Author: Press Room

Montana Highlights 06-15-21

23 June 2021
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Moving 50 times over 46 plus years of marriage! Roll Up the Bedtarp, Ma is the story of a cowboys wife. Stories about a way of life that is disappearing across this country. The book includes stories of how this way of life handles daily work, weather, livestock and the serious ups and downs of life. For more information or to buy a book go to www.CowboyWideDesigns.com or email Dianne.smith62 @aol.com

Many co-working spaces provide an office that functions much like a gym. Memberships provide monthly access the facility and its features such as desks, conference rooms, kitchens and other office essentials. Co-working offers remote workers a professional setting where they can connect to businesses and customers while avoiding the costs of a traditional office. The Flathead Valley has several co-working businesses open.

Walmart and Target have both announced plans to close all their US stores for Thanksgiving 2021. Walmart, like other stores, successfully pushed more sales online to reduce crowds in its stores. Given the clout of Walmart and Target, other major retailers wll likely follow their lead  this year.

Montana’s Public Service Commission is planning to hire an executive director after an audit found commissioners were overspending on travel and the commission needed to improve its financial reporting and its work culture. The executive director position will oversee all internal administrative matters, including financial reporting and compliance with laws and policies. A posting for the job indicates it will pay between $85,000 and $105,000, plus benefits. The Public Service Commission regulates monopoly utilities, such as electricity and natural gas.

The Montana Wilderness Association has changed its name to Wild Montana. Founded in 1958  in Bozeman the organization now has a staff of 22 who are spread across Montana.

The Floral Cottage is now open at their new location in Helena at 2620 N. Sanders. The owner is Pam Lee and the business is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

Roby Burch, a Big Timber native, 26, couldn’t find a grill he wanted. He was looking for portable and versatile. So he decides to put one together himself. In 2016, while at college he made a suspended grill with some chains, pipes and a 55-gallon barrel. He moved it around to parties and cookouts. Burch developed his in Four Corners outside of bozeman. The Burch Barrel is a suspended grill that can double as a firepit. The grill hangs off a tripod-like mount and the height is adjustable.

The new owners of the Helena Cycle Center are Justin and Janessa Barrell who took over the business in early January. The phone is 443-4631 or you can visit them online at www.helenacycle.com.

Cookies and Cream! will open in mid-June at 1 W. 15th St. in Helena. Get more information @cookiesandcreammt on Facebook.

Gov. Greg Gianforte is objecting to a U.S. government proposal to alter water releases from a reservoir in northeastern Montana to help an ancient and endangered fish species the dinosaur-like pallid sturgeon.

Petals Floral Design is now open at 1900 N. Last Chance Gulch in Helena. The owner is Kathy Synness and she can be reached at 439-1771.

Senor Egg has opened in Williston ND at the former Quinn’s Bar and Grill. Senor Egg will offer a variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner specials with a Mexican American flavor. Senor Egg promises to deliver a menu that Williston hasn’t seen before, from traditional Mexican dishes to the American classics. Follow them at www.facebook.com/senior.egg.77

Williston is allowing residents to pay their bills online with a variety of methods, including cryptocurrency

A civil lawsuit between Montana residents and an oil company has been dismissed as a result of a settlement agreement. The District Court Judge announced a settlement between state residents and the Atlantic Richfield Co. but provided no details of the agreement. The lawsuit was initially filed against ARCO in April 2008 by 98 people living in the cities of Opportunity and Crackerville. The lawsuit It alleged that smelter waste was contaminating the rural communities’ soils and threatening residents’ wells. Anaconda Copper Mining Co. began smelting copper ore from Butte in the 1880. In 1977, ARCO purchased the Anaconda Co. and under the federal Superfund law, ARCO became retroactively liable for the contamination.

Driverless, electric, low-speed shuttle vehicles are coming to Yellowstone National Park — and soon. A contractor will start running the automated vehicles in late May in the Canyon Village area, shuttling visitors to yet-to-be-determined stops near the campground, commercial buildings and lodging areas. The vendor, Beep Inc. Shuttles, was selected for the pilot program, which will run through next August. Beep Inc. Shuttles is based in Orlando, Florida, and bills itself as the “next generation of passenger mobility.” The fledgling business, which is less than 2 years old, has landed major federal BUILD transportation grants to develop and deploy its technology.

