Montana
Everyone agrees Montana needs more state psychiatric beds, no one in Laurel wants them there • Daily Montanan
LAUREL — To understand the controversy surrounding locating a psychiatric hospital in Laurel, city officials have heard hours and hours of testimony objecting to the concept — even though nothing formal has been proposed and it’s nearly impossible to find a single public official willing to offer opinions on the record.
Part of that is because nothing has been formally proposed to the Laurel City Council — and on advice of the city’s attorney, the eight council members have remained silent because if and when a proposal is submitted to build the 32-bed facility there, those council members will decide whether to accept the annexation not (currently the land is in the county).
For years, the Montana State Hospital has been over capacity, forcing the state to do something about just having 53 psychiatric beds for criminal justice holds in a state of 1.2 million.
What spurred on a flood of negative comments and rallied the community was notice of the state entering a buy-sell agreement for 114 acres at the western edge of town, along Old U.S. Highway 10.
Since the state purchased the acreage, residents have implored the city council to stop the project. State lawmakers and administration officials have budgeted for, and repeatedly outlined, the need for more psychiatric beds, and a location that isn’t deep inside the western side of the state.
Laurel residents have already organized, split up public comment time and led an effort to recall the mayor, Dave Waggoner, saying his treatment for cancer has made him unable to devote enough attention to the psychiatric facility and other council business, a charge which he denied.
During a Jan. 27 meeting, citizens packed the small city council chambers in Laurel, and dozens of residents had their objections read into the record, even though city officials repeatedly reminded them there was nothing official to comment on.
“While mental health treatment is important, this is a forensic mental health facility that serves individuals who are in the criminal justice system. That reality must be acknowledged,” said resident Bailey Dempster, who lives near the potential project site. “This is not a sigma or fear. It is about responsibility and a facility of this nature should be located in areas designed to support secure operations and public safety, not next to children, schools and family homes. Once the facility is built, the the impact is permanent. The consequences will be carried by residents long after this vote is taken. Please reconsider this location and look for safer alternatives.”
Limited to a three-minute time period, the comments lasted for nearly two hours. Residents have banded together, with an extensive list of questions they took turns reading. As one person’s time limit expired another would begin reading so that more than 100 questions were read into the record, including demands to know whether city staff had been disciplined for speaking to state officials about the project.
City officials acknowledge that the chief administrative officer did reach out in August to offer a suggestion of a different site, one that was ultimately not chosen. Irritated residents wanted to know who authorized the conversation, and accused city officials of orchestrating the deal before the public had any chance to comment. During the meeting, city officials pointed out other cities had made similar inquiries and proposals.
Residents have decried the project, ticking off a litany of concerns ranging from its proximity to an elementary school to a strain on the Laurel Police or the municipal water system. Furthermore, they say building a state psychiatric facility so close to residential homes will lessen the value of current property and put owners at risk in case of an inmate escape.
“I got grandkids going to school here,” said resident Rich Holstein. “And there’s just nothing good that really comes out of this. And in the end, I think that we really need to be looking at that: What would benefit Laurel? If there’s no benefit to Laurel other than we sold them some land, then why are we doing this? It’s really simple. Why we are doing it, and it just doesn’t make sense.”
But they’re not the only ones objecting.
Laurel Public Schools has passed a resolution calling on the city council to reject any proposal from the state to build the facility, with school board members and even Superintendent Matt Torix testifying at a council meeting, urging council members to vote against a proposal that doesn’t exist yet.
In a legislative update earlier this week, officials briefed the Child, Families, Health and Human Services Interim Committee about the possible siting, noting that while the parcel of land spans 114 acres, the actual location of the building will be more than a half-mile away from Laurel Elementary School. The state also provided maps of other Montana communities, including showing that the current Yellowstone County Detention Facility remains closer to an elementary school than the proposed psychiatric site.
One of the vocal opponents to the Laurel site is the chairman of the Yellowstone County Commission, Mark Morse, who has criticized the state for taking advantage of the largest county’s residents because they have invested in facilities and programs that help those getting out of prison while receiving little support from the state itself.
“The devil is in the details. Without details, I can’t support this facility being in Yellowstone County and that is ashamed, because Montana is in dire need of additional mental health resources but without details, I am concerned that they are building this facility not for additional space for these mentally ill folks, but as a replacement for the current forensic facility … which the state has admitted they struggle to staff,” Morse said.
Some of the claims, including Morse’s, have become almost accepted as gospel, which led the state to create a fact-and-myth, question-and-answer style presentation for lawmakers and the public in Helena earlier this week. One of the slides addressed the concern that Laurel was just opening the door to a larger facility, but officials from Montana DPHHS detailed millions of dollars of investments at Galen and Warm Springs, including staffing, saying, “DPHHS has invested more than $75M in MSH and Galen since 2021, signaling no intention of shuttering either facility.”
