Marijuana Will be on the Ballot this Spring
Whether Yellowstone County voters want the production and sale of marijuana in Yellowstone County will be on the ballot this spring – May 4. read more
Politics
Marijuana Could Still a Ballot Issue in County
Following a discussion meeting on Thursday attended by a large group of citizens, Yellowstone County Commissioners agreed to their request to reconsider putting the issue of recreational or non-medical marijuana on the ballot for consideration by all voters in Yellowstone … read more
Election Results
The most welcomed results of the election on Tuesday, for the City of Billings was the success of the Public Safety Mill Levy. The measure was passed by a comfortable margin, 19,839 to 12,787. read more
Pitman Re-elected Chairman of Urban Counties
At the 2021 Fall Annual meeting for the Montana Association of Counties, Yellowstone County Commissioner Denis Pitman was re-elected as chairman of the Urban Counties. Cascade, Flathead, Gallatin, Lewis & Clark, Missoula, Ravalli and Yellowstone comprise the Urban counties committee, … read more
93,000 Ballots Sent out to Voters
On Wednesday, October 13, County Elections Director Brett Rutherford mailed out 93,000 ballots to voters in Yellowstone County, Billings, Laurel and Broadview. Most should have their ballot by Friday, said Rutherford. read more
Biden Administration Stripping Away the Intellectual Property Protections from Covid-19 Vaccines
The Biden administration recently announced support for a push by the World Trade Organization (WTO) to strip intellectual property protections from Covid-19 vaccines. read more
So, What Will Marijuana Vote Really Mean?
Billings’ voters will be asked to make a decision on the November ballot about whether they want to let vendors sell marijuana within the city of Billings, but given the other laws and regulations swirling about the commodity, a lot … read more
County Commissioners Approve New Budget
Yellowstone County Commissioners approved the 2021-22 Fiscal Year budget on Tuesday, after amending it to reduce the number of requested FTE’s by eight. read more
Feds Approve Montana’s COVID Education Plan and Release $127 Million more to the State
On Aug. 5, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) announced the approval of Montana’s American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) plan, and it distributed remaining ARP ESSER funds to the state. read more
City Votes to put Marijuana Back on the Ballot
While Yellowstone County outside the city limits of Billings will allow the growing, manufacturing and sale of recreational marijuana, whether those activities will be permissible within the city will be determined by Billings’ voters in a ballot measure in November. read more
Planning Department Sets Work Plan for 2022
The City County Planning Department’s work plan for 2022 continues many of the same projects as 2021 with very few changes, according to Scott Walker, who presented the plan to County Commissioners on Tuesday. read more
Governor Requests more BLM Hearings
Again, Governor Greg Gianforte called on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to provide Montanans with sufficient opportunity for in-person, public comment on the BLM’s Environmental Assessment of the American Prairie Reserve’s (APR) bison grazing proposal. read more
Voters May Vote Again on Legalizing Marijuana in Yellowstone County
Yellowstone County might be asked to vote once again on the issue of allowing businesses to sell marijuana in the county or whether to tax marijuana sales at 3 percent. read more
Billings City Council Votes Yes to Public Safety Mill Levy Increase
The Billings City Council has approved placing a $7.1 million mill levy on the November 2 ballot for public safety. A study has found that public safety is a high priority of citizens, concerned about the increase in crime in … read more
Elected Officials to Get 3% Pay Boost
Roughly speaking, Yellowstone County’s elected officials will get a three percent increase in wages for the next fiscal year, 2021-22. County Commissioners approved, on Tuesday, the recommendation for the increase submitted by the Elected Officials Compensation Board. read more
Sherry Essman Named to Replace Representative Patelis
In a unanimous vote on Tuesday, Yellowstone County Commissioners selected Sherry Essman to assume the Republican House Seat (Dist. 52) vacated with the resignation of Rep. Jimmy Patelis. Last Thursday commissioners interviewed Essman and Nelly Nicol who were among three … read more
Elected Officials Compensation Board to Meet
Ever wonder how the salaries are set for the county’s elected officials? read more
Pitman Plans Re-election Bid
Denis Pitman said he is excited to run for re-election as Yellowstone County Commissioner. His four-year term ends at the end of next year and the position is up for election in November 2022. read more
Judge Swears in New Board Members Amid Controversy of Heights Water District
Justice of the Peace David Carter swore in the newly elected board members of the Heights Water District on Wednesday morning. The action came amid uncertainty about how the monthly Heights Water District board meeting will unfold Wednesday evening. There … read more
Governor’s Programs Aim to Get Workers Back to Work
Across the state, business owners and industry organizations are heralding Governor Gianforte’s programs aimed at getting Montanans back to work. read more
