WASHINGTON, June 28 -- The American Federation of Teachers issued the following news release: American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and Montana Federation of Public Employees President Eric Feaver today issued the following joint statement on the U.S. Supreme Court's agreement to hear oral arguments on the Montana-based case Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue: Weingarten said: "The separation of church and state harkens back to the beginnings of the U.S. Constituti  more

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona, June 28 -- The Alliance Defending Freedom issued the following statement by John Bursch, senior counsel and vice president of appellate advocacy, regarding the Supreme Court's decision to take up Espinoza vs. Montana Department of Revenue, which addresses the question whether states may oust parents and children from neutral benefit programs because they choose a religious private school: "States cannot base laws on hostility to religion. Likewise, no provision of Montana's  more

WASHINGTON, June 28 -- The American Federation for Children issued the following statement by President John Schilling: The U.S. Supreme Court today granted certiorari in the Espinoza vs. Montana Department of Revenue case which centers on an educational choice tax credit. "We are incredibly pleased to learn that the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments this fall on the Montana tax credit scholarship case, which could fundamentally alter the landscape for school choice across the country. Th  more

MISSOULA, Montana, June 27 -- The Center for Biological Diversity issued the following news release: The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today challenging the Trump administration's failure to update the federal recovery plan for grizzly bears. An updated plan should reflect current science and consider additional areas where grizzlies once lived and can now be reintroduced. Scientists have identified numerous such areas, including California's Sierra Nevada, the southern Rocki  more

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, June 28 -- The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice issued the following statement by Vice President Leslie Hiner on the announcement that the Supreme Court will hear arguments in an important school choice case next term: "The U.S. Supreme Court threw a lifeline to children and families in Montana today when they agreed to accept Espinoza vs Montana Dept of Revenue for consideration next term. Parents who chose to accept scholarships from tax credit scholarship org  more

ARLINGTON, Virginia, June 28 -- The Institute for Justice issued the following news release: * * * - Montana Supreme Court Ruled State May Discriminate Against Parents Who Select Religious Schools for Their Children * * * The U.S. Supreme Court announced today it will hear an appeal of the most important school choice case in the nation--a case in which the Montana Supreme Court ruled the government must exclude religious options for parents who want to participate in a generally available t  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy issued the following news release: Drivers in 12 states who hit the road during this summer driving season will be paying more in gas tax beginning Monday, July 1. While the federal gas tax has remained stagnant for nearly 26 years, many states have stepped up and increased their taxes so they can raise revenue to fund infrastructure and other projects. California, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Rhode I  more

WASHINGTON, June 22 -- The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards issued the following news: Bayliss Ward, NCARB, AIA, of Bozeman, Montana, was elected treasurer of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) at its 2019 Centennial Annual Business Meeting. Ward has previously served terms as the organization's secretary and director of Region 5. Ward has served on the Montana Board of Architects and Landscape Architects since 2005, including over a decade a  more

GREAT FALLS, Montana, June 25 -- The Montana Farmers Union issued the following news: The MFU mid-year is an opportunity for members to come together to talk policy and tour the various areas of agriculture in particular regions of the state. Last year the mid-year was held at MSU Bozeman, this year MFU focused its attention on exploring agriculture in the Flathead Valley. The event kicked off Wednesday morning with a tour of Plum Creek Timber Company. Secondly, the group traveled to Flathead  more

MISSOULA, Montana, June 27 -- The National Forest Foundation issued the following news: A 6 AM alpine start, snow-shoeing to a summit, followed by local beer, barbecue and bluegrass... If this sounds like a perfect day in Colorado, you're on the right track. It is also the perfect day to celebrate Quandary Peak! The NFF recently came together with Find Your Fourteener partners Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI), Friends of the Dillon Ranger District, Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, Rocky M  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- The National Governors Association issued the following news release: The nation's governors will convene in Salt Lake City, Utah, July 24-26 for the National Governors Association's (NGA) annual Summer Meeting, during which state leaders will share best practices, hear from experts in a variety of fields, and enjoy concerts and a rodeo in a picturesque mountain setting. During the meeting, Montana Governor Steve Bullock will hand the reins to Maryland Governor Larry Hog  more

GENEVA, Switzerland, June 27 -- The Sierra Club Foundation issued the following statement by Living Economy Program Director Ben Beachy on the U.S. clean energy programs: Today, the World Trade Organization (WTO) sided with India in response to the country's 2016 WTO complaint against U.S. buy-local policies in eight state-level clean energy programs. The ruling threatens the future of the policies in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, and Washington  more

MISSOULA, Montana, June 24 -- The Sierra Club issued the following news release: The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee on Tuesday will consider implementing additional measures to reduce conflicts between grizzly bears and people in the northern Rockies, as requested by conservation groups and others. The number of grizzly bear deaths has spiked to unprecedented levels in recent years. In 2018, at least 120 bears died in the Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide regions. Most were prev  more