Author: Press Room

Montana Has Low Positivity Rates

31 August 2020
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In a state-by-state breakdown of positivity rates, in testing for the COVID -19 virus in nursing homes, Montana is in the lowest category – those states with less than a five percent positive rate.

The study was released by American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living. With 71 nursing homes, Montana’s positivity rate is 4.2 percent.

The agencies are concerned about the 33 states that have positivity rates higher than 5 percent- – ranging from Arizona with 22.7 percent to Oregon with 5.1 percent. Maine and Vermont have the lowest rates at 0.7 percent.

Since July 26, there are 33 states with a positive test rate of over five percent, underscoring the need for increased testing and PPE to keep the virus from spreading.  Many states still have a significant percentage of facilities without vital PPE, including N95 masks, surgical masks, and gowns, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

 On July 22, 2020, the CMS announced that, “[they] will begin requiring, rather than recommending, that all nursing homes in states with a 5% positivity rate or greater test all nursing home staff each week.” If implemented today, 11,640 nursing homes would be required to conduct such weekly testing.

 AHCA/NCAL represents more than 14,000 nursing homes and assisted living facilities. 

MDU Reports 2nd Quarter

31 August 2020
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MDU Resources Group, Inc. reported second quarter earnings of $99.7 million, or 50 cents per share, a 61% increase over second quarter 2019 earnings of $61.8 million, or 31 cents per share. For the six months ended June 30, MDU Resources earned $124.8 million, or 62 cents per share, compared to $102.7 million, or 52 cents per share, in 2019.

Said David L. Goodin, president and CEO of MDU Resources, “Our operations performed extremely well in the quarter, with record revenues and earnings at both our construction businesses and very strong results from our regulated energy delivery businesses.

“Our geographic diversity and focus on midsize markets has served us well …. Our utility and pipeline operations continue to provide needed energy … and our total construction backlog remains at a near-record level of nearly $2.2 billion.” The construction materials business had record second quarter revenues and earnings. Revenues were $621.1 million, compared to $596.0 million for the same period last year, and earnings of $53.0 million were an 82% increase over second quarter 2019 earnings of $29.2 million.

Mason O’Donnell Joins Stockman Bank

31 August 2020
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Mason O’Donnell recently joined Stockman Bank as a Financial Analyst. His responsibilities include modeling interest rate and liquidity risk; and assisting in the analysis of the balance sheet strategies, funding options and firm capitalization.

 He will also provide credit write-ups and analysis on fixed income investments for the bank’s bond portfolio, as well as the reporting of key measurements, performance ratios and credit standards.

O’Donnell earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Finance at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa in 2019. He is currently a level 2 candidate in the CFA program.

He is located at 2700 King Avenue West and can be reached at 406-655-3989.

HUB Drop-In Center in Downtown Billings to Close

31 August 2020
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The HUB Drop-In Center in Downtown Billings with be closing its doors, effective October 1. The Board of Directors for the Mental Health Center made the difficult decision at its July meeting, after months of serious consideration of multiple alternatives.

The decision to close The HUB allows the Mental Health Center to maintain all other services at full capacity, said Board Chairman, Carl Seilstad, including the “Project to Assist in the Transition from Homelessness” or PATH program. That program will be relocated to the Center’s main campus on North 29th Street. The Mental Health Center serves many other vulnerable populations including military veterans, senior citizens, people with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders, and families with youth experiencing their first psychotic break.

The Region III Mental Health Center is a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to the establishment, development and maintenance of high-quality mental health and chemical dependency care in South Central Montana. The Mental Health Center has been serving the needs of our community since 1971.

The programs and services provided by the Mental Health Center:

—Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT)

The PACT Team helps individuals with severe disabling mental illness maintain independence and remain in a community setting.  From a psychiatrist and nurses to therapists and rehab aides, nearly 90 clients are visited daily by the PACT team.

—Projects to Assist in the Transition from Homelessness (PATH)

Previously located at The HUB, the PATH program will move to 1245 N. 29th St., located between the MSUB and hospital campuses. Clients in the PATH program receive extensive case management services and are actively working to overcome homelessness.

—Early Psychosis Intervention Clinic (EPIC)

The first psychotic break experienced by a teen or young adult can be traumatizing for both the patient and their family members. In partnership with Billings Clinic, the Mental Health Center offers a wraparound approach for youth 15-21 through the EPIC program.