A coalition of wildlife advocates and hunters, represented by the non-profit environmental law firm Earthjustice, asked the U.S. Forest Service to issue new protections for wolves in designated wilderness areas following Idaho and Montana’s enactment of a rash of aggressive anti-wolf laws. The petition asks the Service for protection of wolves in national forest wilderness areas from new Idaho and Montana laws allowing professional contractors and private reimbursement programs—resembling 19th-century wolf bounties—to dramatically reduce wolf populations in the two states.  The coalition said that the  Montana and Idaho legislatures enacted harsh anti-wolf laws that target up to 1,800 wolves. One goal of the laws is to artificially inflate elk populations – which are currently at or above population objectives in most management units – to levels last seen in the mid-1990s, before wolves were reintroduced to their historical range in the Northern Rockies.

Bozeman Health has partnered with Seattle Children’s Hospital to expand pediatric specialty medical services in Southwest Montana. There will be a total of six services offered at the new Sheehy Center of Pediatric Excellence at Deaconess Hospital. The services include pediatric cardiology, surgery, oncology, orthopedics, integrated pediatric behavioral health, and wellness services. 

A seasonal restaurant, Piccola Cucina at Ox Pasture in Red Lodge has opened for its fourth season. Chef Philip Guardione cooks authentic Sicilian food which is an amalgam of Italian cuisine influenced by all the cultures that found Sicily as their crossroads. 

After sitting mostly vacant since the early 1990s, the historic Crowley Block building in the heart of downtown Lewistown will see new life and contribute to the health of the community after an $8.6 million rehabilitation and redevelopment of the basement, first floor and mezzanine. The building at 311 W. Main St. will become the new clinical site for the One Health community health center. The project will add and expand services increasing efficiency and improving the patient experience.

In Bozeman, ACRES Capital Corp. (together with its subsidiaries, “ACRES”), a commercial real estate has originated a $29.2 million loan to fund the construction of Babcock Apartments , a nearly 80,000-square-foot multifamily building located at 1612 and 1624 West Babcock Street.  The loan is provided to sponsor Roundhouse Development (“Roundhouse”), the largest multifamily developer in Idaho and Montana. Babcock Apartments will contain 95 rental units, 105 parking spaces and 2,300 square feet of ground-floor retail space.

McDonald’s announced that they will be looking to hire 830 employees in Montana this summer as they welcome customers back into dining rooms.

Missoula-based 350 Montana has filed two complaints against the Montana Public Service Commission regarding a process that gives NorthWestern Energy the leeway to invest in resources that they say may disadvantage its customers. They ask a Missoula County District Court judge to find Montana’s “pre-approval” statute unconstitutional and to stop all pre-approval applications while the case is going through the legal process. The action could delay NorthWestern Energy’s proposed power plant in Laurel. Montana’s pre-approval statute says the Public Service Commission may sidestep the public process and give public utilities approval for energy sources prior to the utility acquiring the resources or starting construction of generating plants or other infrastructure.

Citizens Give Police High Marks; But Worried About Crime Levels

23 June 2021
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While Billings citizens give local law enforcement high marks in performance and generally feel safe in Billings, they do have some anxiety about the downtown area according to a most recent survey.

Each year the City of Billings Police issue a report regarding the past year’s activity, including a survey of citizens’ safety concerns, the kinds of issues and crimes with which police have had to deal, and how the department is structured and operates. The report is available on the City of Billings website in the document center, but here are some highlights.

Asked about the quality of life in Billings the survey revealed that eight in ten believe it is an excellent or good place to live, with three-fourths agreeing that it is a good place to raise children. A majority said they felt safe in their neighborhood during the day and at night (92 percent and 71 percent respectively). Only 83 percent said they felt safe in major recreational areas and downtown areas during the day.

About 6 in 10 respondents rated the overall feeling of safety in Billings as excellent or good – a score lower than the national average. Only 3 in 10 residents said they feel very or somewhat safe in Billings’ downtown areas and in major recreational areas at night, also a rating below the national average.

Issues of greatest concern are drug abuse, burglaries/ thefts, homeless or transient related problems, driving under the influence, domestic violence, and child abuse. More than 75 percent of respondents rated each of these factors as a major or moderate problem.

