Head of the Montana State News Bureau covering everything under the Big Sky. Superfan of all dogs. Must be fed regularly, or else. holly.michels
@lee
.net
But today press was not allowed to take notes from the public area of the room. Credentials not needed for this space, it's for the public that comes to speak on bills.
Lobbyists, etc, are on laptops all the time in this space. Regier said no laptops today was specific to press.
House Judiciary Chair Amy Regier limited press from being able to take notes in the public area of the meeting room today.
They have limited the number of press allowed in the media area all session, that's the chair's prerogative.
#mtpol
#mtleg
Meet Murray John, 5 pounds and 11 ounces of wonder who came onto the scene ready for a snack just like his mom and looks like a tiny version of his dad.
I’ll be away from Montana journalism for a few months while this buddy starts learning all about the whole wide world.
Travel bloggers in Montana are like: “We felt the pull of the open road, so we stocked up on provisions and traversed the pass over Route 90 from Bozeman to Livingston, a 30-mile journey that took us back in time to the Authentic West.”
Leadership directed a sgt to have press leave the anteroom. We just asked for clarification since the 2-hr rule is not in place since there’s no floor session that we are two hours away from. We also asked that they have lawmakers or their team come speak to us to explain.
@Elana_Brooklyn
@civilagain
@slooterman
One doc told me the lumps I could feel on the outside of my body were “probably poop” and another gyno said they weren’t a big deal. Finally got a specialist who removed 22 fibroids of 7+ cm each. Fun!
We went to the prime stick spot so Sage could pick out whatever he wanted for his birthday,* which is today. *not really his birthday, but the day he came home from the shelter, which is one of the best days
This is sending sgt staff that press have good relationships with and we are all just doing our jobs. So it’s awkward for all involved but stg are being respectful of press and we’re explaining we are here waiting to ask questions of the speaker.
So press is getting booted from the building right now under security measures? This is via DOA, is what press is being told. The building is "closed to the public."
#mtpol
#mtleg
I know everyone wants to say the most universally recognizable sound in Montana is like a shotgun or something, but really it’s the double beeps of a Subaru being locked with the remote.
Bullock issues statewide mask order for counties w/ 4+ active cases. Some indoor settings and outdoor w/ 50+ when distancing not possible.
Effective immediately.
State Senate president and speaker of the state House sign onto a letter w/ 37 other state GOP legislators supporting Matt Rosendale, not Tim Sheehy, for the U.S. Senate race against Tester.
This is opposite of GOP U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, who backs Sheehy.
#mtpol
#mtleg
Press is hearing that the motion will be as Dems said last night, to block Zephyr from the floor. So she'd vote remotely for the rest of the session, if the motion passes.
Also hearing that the House galleries will be closed for the rest of the session.
#mtpol
#mtleg
Just wanted to point out to everyone who keeps saying statehouse reporting is dead because local news is on life support, there are seven reporters here covering the Montana state Senate. On a Saturday.
BREAKING: A well-known Montana hot springs resort is under new ownership.
Diamond Rock Hospitality, based in Maryland, announced in a news release that it has purchased Chico Hot Springs in Paradise Valley for $33 million.
Spox for the speaker won’t give a reason for why the floor session is canceled. Speaker won’t take questions, press was told to send in writing. House has a lot of work left to do with 9 days left in the session.
Well, we’re back here again. Had a venogram Thursday that showed serious blockage in my vein. Docs went back in and found much more scar damage than expected. Spent six hours in the OR and left with some spare leg vein serving as a bypass in my shoulder. Bodies are weird!
Bozeman is taking action to regulate camping on city rights-of-way. City staff will propose an ordinance for the Commission to consider that would set restrictions on the time, place and manner where people can shelter or camp in the public right-of-way.
This morning’s inbox:
“It’s crucial now more than ever to have local reporters.”
“Your work is invaluable.”
And someone sent a beautiful photo of their perfect dog 😭🥹😭
Pulled off I-90 and drove down the road a bit to find a place to pee. The true gentleman who pulled off right behind me must have guessed what I was doing and gave me the prime spot while he utilized the shoulder of the on-ramp for his business and that’s Montana values.
I am intensely proud of the work our team has done this session.
I just looked at our story budget for the day and it's reflective of reporters with deep knowledge of their coverage areas, which shows in the stories they write:
A broad title strike amendment late in the session always means something’s up … jungle primaries proposal coming again to a Legislature near you
#mtpol
#mtleg
The wife of a man who was going to appear in opposition to an ag bill just hopped on the Zoom to say they "literally just had a calf right now" so he's unable to testify at the moment.
#mtpol
#mtleg
#mtproblems
Here's the text AG Knudsen sent to Mark Taylor, a board member at St. Peter's. The AG says "I'm about to send law enforcement in and file an unlawful restraint charge" and "my patience is almost gone."
Neighbor boys are socially distancing by making sure they're minimum 6 feet apart as they both pee in the front yard that faces a) a busy street and b) my house.
Montana!
Rep. Zephyr punched in to speak on this and wasn't recognized by Speaker Reger. Minority Leader Abbott rising in proest. Regier tells Abbott he denied her over rules/decorum.
#mtpol
#mtleg
If the thing you say about Montana as someone who vacations there is that Bozeman and Missoula are wonderful but Butte and Great Falls are real dumps, that tells me a lot about you.
We’re almost 40, you don’t think we’re hip-deep in the drama of people buying Ring cameras specifically to post video of that one guy who doesn’t pick up his dog’s 💩?
Montana is expanding Phase 1b to those 60+ and 16-59 with some qualifying conditions, such as cystic fibrosis, asthma, liver disease
Starts Monday.
#mtpol
#mtleg