Montana Officials Debate, Create Rules For Congressional Districting
Montana officials have decided on final rules to guide the drawing of the state’s new Congressional districts. MTPR’s Shaylee Ragar has a rundown of the process.
Freddy Monares: Before we get into what those rules look like Shaylee, can you remind us, what is redistricting and why is it important?
Shaylee Ragar: Absolutely. Redistricting is political map making. Population numbers change over time and legislative and congressional district maps need to be updated every ten years to make sure everyone is represented equally.
Here’s Wendy Underhill, a nonpartisan redistricting expert with the National Conference on State Legislatures.
Whitten Fire
The Bureau of Land Management Miles City office says the Whitten Wildfire in southeast Montana is contained. The fire, estimated at 1,300 acres, is burning on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, as well as the Bureau of Land Management and private lands. It was first reported on July 3 and the cause is unknown.
Wheeler Fire
No structures are threatened by 2 lightning caused fires in the Custer Gallatin National Forest, reports forest service officials. Fire crews are enforcing fire lines and continuing mop up efforts on the Wheeler Mountain and Blacktail Fires. The Wheeler Mountain Fire is about 7 miles southeast of Gallatin Gateway in the Bear Creek area, and the Blacktail Fire near Blacktail Peak at the northern end of the Bridger Mountains. Both fires are listed at less than an acre in size.
Two universities are looking to build medical schools in Montana. One is a nonprofit university that’s awaiting approval to start the accreditation process
Last June, the Crow Nation created a new police department. Then, five months later, that department shut down with little notice as to why. MTPR’s Freddy