Respondents gave high marks to the job performance of the police department, despite the problems they see.

If it seems like the incidence of murder – deliberate homicide – has increased a lot in Billings – it has. A look at a ten year chart of Homicide Offenses in Billings, which include Negligent Homicide and Justifiable Homicide, is one of dramatically rising bars across its face. In 2010 there was one – just one – case of deliberate homicide and one of negligent homicide. It was much the same in 2013, when deliberate homicide increased to 4 and no negligent homicides. In 2015 there were nine deliberate homicides and 1 negligent. There were no deliberate homicides in 2016 and only one negligent. 2017 saw the first incident of justifiable homicides when there were three. In 2018 there were 5 deliberate homicides, and then three in 2019 and then the number skyrocketed to 16 in 2020, at which point there was 4 negligent homicides and two justifiable homicide.

By the end of 2020, the Police Department reported that 15 of 22 homicides had been cleared by arrest, warrant or the suspect was deceased. The other 7 cases were open or under prosecutorial review for charges.

Violent crime rates too show a dramatic increase over the past ten years, climbing from 52 robbery offenses in 2010 to 138 in 2020. Most violent crimes are assaults, followed by criminal endangerment, partner- family member assault, and assault on a minor. The number of annual aggravated assaults has increased from 206 in 2010 to 781, which includes a big jump from 2019 which had 513. Non-aggravated assaults increased from 1102 in 2010 to 1658 in 2020.

It was commonly claimed that with the COVID-19 lockdowns that the strain placed on families resulted in an increase in domestic violence, the data at the end of 2020 seems to bear out the claim. The number of Partner or Family Member Assaults jumped from 724 in 2019 to 971 in 2020. (the number was 754 in 2017.) Strangulation was a factor in 155 instances. Incidents of stalking increases from 8 in 2017 to 25 in 2020. Sexual assault increased from 175 cases in 2019 to 247 in 2020.

There were 60 kidnappings in Billings in 2020, edging back up to the record high in 2011 of 79.

Drug abuse and drug trafficking are at the top of the list of the crimes that are of greatest concern to Billings. Various aspects of law enforcement have a collaborative program in dealing with drug trafficking, called the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program (HIDTA), a component of the President’s National Drug Control Strategy, which provides federal resources to local law enforcement. The Eastern Montana HIDTA Drug Task Force was formed in 1996 as part of Rocky Mountain Region which covers Montana, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming.

Methamphetamine was the most common drug seized by law enforcement in 2020 at 56.21 pounds, followed by 42.86 pounds o marijuana. 3,476 Pharmaceuticals were seized, in addition to heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, hallucinogens, and $498,631 in assets. 198 firearms were seized, 26 drug loads were intercepted and one meth lab uncovered. During the year Billings law enforcement made 57 felony arrests 35 federal indictments, and 2 misdemeanor charges.

There are an average of 16 officers and commanders on each of the three shifts the police department operates every day. Commanders determine which part of Billings each officer – never less than nine officers — will patrol that day.

There are separate divisions within the department including Domestic Violence Investigator, Investigations, Animal Control. There are also specialized 15 other  units within the department, such as the Bicycle Patrol, the K9 unit, the Bomb Squad, SWAT, Firearm Instructors, Crisis Intervention Training, etc.

The goals of the Billings Police Department include to reduce the incident of violent crime by aggressively targeting violent criminal and drug activity, to continue to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organization and by adding additional officers to the Street Crimes Unit.

The department intends to strengthen traffic enforcement y by fully sting the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) and augmenting it with K9 (dogs) officers. They have installed electronic equipment that will reduce time involved in issuing and processing citations, and they have added speed trailers for neighborhood monitoring.

Other goals include improving response time, making reporting crime easier, and to more extensively implement crime prevention through Environmental Design which involves improving the appearance of neighborhoods, improving lighting and removing visual obstructions, etc. And, to continue relationships and cooperation with other local associations, businesses, schools and medical facilities.

Small Business Group Sues MLB

22 June 2021
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The Center Square

A small business advocacy organization has sued Major League Baseball to return the All-Star Game to Atlanta.

In the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the Job Creators Network demands executives immediately resume plans to host the game in Atlanta or pay $100 million in damages to local and state small businesses.

