Downtown Libby, MT.
BNSF, one of the nation’s largest rail companies, is suing the Center for Asbestos Related Disease (CARD) in federal court for what it alleges is over-diagnoses of asbestos-related diseases. Courts have already ruled BNSF shares liability for spreading asbestos in the town of Libby, MT.
In response, CARD says the rail company is really accusing a third party that includes individuals and entities of committing fraud not the center. CARD is requesting a trial over the issue.
Sara Reardon covered the ongoing lawsuit for Kaiser Health News and shared her reporting with MTPR’s Freddy Monares.
Research Examines Deaths Of Despair In Montana
Research into nearly 200,000 Montana death records from the last two decades has put hard numbers to anecdotes about suicides and drug- and alcohol-related deaths during the pandemic.
The report, by University of Montana School of Journalism Professor Lee Banville, is published on the American Communities Project’s website and shows that death rates significantly increased in 2020 in communities categorized as Graying America, Native American Lands and Working Class Country.
Banville spoke with MTPR’s Freddy Monares about what he found.
Freddy Monares Your report analyzed 197,000 death reports obtained from Montana s Department of Public Health and Human Services from 2000 through the end of 2020. This gave you historical context when looking at so-called deaths of despair during the pandemic. First off, what are deaths of despair and why are they called that?
A bill that would stop local governments in Montana from enacting bans on sales of flavored vaping products is making its way to Gov. Greg Gianforte’s desk.
Montana Legislature Votes To Block Local Vape Bans
A bill that would stop local governments in Montana from enacting bans on sales of flavored vaping products is making its way to Gov. Greg Gianforte’s desk.
The Legislature advanced the policy after Missoula s city council passed a local ban on the products because of health concerns. MTPR s Freddy Monares reports.
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