City officials aren’t commenting on the concept on the advice of the city attorney who has expressed concerns that weighing in publicly on the issue could prejudice the project and lead to a protracted legal fight.
Other state government officials are as conspicuously silent as Laurel residents are vocal.
During the hours of testimony reviewed by the Daily Montanan, two of Laurel’s legislative delegation — Sen. Vince Ricci and Rep. Lee Deming, both Republicans — have been invoked frequently as staunch opponents of the project. They wrote a letter to Gov. Greg Gianforte stating their public opposition to the state project.
When contacted by the Daily Montanan, Ricci said the letter spoke for itself, while Deming said he wasn’t even willing to talk about the letter.
Ricci and Deming oppose the project for several reasons. Both reference meetings that were originally planned and scrapped, including one which was going to be hosted by the Laurel Chamber of Commerce which was cancelled after members of the public were invited, but the press prohibited, something that would be a violation of the state’s open meeting laws and constitution.
“We maintain that the meetings should have proceeded. If only to respond to legitimate community concerns. The state has a responsibility to engage directly with the Laurel community on an issue of this importance and long-term impacts,” the letter said.
Laurel residents have also targeted other leaders, including Gov. Greg Gianforte, to try and halt the project. However, the governor’s office did not respond to inquiries sent this week about whether he had concerns with the project or the location siting in Laurel.
Other sites had been in the running to host the new facility, including Hardin and Miles City. The state has said repeatedly that Montana — a huge state geographically — should have two facilities to serve the east and west portions of the state. Demand is certainly a part of that driver — currently Yellowstone County is housing 18 prisoners who are being held because there’s no availability at the state’s only facility in Galen.
Moreover, nearly three-out-of-every four people needing admission to the psychiatric facility east of the Continental Divide are from Yellowstone County, with officials saying without the facility being located there, it may just re-create one of the current concerns: The travel time transporting prisoners back and forth from the eastern half of the state to Galen, located between Butte and Missoula, along Interstate 90.
One official who is working on the project told the Daily Montanan that both the governor’s office as well as officials from the Department of Public Health and Human Services both agree that because of huge demand for services in Yellowstone County, locating the psychiatric hospital anywhere else would be a misuse of state resources.
“Finally, it is abundantly clear that our constituents do not want this facility built anywhere near our town,” the letter from the two Laurel legislators concluded. “This issue is splitting Laurel and causing bitter divisions that we believe will be long-lasting. The fight over placing this facility in Laurel is just getting started. We believe that the fight against the facility will continue and the costs to the state and money will continue to increase.”
Brian Miller won the Democratic primary Tuesday for the U.S. House seat in Montana’s eastern district.
The Associated Press called the race for Miller, an attorney in Helena, who fended off a challenge from state Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, a longtime legislator from Box Elder, and Sam Lux, a farrier from Great Falls.
In the Republican and rural eastern district, any Democrat will be an underdog, and Miller will face off against incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Troy Downing, who was unopposed Tuesday.
Libertarian Patrick McCracken is also running.
In the primary, Miller took 58% of the vote. Lux took 27% and Windy Boy took 16%, according to the Montana Secretary of State’s website.
In April, Windy Boy paused his campaign amid “serious sexual abuse” allegations raised by the Montana Democratic Party — but Windy Boy restarted his campaign and later called the allegations “political attacks.”
Miller is representing the victim of the alleged abuse and her mother, although he said he didn’t take on the role until after Windy Boy initially suspended his campaign.
The Western Montana Food and Farm Trail, a new agritourism initiative led by Farm Connect Montana, launches May 30, offering locals and visitors a new kind of food and farm adventure across Western Montana.
Running June 1 through October 31, the self-guided Trail spans more than 200 miles and features more than 100 farms, ranches, farmers markets, restaurants, breweries and food businesses across the Missoula, Bitterroot, Flathead and Mission Valleys. Along the way, participants are invited to meet growers and makers, taste what’s in season and experience the culture and care behind Western Montana’s local food community.
At the center of the experience is the passport-style Trail Field Guide, illustrated by Missoula-based artist Courtney Blazon. The guide features illustrated maps, curated itineraries, seasonal highlights and more than 100 local food destinations throughout the region. The guide also includes more than $130 in special offers from participating farms and businesses.
Participants can collect stamps at Trail stops along the way to qualify for prizes, giveaways, or simply as a way to document their journey. End-of-season prizes include raffles for three CSA memberships valued at over $600 each, as well as local food and farm gift certificates, product bundles and Courtney Blazon-designed market totes.