“MLB robbed the small businesses of Atlanta – many of them minority-owned – of $100 million, we want the game back where it belongs,” Job Creators Network President and CEO Alfredo Ortiz said. 

MLB moved the game from Atlanta to Denver after the Georgia General Assembly approved and Gov. Brian Kemp signed an elections overhaul bill into law on March 25. The bill had many tentacles, including revamping absentee voting in the state.

Under the bill, absentee voters will have to write their driver’s license number, identification card number, voter registration number or the last four digits of their Social Security number with their birthdate on ballots. The measure also made changes to the locations of ballot drop boxes and bans mobile polling stations.

Proponents said the law increases election security and integrity. Opponents argued it will disenfranchise Black voters.

Montana Supreme Court Declares SB140 Constitutional

22 June 2021
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The Montana Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of the Governor making appointments to the Supreme Court and District Courts.

The decision is in response to a challenge to SB140, a recently enacted law that abolished the Judicial Nomination Commission. The commission that was responsible for screening applicants for vacancies on the Supreme Court and District Courts and forwarding nominees to the Governor for appointment to those vacancies.

SB 140 replaced the Commission with a process that allows the Governor to consider any applicant who received a letter of support from at least three adult Montana residents during a prescribed public comment period. The Judicial Nomination Commission was created by the 1973 Legislature in response to the enactment of Article VII, Section 8(2) of the 1972 Montana Constitution, which provides that “[f]or any vacancy in the office of supreme court justice or district court judge, the governor shall appoint a replacement from nominees selected in the manner provided by law.”

The Petitioners contended that Article VII, Section 8(2) required the creation of a separate commission or committee to screen applicants for judicial vacancies. The Petitioners argued that the purpose of Article VII, Section 8(2) was to ensure the appointment of quality judges who were free of political influence, and that the abolishment of the Commission violated that purpose by giving unfettered discretion to the Governor for appointing justices and judges.

Respondents argued that the plain language of Article VII, Section 8(2) gave the Legislature the discretion to prescribe the manner in which justices and judges are appointed and did not require an independent commission to screen applicants. The Court agreed with Petitioners that the purpose of Article VII, Section 8(2) was to ensure the appointment of good judges, and that the intent of the Framers of the Constitution had to be properly considered in determining a provision’s constitutionality.

After reviewing the transcripts from the Constitutional Convention, however, the Court concluded that neither the plain language of Article VII, Section 8(2), nor the Framers’ intent indicated that Article VII, Section 8(2) required an independent commission to screen applicants. Rather, the language of Article VII, Section 8(2) was a compromise among some Constitutional Convention Delegates who wanted a commission, and others who wanted to give more discretion to the Governor. The compromise delegated the process for making judicial appointments to the Legislature. Although the Court acknowledged that the Commission created by the 1973 Legislature had honored the constitutional objective of recruiting good judges to serve the citizens of Montana for the past forty-eight years, it was not the Court’s function to determine whether the Commission was a better process than SB 140 for making judicial appointments—it was to determine whether SB 140 complied with the language and constitutional intent of Article VII, Section 8(2).

The Court held that it does.

Justice Rice wrote a separate concurring opinion to condemn “the extraordinary, indeed, extraconstitutional, actions taken by the Legislature and the Department of Justice.

Justice Rice addressed at length the failure of the Legislature and the Department of Justice to “demonstrate a proper understanding of the Judiciary’s constitutional authority.” He addressed the historical importance to our constitutional system of government that requires each branch of government to respect the other branches’ constitutional authority, and the perils to our democracy when one branch of government ignores the constitutional separation of powers. Justice Rice also addressed the “duplicitous actions” engaged in by the Legislature’s attorneys in their filings with this Court.

Despite finding this conduct “dishonest and contemptuous,” Justice Rice assessed the merits of the issue before the Court and concurred with the Court’s decision that SB 140 is constitutional.

Justice McKinnon dissented from the Court’s decision. She concluded that SB 140 violated the plain language of Article VII, Section 8(2), which requires that “nominees [be] selected.” Justice McKinnon would hold that SB 140 establishes only an application process that is not a merit-based selection process as required by Article VII, Section 8(2). Noting that when interpreting constitutional provisions, the intent of the Framers is controlling, Justice McKinnon discussed Montana’s history of political corruption, executive overreach into the courts, and the constitutional provision itself, and would hold that applying well-established rules of construction for determining the Framers’ intent in reviewing Constitutional Convention Notes, prior legislative determinations regarding the Framers’ intent, and this Court’s precedent lead to a conclusion that SB 140 is unconstitutional.

