Blair Miller
@blairmiller.bsky.social
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Montana State News Bureau editor for Lee Newspapers
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Blair Miller
@blairmiller.bsky.social
· Jun 14
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
Blair Miller
@blairmiller.bsky.social
· May 8
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
Blair Miller
@blairmiller.bsky.social
· May 1
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
Blair Miller
@blairmiller.bsky.social
· Apr 26
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
Blair Miller
@blairmiller.bsky.social
· Apr 25
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
Blair Miller
@blairmiller.bsky.social
· Apr 18
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
Blair Miller
@blairmiller.bsky.social
· Apr 18
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
Blair Miller
@blairmiller.bsky.social
· Apr 16
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
Blair Miller
@blairmiller.bsky.social
· Apr 14
Blair Miller
@blairmiller.bsky.social
· Apr 14
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
Blair Miller
@blairmiller.bsky.social
· Mar 11
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
Blair Miller
@blairmiller.bsky.social
· Feb 13
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
Blair Miller
@blairmiller.bsky.social
· Feb 7
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
Blair Miller
@blairmiller.bsky.social
· Jan 30
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
Blair Miller
@blairmiller.bsky.social
· Jan 25
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
Blair Miller
@blairmiller.bsky.social
· Jan 18
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
Blair Miller
@blairmiller.bsky.social
· Jan 17
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