State Legislature / Gun Control

Missoulian: Bill to allow Montana bowhunters to use lighted arrows draws split

House Bill 26: Allow lighted nock on arrows while big game hunting

Missoulian: Bill would increase pot limits for live poker in Montana

House Bill 141: Revise gambling control laws

Missoulian: Effort renewed in Montana Legislature to criminalize killing a fetus

House Bill 104:

Criminalize offenses involving death to an unborn child

Missoulian: Senate committee tables bill to reduce size of Montana Legislature

Senate Bill 97:

Revise redistricting laws to reduce the number of House and Senate seats

Missoulian: Bonding bill for Missoula College, other state buildings increased 

House Bill 14: Bonding Program

Missoulian: Obama unveils $500 million gun violence package 

Presidential Memorandum -- Tracing of Firearms in Connection with Criminal Investigations 

Presidential Memorandum -- Improving Availability of Relevant Executive Branch Records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System 

Presidential Memorandum -- Engaging in Public Health Research on the Causes and Prevention of Gun Violence 

Election Registration / Sandy Aid

Missoulian: Bill to end Montana's same-day voter registration draws opposition

HB 30: Revise late registration laws

Missoulian: Sandy aid package moving toward House votes 

HR 41: To temporarily increase the borrowing authority of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency for carrying out the National Flood Insurance Program.

“Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to increase from $20.725 billion to $30.425 billion the total amount of notes and obligations (federal borrowing authority) which may be issued by the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), with the President's approval, for the National Flood Insurance program.”

H.R.152: Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 

Suicide / Bills / Crime

Missoulian:  Suicide rate among Montana's senior citizens outpaces national numbers

 U.S.A. Suicide Official Final Data

Montana Strategic Suicide Prevention Plan 

“Though we have made progress since the initiation of the inaugural Suicide Prevention Plan, Montanans are still faced with many challenges. Montana’s suicide rate remains among the highest in the Nation. Over the past seven years, suicide is the second leading cause of death for children, adolescents and young adults in our state and the rate of suicide is high throughout the life span. We have identified many areas where improvements can be made.”

Suicide Prevention 
“Suicide is a serious public health problem that can have lasting harmful effects on individuals, families, and communities. While its causes are complex and determined by multiple factors, the goal of suicide prevention is simple: Reduce factors that increase risk (i.e. risk factors) and increase factors that promote resilience (i.e. protective factors). Ideally, prevention addresses all levels of  influence: individual, relationship, community, and societal. Effective prevention strategies are needed to promote awareness of suicide and encourage a commitment to social change.”

Missoulian: Legislative preview: Budget, abortion among topics in this week's hearings 

SB12: Require temporary appropriation for state group benefit plan expenditures 

HB30: Revise late registration laws 

HB108: Revise registration and proof of identity requirements for voting

SB78: Require elementary students to be proficient in reading before advancement

SJR6: Interim study of the impacts of Montana's renewable portfolio standard 

SB31: Revise definition of eligible renewable resource

SB97 Revise redistricting laws to reduce the number of House and Senate seats

SB98: Revise redistricting laws to reduce the number of House and Senate seats 

SB41: Prohibiting consideration of future subdivision impact

SB40: Generally revising provisions governing subdivision review

HB104: Criminalize offenses involving death to an unborn child

Missoulian:  Crime reported to law enforcement rises 

 

Early 2012 Crime Stats

“According to statistics from our Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report, January-June 2012, the number of violent crimes reported by law enforcement for the first six months of 2012 increased 1.9 percent over figures from the same period in 2011. Property crimes also rose 1.5 percent overall.”

Milk / Russian Crown Jewels

Missoulian: Deal reached for stopping spike in milk prices

S . 3240 

“Establishes a dairy production margin protection program under which participating dairy operations are paid: (1) basic production margin protection program payments when production margins are less than threshold levels, and (2) supplemental production margin protection program payments if purchased by a participating dairy operation.

Provides for a transition period under which the dairy production margin protection program and the milk income loss program shall both be in existence and producers may participate in either program.”

                                           www.usgs.gov

NPR: The Mysterious Disappearance Of The Russian CrownJewels

Diamonds and Dusty Pages 
“The Russian Crown Jewels today—their value is almost unimaginable. This discovery and the documentation it will provide researchers in the future is an extremely important find not only for the USGS but for researchers around gems and gemstones worldwide.”