Justice McKinnon concluded that the Framers of the 1972 Constitution intended to limit the Governor’s plenary power to make judicial appointments which existed under the 1889 Constitution. Justice McKinnon noted that at the core of the Framers’ convictions was an intent to preserve the integrity and independence of Montana’s judiciary, and to ensure that power was not disproportionately placed in one branch of government. Justice McKinnon concluded that SB 140, because it gives plenary power to the Governor to appoint judges from self-nominated applicants without an independent merit-based vetting process, is inconsistent with the Framers’ intent, and violates Montana’s Constitution

Metra Park Names Alcohol Vendor

22 June 2021
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The Billings Breakfast Exchange Club and Anderson Management have been selected to serve alcohol at the First Interstate Arena at MetraPark. After a competitive bidding process, they were selected as the preferred vendors.

“We’re happy to welcome back Breakfast Exchange and excited to begin our relationship with Anderson Management,” said Tim Goodridge, MetraPark Assistant General Manager. “Working with these two organizations ensures great customer service and preserves the charitable capacity so important to our community.”

Interested vendors were invited to tour the First Interstate Arena and submit RFPs (request for proposals) to serve alcohol in the arena. The submitted RFPs were then evaluated by a selection committee and their recommendation was made to the county.

“The decision to bid out the alcohol sales contract, or any MetraPark contract, is not a critique of a partnership,” said Goodridge, “but an ongoing obligation, on behalf of the County, to regularly bid out contracts. This is standard business practice and state law that vendor contracts need to be revisited every so often as a matter of good government. As we start to think about the future of MetraPark and investing in new infrastructure, now is a good time to improve the way we do business overall.”

Letter to the Editor – Alan Olson

22 June 2021
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Has Billings Mayor Bill Cole Forgotten 1000 Workers in Yellowstone County?

By Alan Olson, Montana Petroleum Association

It was reported recently in the Billings Gazette that Mayor Cole was enthusiastically doing the obligatory political ribbon cutting thing to celebrate a new business venture in Billings. The new venture is in the business of selling electricity to fuel electric vehicles (EVs). This new business venture is on city owned property and paid for with public dollars. While I am not ideologically opposed to EVs, – I believe everyone has a market choice – but this ceremony was a little out of the ordinary. 

The Mayor definitely put his own spin on things. Rather than simply cutting a ribbon for this new public venture, Mayor Cole cut a gasoline hose with an electric saw while telling the crowd; “Today marks the beginning of a new era.”  “A small step forward on what I’m sure is going to be a long journey of electrifying personal transportation … in Montana and, yes, even in Billings.”

The Big Sky Business Journal’s Hot Sheet remarked Mayor Cole’s “ribbon cutting” was more a demonstration of “cutting of ties to carbon-based fuels, rather than a ribbon cutting.”

I hope Mayor Cole recognizes the contributions the three Yellowstone County refineries add to the Billings economy and the hard-working people that keep those refineries operating to supply fuel to his other constituents. I hope Mayor Cole recognizes that when those ties to carbon-based fuels are gone so will the jobs at the refineries be gone. Has Billings Mayor Bill Cole forgotten those 1000 workers in Yellowstone County? Surely, with the Biden Administration announcing plans to source metals from abroad, Mayor Cole does not believe refinery workers will find new employment in the EV business – does he?

Chase Bank Names Duncan Market Director

22 June 2021
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Chase has named veteran banker Claudius Duncan as its market director of banking in Montana and Wyoming where the bank recently announced its market expansion.

Duncan and his family recently relocated to Cheyenne from Buena Park, where he led a team of bankers serving Chase customers in California. He brings nearly 15 years of banking leadership to his new role, and has been with Chase since 2007.

A graduate of Johnson & Wales University, Duncan earned his associate degree in Science Business Administration in 2004. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Operations Management.