The Trail is a regional collaboration led by Farm Connect Montana in partnership with Land to Hand Montana, The O’Hara Commons and Sustainability Center and Abundant Montana, organizations working to strengthen local food systems across Western Montana. The project aims to support local farms and food businesses through expanded visibility and agritourism opportunities while reconnecting locals and visitors with the people, places and stories behind their food.
“In creating the Western Montana Food & Farm Trail, we hope to inspire both residents and travelers to discover the stories behind their food and connect with the people cultivating a more vibrant, resilient and locally rooted food community,” said Bonnie Buckingham, Executive Director of Farm Connect Montana. “Participation in the Trail is a win for everyone. It creates new opportunities for farms and local food businesses to reach wider audiences while encouraging participants to explore new places, support local producers and experience Western Montana in a more meaningful way.”
“Land to Hand is thrilled to partner with Farm Connect on the Food and Farm Trail to highlight the robust agricultural heritage of Western Montana,” said Gretchen Boyer, Executive Director of Land to Hand Montana. “This initiative is more than just a guide – it’s an invitation to celebrate and support the local farmers who nourish our communities every day. By connecting residents and visitors directly to the source, we’re strengthening our local food system and honoring the people and landscapes that sustain the Flathead Valley.”
To celebrate the launch, regional Trail launch parties will take place in Missoula, the Bitterroot Valley and the Flathead Valley throughout early June, featuring Field Guide distribution, local food vendors, giveaways and opportunities to learn more about the Trail.
Trail Field Guides ($10) will be available for purchase beginning May 30 both online and at participating businesses, farmers markets and community locations throughout the region. A full list of Field Guide purchase locations and details, as well as a digital map and Trail listings, special events and more information is available at farmconnectmontana.org/trail.
Funding for this project was made possible through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service.
Regional launch events
• Missoula Launch Party — LaLonde Ranch, Sun., June 7, 1-4 p.m.
• Bitterroot Launch Party — O’Hara Commons Market, Wed., June 10, 4-6 p.m.
• Flathead Launch Party — Backslope Brewing, Tue., June 16, 4-7:30 p.m.
An “I voted” sign points to a Vote Center on June 1 in Los Angeles.
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Six states — California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, South Dakota and New Mexico — hold elections on Tuesday. Most of the attention is on California and Iowa, where there are competitive primaries for governor. In both states, the Democratic Party also sees a road map to control of Congress in the fall.
In California’s unique primary system, voters send the top two vote-getters to November’s general election, regardless of candidates’ political parties. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is term limited, and California voters will also pick who should move on to the general election in five new Democratic-leaning congressional districts.
In Iowa, Democratic voters will choose a candidate in a key Senate race — the Republican in the race is already the de facto nominee. In order to win a majority in the Senate, Democrats must pick up four seats, forcing the party to win in Republican-leaning states like Iowa. For governor, the race is the first good chance Democrats have to win the office in years, but Republicans still need to select their nominee.
Here are key races to follow:
Or skip to specific races:
California governor | California U.S. House | Iowa governor | Iowa U.S. Senate | New Jersey and Montana
You can also check out June 2 voter resources from the NPR network.
California decides top two gubernatorial contenders
It’s been a chaotic scramble to pick the next leader of the country’s largest state. After three prominent Democrats — former Vice President Kamala Harris, Sen. Alex Padilla and state Attorney General Rob Bonta — decided not to run, Democratic voters haven’t had a clear front-runner for the first time in decades. Voters have more than 60 candidates to choose from, but only a fraction of those are considered serious contenders. Only the top two vote-getters will move on to the general election in November.
California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra hugs a supporter at the Long Beach Arena on May 31 in Long Beach, Calif.
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The race got a shakeup when former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, the presumed favorite, dropped out of the race after he was accused of sexual misconduct by several women. Most recently, polls show the contest could be between two Democrats — the Health and Human Services secretary under former President Joe Biden, Xavier Becerra, and billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer.
Before Becerra was appointed to Biden’s Cabinet, he served 12 terms in Congress and was elected as the California attorney general in 2016. He’s considered by many as the candidate with the strongest political background. Becerra’s pitch is that he is a proven leader who can hold his own and protect California from President Trump.
Steyer has forked over more than $213 million of his own fortune on the race and is also financially backed by Our Revolution, a group aligned with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Steyer’s platform is centered on taking a stand against special-interest groups in politics.
Polling just a few points behind Becerra and Steyer is Republican Steve Hilton. The former Fox News host was endorsed by President Trump in April, after which Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, another Republican in the race, quickly dropped in the polls. Hilton’s platform focuses on increasing affordable housing supply for first-time homebuyers, bolstering tech industries and reviving California’s film industry.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer speaks with students during a Get the Youth Vote with Bruin Democrats event at UCLA’s campus on June 1 in Los Angeles, Calif.
