News you can use
News you can use
Sorted by date Results 51 - 75 of 1421
Editor, Gov. Greg Gianforte is hiding massive property tax increases behind one-time rebates and, possibly illegally, blocking our state’s largest conservation funding bill. Montana property taxes increased by an average of 43% this year. That’s an average of $630 more per year. Meanwhile, Gov. Gianforte’s one-time tax rebate of $675 is certainly getting a lot of attention. This tax rebate was only possible due to federal pandemic relief and high income folks moving to Montana from out-of-state. And it was strat...
Editor, Recently, my husband, I, and three of our adorable and totally well-behaved children were able to tour both the wastewater treatment plant and the water treatment plant here in Havre. Drew, Steven, Amanda, Trevor, and all the rest of the crew who keep these facilities running at optimal capacity were wonderful guides and full of knowledge about these life preserving services. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to the health of our city! We have a deeper appreciation for each flush, shower and glass of water...
Editor, OK, armed and ready, I sat down with a computer, a postcard and letter from Gov. Gianforte and two letters from his Revenue Department on how to get a property tax rebate. Logged on to website and bonk — What’s a geocode? Frustrated, I set the paperwork aside. Days later, thought I’d try again and Googled, “What is a Montana Geocode?” Good ole Google took me to a website with four pages of instructions on how to get the code necessary to complete an application for a tax rebate. Adding more paperwork to the pile, I f...
Editor, We live in a unincorporated farm community. On a dirt road. It’s harvest. We understand very much. Feeding people has been a passion of mine for a while. We get it. However, we are concerned with the speed you go down this road and the billowing cloud of dust you leave in your wake. Not only does it take your breath away, but it is also kind of rude. The safety of ourselves and our pets is also a concern. Please think about what it would do to someone, if Baby Kitty got spooked and ran that way, as your careening v...
Editor, As the new school year approaches, families of children with special needs should review their child’s IEP to ensure it still meets their child’s needs. Changes in the household as well as typical summer “growth spurts” may require modifications to their IEP. Likewise, new school schedules and staff may also require changes to accommodate the transition and provide them with extra support at the start. Talk to your child’s case manager, their teachers and the school’s administrator if needed. Your child’s suc...
Editor, With skyrocketing prescription drug prices, Montanans are left to choose between paying for their life-saving prescriptions or essentials like food or housing. It’s time for Congress to come together and crack down on Big Pharma’s abuse of the U.S. patent system at the expense of patients. I urge Sens. Tester and Daines to work with members from both parties to pass the bipartisan Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act, introduced by Sens. Cornyn and Blumenthal. Big Pharma companies continue to exploit loo...
Editor, NAMI Havre is getting ready for the NAMI Walk Sept. 24, 2023, and we are looking for community businesses and community members who can help with donations. We will be accepting donations all the way through to Sept. 24, 2023. If you would like to donate, please send donations to P.O. Box 786 or bring them to the NAMI Havre office 220 Third Ave. Suite 408 in The Atrium. You can also give them to a member, and they will deliver it to the office. The donations are split up into three groups, NAMI National and NAMI...
Editor, So, you are concerned about the climate crisis but are not sure what to do about it. Know that you are not alone. Also know that the climate movement needs you, it needs everyone, to do everything we can to address this crisis. Here are some ideas: • Learn more about how our world is warming; the causes, consequences and actions that need to be taken to stop it. Start by visiting NASA’s website on climate. https://climate.nasa.gov • Talk about it, a lot, with friends, family, neighbors; everybody and anybody. • Get...
Editor, I would like to thank the Havre Animal Shelter for thier tremendous support and help in thier distributions on The Rocky Boy Reservation with animal supplies. As a disabled senior citizen and long-time activist I know how it is to help people with little or no thank you. Your help has done a very good job and the people of Rocky Boy do thank you more than you know. Russell Houle Rocky Boy...
I guess the old adage is true: “You can’t fight city hall.” At least not in Havre. The council held an ordinance meeting on June 20th to discuss a backyard hens. Except they didn’t. They apparently just counted heads. One supporter for it and six against it. That was good enough for them to not vote. How convenient. What wasn’t counted were the hundreds of Havre residents who signed a petition of support for the initiative. That list was provided to each of the city councilors weeks ago and they know that those are actual Ha...
Editor, Kudos to Heather, Connie, Jeff and crew (including volunteers) and the North Central Senior Center who worked together to put on a wonderful picnic for the seniors of our local community on Friday, June 16, at Pepin Park. Your efforts did not go unnoticed. A great picnic meal was enjoyed by everyone that attended. Thanks also to Chris Inman, Havre Parks and Recreation Department, who assisted the event by providing an enjoyable space and park set up for the picnic to be held. Havre Does Have It when members of our...
Editor, Montana’s 1972 constitution guarantees its citizens a right to “a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations.” The 2023 trial of Held V. State of Montana, a lawsuit brought by 16 Montana youth, attempts to show how the state government’s longstanding energy policies violate this constitutional right by favoring fossil fuel industries with high carbon emissions. The lawsuit is named for plaintiff Rikki Held, age 22, a fifth-generation Montanan raised on a cattle ranch in the Powder...
