prevention funding. (cascoly2/Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

Washingtonians are voting on a measure that will decide the future of the state's climate law. Opponents of the initiative say it could hurt the …

Social Issues

play sound

The 2024 election is hitting its home stretch, and many Washingtonians have already received their ballots in the mail. Even with Election Day …

Social Issues

play sound

By Jerry Burnes for MinnPost.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection reporting for the Rural News Network-Public News Service Col…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021