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Blair Miller
@blairmiller.bsky.social
1.3K followers 130 following 54 posts
Montana State News Bureau editor for Lee Newspapers
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Organizers call for persistence against Trump as thousands attend Helena 'No Kings' rally helenair.com/news/state-r... #mtpol #nokings
Organizers call for persistence against Trump as thousands attend Helena 'No Kings' rally
“We have a global community cheering us on, and we still have our vote. The authoritarian playbook is powerful, but is not invincible. We have no kings,” one speaker said.
helenair.com
June 14, 2025 at 11:17 PM
blairmiller.bsky.social
How a bipartisan coalition dominated the Montana Senate and fractured the Republican Party helenair.com/news/state-r... #mtleg #mtpol
How a bipartisan coalition dominated the Montana Senate and fractured the Republican Party
"I think this will be talked about for a long time," a former GOP Senate president said of the coalition that took over the upper chamber this legislative session.
helenair.com
May 8, 2025 at 2:46 PM
blairmiller.bsky.social
Montana Legislature wraps after passing property tax relief, but not without final drama helenair.com/news/state-r... #mtleg #mtpol
Montana Legislature wraps after passing property tax relief, but not without final drama
The 69th Montana Legislature adjourned Wednesday after passing sweeping property tax legislation and a far-reaching spending bill, but not before a final dose of drama in the Senate.
helenair.com
May 1, 2025 at 12:21 AM
blairmiller.bsky.social
Attorney: Man legally in Montana taken into immigration custody in Whitefish helenair.com/news/state-r... #mtpol #mtnews
Attorney: Man legally in Montana taken into immigration custody in Whitefish
This is the first case in Montana that a Missoula immigration attorney is aware of involving a person with lawful status being detained by federal immigration authorities.
helenair.com
April 26, 2025 at 2:47 PM
blairmiller.bsky.social
Pardon George Floyd’s killer? Legislative resolutions look to rewrite narratives on racism helenair.com/news/state-r... #mtleg #mtpol
Pardon George Floyd’s killer? Legislative resolutions look to rewrite narratives on racism
Many legislative resolutions generally have no effect beyond communicating a sentiment of the Legislature and are often referred to around the Capitol as "letters to Santa Claus."
helenair.com
April 25, 2025 at 8:39 PM
blairmiller.bsky.social
Judge extends temporary block on Montana trans 'bathroom bill' helenair.com/news/state-r... #mtleg #mtpol
Judge extends temporary block on Montana trans 'bathroom bill'
Less than one month after it was signed into law by Gov. Greg Gianforte, HB 121 got its first court hearing Monday in Missoula.
helenair.com
April 22, 2025 at 12:22 AM
blairmiller.bsky.social
Montana Senate coalition rebuffs GOP majority's efforts to size down $16.6 billion budget helenair.com/news/state-r... #mtleg #mtpol
Montana Senate coalition rebuffs GOP majority's efforts to size down $16.6 billion budget
The $16.6 billion budget would make significant investments in government-funded health care, correctional facilities and teacher pay, but there are differing opinions on whether lawmakers are overspe...
helenair.com
April 18, 2025 at 5:28 PM
blairmiller.bsky.social
Montana legislators, lobbyists make property tax progress behind the scenes helenair.com/news/state-r... @victoriaeavis.bsky.social #mtleg #mtpol
Montana legislators, lobbyists make property tax progress behind the scenes
A select few legislators and business lobbyists are talking behind closed doors and in hallways about how to get their preferred property tax relief bill over the finish line.
helenair.com
April 18, 2025 at 5:26 PM
blairmiller.bsky.social
Judge orders federal government to restore legal status for two MSU international students helenair.com/news/state-r... @victoriaeavis.bsky.social #mtleg #mtpol
Judge orders federal government to restore legal status for two MSU international students
U.S. District Court Judge Dana Christensen also barred the federal government from initiating deportation proceedings on the basis of the two students' revoked visas.
helenair.com
April 16, 2025 at 2:13 PM
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Bill to outlaw local 'red flag' gun laws headed to Montana governor's desk
helenair.com/news/state-r... #mtleg #mtpol
Bill to outlaw local 'red flag' gun laws headed to Montana governor's desk
Such laws are in place in 21 states to try to keep guns out of the hands of people experiencing mental illness or who have threatened themselves or others.
helenair.com
April 15, 2025 at 3:06 PM
blairmiller.bsky.social
Two MSU international students sue Trump administration over visa revocation helenair.com/news/state-r... via @victoriaeavis.bsky.social #mtpol
Two MSU international students sue Trump administration over visa revocation
Without proper visas, international students become undocumented and are required to leave the United States, or face arrest or deportation.
helenair.com
April 15, 2025 at 3:04 PM
blairmiller.bsky.social
Montana lawmakers spar over women's privacy during pregnancy care helenair.com/news/state-r... #mtleg #mtpol
Montana lawmakers spar over women's privacy during pregnancy care
The Montana Legislature advanced two bills that, according to Democrats, could put women's private medical information at risk when they seek reproductive health care.