—Regional Satellite Offices

Satellite offices in Columbus, Big Timber, Red Lodge, Roundup, and Lewistown provide services for individuals in our rural and frontier areas. Services include both mental health and addiction counseling. 

—Rainbow House Day Treatment Center

Seniors, people with disabilities and individuals with mental illness often utilize the Rainbow House as a safe space to gather, learn, eat and build relationships. The facility near North Park also houses CPR, Mental Health First Aid and other community trainings.

—Group Home and Community Apartments

The Mental Health Center operates a group home for a small number of carefully-screened individuals who stand to benefit greatly from a structured residential setting. The nonprofit also maintains a few apartments donated to the organization for affordable housing.

— Journey Recovery Program

Substance Use Disorders can cause long-term health problems and often interferes with relationships at work, school or home. Our Licensed Addiction Counselors offer clients a supportive environment and a pathway to recovery through evidence-based treatment.

—Outpatient Therapy

For some individuals, a few counseling sessions is all that is needed to regain control of their lives. For others, therapy can take longer to yield the same results. The Mental Health Center’s team of licensed clinicians is here to offer hope and share solutions.

—Psychiatric Services

Once someone is diagnosed with a mental illness that requires pharmaceutical intervention, the prescribers at the Mental Health Center offer medication management at an affordable rate that is covered by many different insurance carriers, including Medicare and Medicaid.

 The Region III Mental Health Center is a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to the establishment, development and maintenance of high-quality mental health and chemical dependency care in South Central Montana. The Mental Health Center has been serving the needs of our community since 1971. Our compassionate, caring staff is experienced in a wide variety of counseling services including individual and family counseling and psychiatric services. Our ultimate goal at the Mental Health Center is to help people of all ages overcome the roadblocks that keep them from enjoying a healthy, happy, productive life. 

Dig it Days to be Cancelled

31 August 2020
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After an exciting inaugural event last August, the goal of organizers this year was to make Dig It Days bigger and better, so it is with great dismay that Yellowstone County News and Dig It Days sponsors and volunteers, have decided it is best to cancel the event this year because of the uncertainties associated with the COVID-19 virus.

The very first Dig it Days was launched last summer by Yellowstone County News as a unique fundraising event that offers a wonderful experience for the whole family— fun, educational and entertaining.

With the biggest display of static heavy equipment, trucks, farm equipment, and emergency services vehicles ever assembled in Yellowstone County, kids explored, inspected, crawled around, climbed on, up and over the equipment, taking pictures and pretending to operate, unimpeded by time restraints or silly “rule-making” adults.  They were able to operate a back hoe for real and play to their hearts content in a mountain of sand, with lots of toys. Booths offered other fun activities and food. There were free t-shirts, and admission was $5 per person with the proceeds going to local non-profit organizations for children.

Sponsors, which included Northwestern Energy, RDO, Knife River, and Exxon Mobile Pipeline Co, remain excited about the opportunity Dig It Days offers to introduce children to the world of construction on the way to shaping future careers and an understanding of the world. Despite this year’s disappointment they too are looking forward to producing an even greater event next summer.

Dig it Days is the kind of event that Jonathan and Tana McNiven, owners of the Yellowstone County News, have always wanted to be part of. “It’s educational, family wholesome, constructive and supportive of business and the community,” said McNiven.

Denbury Resources Declares Bankruptcy

31 August 2020
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Denbury Resources, Inc., a Texas-based oil company doing business in eastern Montana, has petitioned for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Denbury was noted for its focus on recovering stranded oil reserves from mature fields using enhanced oil recovery, including sequestering carbon dioxide, which was extracted from fields in Wyoming.

The company is hoping to shed about $2.1 billion of its bond debt. It has secured lenders for interim funding and anticipates continuing its operations and paying employees wages and benefits.

“We look forward to emerging a financially stronger company, and we are excited about building on the multiple advantages of our unique CO2 EOR (Enhanced Oil Recovery) focused strategy for many years to come,” said Denbury’s President and CEO, Chris Kendall 

Demand for Manufactured Goods Shoots Up

31 August 2020
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The U.S. Department of Commerce reported June 25th that new orders for U.S. manufactured goods shot up 15.8 percent in May, recovering some of the steep coronavirus-related losses suffered in March and April.