“Claudius’s experience working as a New Build & In-Store Sales & Strategy Support Manager, coupled with his proven leadership skills, position him well to lead our market expansion teams in Montana and Wyoming,” said Dan Deegan,  head of market expansion for JPMorgan Chase.

Duncan is an active member of the community. He currently enjoys serving on the Boys and Girls Club of America, Diversity & Inclusion Council and the JPMorgan Chase Black Organization for Leadership Development. Most recently, while still in CA, he also coached his children’s soccer and basketball teams at the local YMCA.

THE FINANCIAL FOCUS – Father’s Day Gifts…for your kids.

21 June 2021
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By Michael A Vondra, Certified Financial Planner Practitioner Edward Jones

If you’re a dad, you may be in line to get some nice gifts on Father’s Day. But your greatest gift may be your ability to help your children. One way of doing that is to get them started in the world of investing – and making a few investments on their behalf.

Here are three possibilities:

— 529 plan – If you invest in a 529 education savings plan, your earnings can grow federally tax-free, provided the money is used for qualified educational expenses. (Withdrawals not used for these expenses will generally incur taxes and penalties on investment earnings.) If you invest in your own state’s 529 plan, you might receive some state tax benefits, too, depending on how your state’s tax laws apply to 529 plans. State-by-state tax treatment may vary, so you’ll need to consult with your tax professional about your situation.

Provided you stay within certain limits, you can also use a 529 plan to pay for qualified K-12 expenses and registered apprenticeship programs. And you can even use it to repay certain qualified student loans, within limits.

A 529 plan can affect financial aid, but its effect is generally lower than that of other assets. And as the account owner, you have control of your 529, so, if one child decides not to go to college or pursue further education, you can switch beneficiaries. 

—UGMA/ UTMA account – When you establish a special type of custodial account known as either UGMA (Uniform Gift to Minors Act) or UTMA (Uniform Transfers to Minors Act), you are providing financial resources that can be used for education or another purpose that benefits your child, such as summer programs.

One potential benefit of an UGMA or UTMA is that some of the earnings will be taxed at the child’s rate, which is likely lower than your own. Plus, UGMA/UTMA accounts typically allow a wide range of investment choices. However, once children reach the age of majority (typically 18 or 21) they gain complete access to the money and can do whatever they want with it. 

— IRA – A child with any taxable compensation, such as money from an after-school job, is eligible to fund an IRA. You may want to open one on your child’s behalf – and you can “sweeten” the offer by matching some of their contributions. You can’t directly invest in the IRA, but you can give your child money for that purpose. Keep in mind, though, that the total amount contributed can’t exceed your child’s taxable compensation for the year.

An IRA is a great introduction to the world of investing. For one thing, your child can make small contributions throughout the year, so investing in an IRA doesn’t seem burdensome. Also, since an IRA can be invested in different types of securities, your child can learn about various investment vehicles – stocks, bonds, mutual funds and so on. Plus, you can point out that, with a traditional IRA, taxes won’t be due on the earnings until your child starts taking withdrawals decades from now. (And with a Roth IRA, withdrawals are tax-free, provided certain conditions are met.)

On Father’s Day, you can show your appreciation for whatever gifts you receive from your children. But by investing in their future, you can gain some longer-term contentment.  

Red States Have Lowest Unemployment Rates

21 June 2021
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The Center Square

Republican-led states and Vermont reported the lowest unemployment rates in April, according to a new report by the U.S. Commerce Department. States led by Democratic governors recorded the highest jobless rates, according to the report.

Unemployment rates were lower in April in 12 states and the District of Columbia and stable in 38 states, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

States with the highest unemployment rates in April were Hawaii (8.5%), California (8.3%), New Mexico and New York (both at 8.2%), and Connecticut (8.1%). All five states with the highest unemployment are run by Democratic trifectas, meaning Democrats control the governor’s office and both houses of the state legislature.

The four states with the lowest jobless rates in April were all run by Republican trifectas: Nebraska, New Hampshire, South Dakota and Utah, with 2.8% each. Vermont, with a Republican governor and a Democratic-controlled state House and Senate, ranked fifth-best with an unemployment rate of 2.9%.

Overall, 31 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. national average of 6.1%. The majority – 26 – are Republican-led states. Of the 19 states and the District of Columbia with jobless rates higher than the national average, 14 are led by Democrats.