To the editor, The 16 young Montanans suing to protect their right to a clean and healthful environment might be the world’s last best chance to save the planet from the climate crisis. The Legislature and the executive branches have failed to do their duty, and now it is up to a judge to make them do the right thing for us all. Montana’s Constitution is unique. In Article II, under the Declaration of Rights, it lists a “right to a clean and healthful environment” first, before all the other rights. Later, Article IX goes bey...
Editor, In 2022, Gov. Greg Gianforte faced criticism for the delay in applying for Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) funding, which would have provided up to $10 million in food assistance to over 73,000 Montana children and families. After public pressure, Greg finally submitted an application to the federal government. Instead of investing the received funds in Main Street Montana, the Gianforte administration has taken actions that hinder vulnerable Montanans from accessing the necessities they need to survive,...
Editor, It’s Memorial Day. I attended the always-moving ceremony at the courthouse and knew many of the living and recognized a lot of the names those who have passed this year. It always is my thought that no tribute ever is enough for those who have given so much for this nation and sacrificed so greatly. I can’t help but wonder if more than just a few of us at the courthouse sadly thought about Congress possibly holding veterans benefits, surviving family benefits and medical opportunities, etc., basically hostage for pol...
Editor, In Montana, telecom companies have been given the green light by the FCC (https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-grants-relief-outdated-burdensome-phone-industry-regulations) to discontinue their copper wire landline phone service and replace it with internet-based phone service. The FCC argues that the expensive maintenance of landline infrastructure prevents the transition to the next generation of communication technology. However, this deregulation affects vulnerable groups in Montana, including the elderly, rural...
I applaud Rep. Matt Rosendale for being one of the strongest advocates for fiscal responsibility in D.C. As negotiations between the White House and Republicans have had little success, our congressman has continued to voice strong solutions that will keep the U.S. from defaulting on its debt. Both parties admit that defaulting on our nation’s debt is the wrong course for the U.S. But unless Democrats are willing to cut back on their erratic spending, a deal will not be reached. Montana’s small businesses are at serious ris...
Editor, A little over three months ago, I had talked with Rep. Paul Tuss about informing constituents concerning what was happening in the Legislature. He thought that was a good idea either through the Havre Daily or Facebook. This would allow his constituents to give timely feedback on bills. He also said he would send me an email on a better proposal for Property Tax solutions, which was never sent. The problem is relatively little information from Rep. Tuss on bills going through the Legislature be it financial, or State...
Editor, In the Montana Legislature, the pressure to get each bill heard and acted upon quickly with many looming deadlines does not allow for time to study and careful review of the important and complex bills. Such bills can be sent to an interim committee to study over the interim. Then with a very good staff, they have two years to study and perfect the language before making a recommendation to the next session of the Legislature. Most importantly, however, is the fact that partisan politics is largely removed from the...
Editor, I am Kevin Johnson, a candidate for Havre Public Schools board of trustees. I am a lifelong Havre resident and graduated from HHS as well as NMC (now MSU-N) with an AAS in Automotive and a BS in Vocational-Technical-Education. I am a strong supporter of vocational and agriculture related programs. I retired from MSU-N after 35 years of teaching in the Auto/Diesel Program. During the spring of 2022, I became aware there were growing concerns regarding the four-day school calendar committee proposal. Even though 73.9%...
Editor, This comment has to do with the article about the April 3 Hill County Park Board meeting that was published in the April 5 edition of Havre Daily News. I was unable to attend that particular meeting, but going off the article, I was a little surprised and a bit confused to read about the committee “revision” plan. It seems to me the committees are a great tool to help the board make good decisions and that is what they were originally designed to be. Maybe they just need to be better run, more clear on the ite...
Editor, The Republican party is in the process of destroying American democracy. Its organizers have infiltrated the highest echelons of state and federal government and have instigated acts of violence directed against elected officials. The threat is real and the target is the 2024 presidential election. Trump limped from the White House, roundly condemned for having instigated the insurrection Jan. 6 with the help of Republican lawmakers. The reality was stark and undeniable. Trump is a petty autocrat, willing to torch...
Editor, I was disappointed to hear that the health care focus in President Biden’s 2024 budget proposal is centered around implementing more government price controls and raising taxes on Americans. Our health care system needs work, but this type of policy should not be at the top of the priority list. Instead, President Biden and others should look into the practices of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). PBMs control a majority of the prescription medications people need in Montana and across the country with little to no o...
Editor: Senate Bill 298 is a bill allowing disabled hunters to use crossbows in archery season. There is adaptive equipment available but does not fit all people. SB 298 would allow disabled Montanans to spend family time in the warmer weather for many disabled people have impaired circulation, putting us at disadvantage during colder weather. I cannot hold a bow horizontally nor for any length of time. Nineteen surgeries on my back and arms makes shooting regular bow impossible. The number of Montanans who would qualify is v...
Dear Editor: Rural access to health care has never been simpler than with Medicare Advantage. With Medicare Advantage, I know that I get quality care and peace of mind. Not only do I have affordable premiums that protect my hard-working dollars, but I also have access to benefits and programs that give me the services I need from the comfort of my ranch. With Medicare Advantage, I have more assurance that I am enrolling in a responsible and quality program. I am 1 of 30 million Americans who pays an average monthly premium...