New orders for U.S. manufactured goods stood at $194.4 billion for the month of May, compared to $167.8 billion in April.

May’s significant gain was overwhelmingly led by the transportation equipment sector, which rocketed by an unprecedented 80.7%. Transportation equipment orders stood at $46.9 billion in May.

Additional industries posting significant gains in new orders included motor vehicles & parts (+27.5%); primary metals (+9.1%); fabricated metals (+7.1%); and computers & related products (+4.2%). fabricated metals (+%); motor vehicles & parts (-1.6%) and fabricated metals (-1.5%). Notably, all manufacturing subsectors posted a gain in new orders – the reverse of April and March’s report in which most sectors posted a loss.

County Taxable Value Up Slightly

31 August 2020
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Newly taxable property – largely comprised of new construction—amounted to $6,955,867 in Yellowstone County, helping to boost total taxable value in the county to $396,628,206, based upon a total market value of all real property in the county of $21.8 billion. (Taxable value is a modified sum,  different than market value.)

The new taxable property compensated for a slight decline in total taxable value this year for the county due mostly to adjustments to centrally assessed properties that resulted in a slight contraction, according to Yellowstone County Finance Director Kevan Bryan.

Bryan compared that to Gallatin County, which grew five times more and “continues to lead the state in valuation.”

Because of the newly taxable property the total taxable value for Yellowstone County increased 1.8 percent, including adjustment for inflation of just over one percent.

Last year, the total taxable value — based on $21.6 billion in market value of property in the county — was $391,347,690.  

Given the taxable property value, taxpayers will see a levy of 96.45 mills on their tax bills, up just a bit from 95.18 mills last year. Bryan said that that amounts to an increase of about $1.35 on a $100,000 house.

County revenue will increase about $1 million, which gets disbursed to dozens of department budgets from the General Fund and the Bridge fund to Weed, Seniors, Extension Service, Sheriff’s Department, etc.

Total County Budget is $56 million.

Billings 4th Most Affordable

31 August 2020
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A study on the “Most Affordable Metros in the West” places Billings as the 4th most affordable midsize metro in the Western US, according to advisorsmith.com. In comparison to cities of all size in the West, Billings ranked 21.

“Our study analyzed the cost of living in 111 metropolitan areas from the 13 Western states. We used our Cost of Living Index to measure the affordability of food, housing, utilities, transportation, healthcare, and consumer spending, explained Brenda Franco, Public Relations Specialist for advisorsmith.com.

The analysis discovered:

—Billings’ cost of living index was 97 and the city has a cost of living 3% lower than the national average.

—Billings is more affordable than other Montana cities including Helena, Missoula, and Kalispell.

—Overall, Billings ranked #21 in affordability among metros of all sizes in the West.

Ranking in first place for Midsize cities was Las Cruces, NM; Pueblo, CO; and Yuma, AZ.

In the category of Small cities, Great Falls ranked 7th.

In Large cities Albuquerque led the way, with Spokane ranked 4th.

The American West consists of 13 states that cover over half the land area of the country and almost a quarter of the population, from the mountain ranges of the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada to the Pacific Coast. Western states include some of the country’s fastest-growing cities and most dynamic economies, along with rural areas, plains, and farmland.

Wise Wonders has Some Wise Plans

28 August 2020
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Wise Wonders Science and Discovery Museum has launched a Vision Campaign, showcasing plans for the future of the Museum, located at 3024 2nd Avenue North in downtown Billings.

“During the closure, Wise Wonders determined the time was right to make the most of our closed doors,” explained Executive Director Pete Bolenbaugh. “We’ve been hard at work creating a vision for the future of the Museum in our new space, and we’re thrilled for the community to share in our excitement for what’s to come.”

Wise Wonders Maker Space

Included in future plans for the Museum are a fully functioning maker space and workshop, as well as exhibits and programming content that will focus on science, inquiry-based education, and interactive play. The vision creates new spaces for older children, tweens and teens and enhances the experience for younger children. In keeping with the mission of the organization, all plans encourage interactive learning through play and exploration.

Wise Wonders Exhibit Space

“Wise Wonders is a treasured space in the Billings community,” shared board president Kelly McCandless. “While we are eager for the return of joyful voices learning in the Museum, we are truly making use of this time to create an even better Wise Wonders experience for years to come.”