However, the three largest unemployment rate decreases year-over-year from April 2020 to April 2021 occurred in blue states: Nevada, (down 21.5%), Michigan (down 18.7%), and Hawaii (down 13.4%). Ten other states also saw declines of 10% or more.

The report came out as the Dallas Federal Reserve reported lowered expectations for May job growth.

Dallas Federal Reserve President Robert Kaplan said that hiring difficulties have continued through May and will likely lead to another weak jobs report following the lower-than-expected 266,000 positions added in April. The next jobs report is expected to be published June 4.

According to a Dallas Fed survey, weakening job growth is attributed to several factors, including extended additional federal unemployment payments and a lack of childcare options for working parents.

“These structural issues, which we saw in the report for April … all those tensions are not going to go away” immediately, Kaplan said at a Dallas Fed conference on technology. “We think you are going to see another odd or unusual report. … Businesses are telling us they got plenty of demand, but they cannot find workers either skilled or unskilled.”

Republican governors in at least 22 states moved to drop the additional federal payment in response to businesses having difficulty finding people to hire because they were making more or enough money receiving unemployment checks than working. Texas was among the last to do so last week.

MPA Expresses Concerns Over President’s BLM Nominee

21 June 2021
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A Montanan, Tracy Stone-Manning of Missoula has been nominated by President Biden to be Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The appointment has stirred concern by the Montana Petroleum Association (MPA) which points to Stone-Manning’s recent testimony before a natural resources committee about the way the BLM manages public lands regarding oil and gas leasing.

She erroneously told the committee that BLM-managed lands leased for oil and gas development, force the Interior Department to manage those lands predominantly for oil and gas development rather than addressing the needs of people and wildlife, claims Alan Olson, Executive Director of the MPA, in a recent release.

Only 3.7% of the 700 million acres of BLM managed Federal minerals are under lease. Lands under active production amounted to only 1.8% at the end of FY 2018. Even the lands that are under lease are not managed predominantly for oil and gas development in Montana, stated Olson. As a matter of fact, these lands are still open for recreation as well as grazing and timber unless those activities too are tied up in litigation. As for wildlife issues, many Federal oil and gas leases contain stipulations to accommodate wildlife from seasonal use restrictions to going as far as to prohibit surface occupancy. So, there is management outside and over the mineral lease itself for recreation and wildlife, said Olson.

Stone-Manning is Senior Advisor for Conservation Policy and the National Wildlife Federation. She has been described as a “longtime environmental advocate and Democratic aide”, having served as chief of staff for former Gov. Steve Bullock and as an aide to Democratic Sen. Jon Tester. She was also formerly a  spokesperson for the environmental group Earth First.

The BLM functions within the Interior Department and has jurisdiction over about a quarter-billion acres and one-third of the nation’s underground minerals, including oil, natural gas and coal reserves. The agency regulates drilling, mining, grazing and other activities.

In her testimony, Stone-Manning lamented that there are already 7,600 unused drilling permits issued, why lease more federal minerals? Olson responded, “Many of those permits are sitting in suspension. Some are suspended due to litigation by organizations such as the National Wildlife Federation and other environmental groups. Other permits are sitting due to the current economics of the industry. But at the end of the day those permits still brought in over $82 million in just permit fees not counting lease bonus fees and annual rental payments. In contrast, BLM permit fees are 72 to 400 times the cost of a comparable State of Montana permit for the same depth of well on State or private minerals.”

Prior to the COVID pandemic, in 2018 BLM lease sales generated over $1.1 billion in revenue from oil and gas lease bonus bids, first-year rental fees, and administrative fees while costing the BLM about $165 million appropriated from Congress in FY 2018 for a return of 85%. In 2020 the royalty payments to the Federal Government brought in $4.6 billion additionally over leasing and permitting revenue. Annual revenues provided to the U.S. Treasury through Federal mineral development is second only to that provided by the Internal Revenue Service, pointed out Olson.

Lands managed by the BLM are for the most part, to be managed for multiple use. Multiple use means just that, multiple, many, numerous, various, uses. Not just for one segment of the population but within reason, all uses. Oil and gas leases on less than 4% of the Federal mineral estate do not prevent other uses for the same lands. We are hoping Ms. Stone-Manning will see the positive impacts from the BLM’s minerals management.