helenair.com
April 14, 2025 at 4:38 PM
blairmiller.bsky.social
Montana House votes down bill that would have allowed wolf hunting into late spring helenair.com/news/state-r... #mtleg #mtpol
Montana House votes down bill that would have allowed wolf hunting into late spring
A bill that sought to extend Montana's wolf hunting season into late spring when wolves are raising pups went down on its final vote Friday in the state House.
helenair.com
April 14, 2025 at 4:35 PM
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NEW: Three international students at Montana State University and another at the University of Montana had their visas revoked by the Department of Homeland Security, university officials said on Friday. helenair.com/news/state-r... #mtpol #mtnews
International students at MSU and UM have visas revoked by federal government
A university spokesperson said they learned of the revocations at MSU through a routine check and did not receive any communication from the federal government.
helenair.com
April 11, 2025 at 10:29 PM
blairmiller.bsky.social
Montana Legislature: Where things stand at the session's halfway mark and what comes next helenair.com/news/state-r... #mtleg #mtpol
Montana Legislature: Where things stand at the session's halfway mark and what comes next
This week's break allows lawmakers to take a needed breath after what has been a first half filled with hundreds of bills, a few policy surprises, high drama and tension.
helenair.com
March 11, 2025 at 4:48 PM
blairmiller.bsky.social
Organizations brace for immediate effects of MT 'bathroom bill' awaiting gov's signature helenair.com/news/state-r... #mtleg #mtpol
Organizations brace for immediate effects of MT 'bathroom bill' awaiting gov's signature
House Bill 121 could wreak havoc on public employees, open up government agencies to legal battles and thrust financial costs on already-strapped programs, organizations say.
helenair.com
February 13, 2025 at 6:39 PM
blairmiller.bsky.social
Montana Senate spirals as Ellsworth ethics probe paused, investigation sent to DOJ helenair.com/news/state-r... #mtleg #mtpol
Montana Senate spirals as Ellsworth ethics probe paused, investigation sent to DOJ
The latest scrum on the Senate floor led to anger, tears, and embarrassment, some of the GOP caucus members said. Accusations of corruption flew across the chamber.
helenair.com
February 7, 2025 at 3:06 AM
blairmiller.bsky.social
Ellsworth contract updates: Ex-business associate says contract was his proposal helenair.com/news/state-r... #mtleg #mtpol
Ellsworth contract updates: Ex-business associate says contract was his proposal
Sen. Jason Ellsworth's former business partner said his reputation has been severely damaged by the audit report, which the senator's attorney said rose to the level of defamation.
helenair.com
January 30, 2025 at 3:34 AM
blairmiller.bsky.social
Montana Senate sends Ellsworth's contract controversy to ethics committee helenair.com/news/state-r... #mtleg #mtpol
Montana Senate sends Ellsworth's contract controversy to ethics committee
"The people of Montana expect that we find and adjudicate corruption in state government," Sen. Carl Glimm, R-Kalispell.
helenair.com
January 27, 2025 at 10:46 PM
blairmiller.bsky.social
Legislative audit: Sen. Ellsworth's contracts 'illegal,' 'waste of state resources' helenair.com/news/state-r... #mtleg #mtpol
Legislative audit: Sen. Ellsworth's contracts 'illegal,' 'waste of state resources'
A memo from the Legislative Audit Division calls Sen. Jason Ellsworth's attempt to skirt oversight in the bidding process "illegal" and a "waste of state resources."
helenair.com
January 25, 2025 at 12:02 AM
blairmiller.bsky.social
State's new contract with CoreCivic has no limit on out-of-state inmate transfers helenair.com/news/state-r... #mtleg #mtpol
State's new contract with CoreCivic has no limit on out-of-state inmate transfers
The new agreement includes a plan to send 240 Montana inmates to the company's private prison in Tutwiler, Mississippi.
helenair.com
January 23, 2025 at 4:39 AM
blairmiller.bsky.social
Dozens testify to support Medicaid expansion in Montana as major bills get first hearings helenair.com/news/state-r... #mtpol #mtleg
Dozens testify to support Medicaid expansion in Montana as major bills get first hearings
"If, as legislators, we choose to bury our heads in the sand … we will pay a heck of a lot more than we’re paying now with this program."
helenair.com
January 23, 2025 at 4:38 AM
blairmiller.bsky.social
Emails: Legislative staff blocked senator's initial request for controversial contract helenair.com/news/state-r... #mtleg #mtpol
Emails: Legislative staff blocked senator's initial request for controversial contract
GOP Senate President Matt Regier said he only recently learned of the $170k state-funded contract. On Friday he said he was trying to cancel it and terminate any payments.
helenair.com
January 18, 2025 at 3:55 PM
blairmiller.bsky.social
GOP Senate probing $170K state contract legislator quietly awarded to business associate helenair.com/news/state-r... #mtleg
GOP Senate probing $170K state contract legislator quietly awarded to business associate
Senate President Matt Regier said he has “very, very serious concerns” about the contract arrangement. "The more you look at it, the deeper it's getting.”
helenair.com
January 17, 2025 at 2:04 PM
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Senate President's bid to unite GOP caucus fails helenair.com/news/state-r... #mtleg #mtpol
Senate President's bid to unite GOP caucus fails
Senate President Matt Regier's effort to placate nine Republican members over a dispute about committee assignments failed on the fourth day of the Legislature.
helenair.com
January 10, 2025 at 5:34 AM