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The outcome of California’s new congressional districts
In response to Texas redrawing its congressional lines to create five Republican-leaning districts at the behest of President Trump, Californians approved Proposition 50 in November last year. The measure temporarily sidestepped the independent redistricting commission tasked with drawing nonpartisan influenced congressional boundaries, in favor of politically gerrymandered districts. That allowed state Democrats to redraw their map so five previously Republican-held districts now lean Democratic.
This has left those Republican incumbents figuring out their political futures. Rep. Ken Calvert, the longest-serving Republican from California, and Rep. Young Kim are running in the same district, for example, in a race that’s gotten quite heated.
Then there’s Rep. Kevin Kiley. After being drawn into a much more Democratic-leaning district, he decided to run in a new seat and announced he was leaving the Republican Party and running as an independent instead, though Kiley said would still caucus with the Republicans.
Because of California’s primary system, some of these more competitive seats are creating competitive primaries between Democrats, allowing primary voters to signal to the party what kinds of candidates speak to them most in places that have the most to lose — and gain.
Iowa’s GOP gubernatorial primary
Iowa Republican voters could decide the party’s nominee for governor in the state’s first open race for the office since 2011, as sitting Gov. Kim Reynolds opted not to run for reelection.
With five Republicans on Tuesday’s ballot, Rep. Randy Feenstra is the only one endorsed by Trump. The race will test whether Trump’s endorsement holds weight in a state where his approval rating has slipped over the economy and the war in Iran. Feenstra’s lead may be declining, as one recent poll shows political newcomer and Iowa businessman Zach Lahn could have a shot at winning the GOP primary.
There is a good chance, though, that Iowans won’t know the outcome of the race on Tuesday because a candidate must secure 35% of the vote to win outright. If no one clears that threshold, the nominee will be decided at a Republican convention where delegates — not primary voters — make the final choice.
But the Republican-backed candidate isn’t a shoo-in come November. Cook Political Report categorizes the governor’s race as a toss-up with a slight Republican advantage. Whatever Republican wins on Tuesday will face unopposed Democratic State Auditor Rob Sand in the general election. Sand is popular among voters and has, so far, outraised any other candidate for governor.
Democrats look to flip Iowa Senate seat
Democratic voters in Iowa will pick which candidate they think has the best shot at beating the Republican nominee for Senate, expected to be Trump-endorsed Rep. Ashley Hinson, on Tuesday. This is a seat that Democrats believe they have a shot at flipping come November. It’s part of a larger strategy of expanding their map — and winning in states currently held by Republican senators — if they want a chance to retake the Senate majority.
Iowa Democrats have a choice between state Rep. Josh Turek and state Sen. Zach Wahls. Both candidates are courting different Iowa voters, though. Turek is vying for the independent-leaning vote, while Wahls is hoping to gain the support from committed Democrats. Turek flipped a state House district held by a Republican, while Wahls represents a Senate district that is solidly blue. Both argue they are the candidate who has the right message to win in November.
And with three competitive congressional races on the ballot, some Democrats in the state are feeling like the road to a Democratic majority in Congress runs through Iowa.
Looking beyond Tuesday
New Jersey and Montana also have competitive races that could decide which party has control of Congress.
In New Jersey, all eyes are on Congressional District 7. Four Democrats are hoping to oust Republican Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. The sitting congressman has been notably absent from Washington for weeks due to what Kean cites as unspecified medical issues. He has missed more than 100 House votes since his last recorded vote on March 5.
Two races in Montana may be more competitive than originally expected with the last-minute announcements — shortly before the filing deadline — by Republicans, Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Ryan Zinke, that neither would seek reelection.
While an open Senate seat does not make Montana, which has long been considered a Republican stronghold, necessarily competitive for Democrats, an independent candidate is outraising candidates in both major parties. Seth Bodnar, Iraq war veteran and former president of the University of Montana, is hoping voters will send him instead, mostly on the message that he won’t work for either party and is focused on changing the direction America is heading. In Bodnar’s case, he has enough voter signatures to land himself on the November ballot, but the Montana Secretary of State’s Office hasn’t yet certified those signatures.
Democrats are working to flip Montana’s 1st Congressional District as well. When Zinke announced he was retiring from Congress, it was seen as an opening for Democrats to compete. Now, four Democrats are angling for the open seat, including front-runner Sam Forstag, a smokejumper who is endorsed by popular progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.
June 2 voter resources from the NPR Network
California | Iowa | Montana | New Jersey | New Mexico | South Dakota
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