Crypto

A strong tech sector has put Montana on the crypto pulse, says state auditor

MILWAUKEE, July 16, 2024 – Troy Downing, Montana’s state auditor who is running for the U.S. House of Representatives, credited Montana’s leading role in cryptocurrency legislation to the surge in investment in the state’s tech sector.

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“We’ve got money coming into the state to fund talent… I think that’s been a real driver in Montana,” said Downing, a tech industry veteran, during a visit to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. 

Montana has been one state at the forefront of crypto-friendly legislation. Last May, Montana passed a law that enshrined an individual right to mine crypto, as well as prevented taxation on crypto when used as a method of payment.

Downing said Montana’s pulse on crypto and early passage of legislation were downstream from the state’s strong tech sector. Downing said Montana has fostered a tech-friendly environment, bolstered by strong universities, that has made the state fertile ground for venture money investment.

That talent investment has been pipelined into strong legislative work from Republican Sen. Steve Daines and Gov. Greg Gianforte and other policymakers, according to Downing. 

Downing, who sold his web calendar company to Yahoo decades ago, recently won the primary for Montana’s second Congressional district as the Republican nominee. Downing will face off against Democratic nominee John Driscoll in the Nov. 5 general election.

If elected, Downing said he would work to continue pushing Montana’s position at the forefront of the evolving industry.

“What I see is opportunity. If we’re not innovating here, someone is going to leave us in the dust,” said Downing.

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During the Trump era, GOP lawmakers emerged as vocal advocates for cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.

Although advocating to unlock crypto’s potential, Downing also recognized the necessity of restrictions to prevent consumer exploitation by bad actors.

As state auditor, Downing said he dealt with the ramifications of the FTX lawsuit, the crypto exchange company that stole billions of dollars from customers.

Aware of both the threats and benefits, Downing said it is important to build a regulatory framework that protects consumers while allowing innovation.

MISSOULA — Wildfire season is here and with that comes all the smoke that often accumulates in the Missoula Valley.

Smoke presents numerous health risks, especially for those who are part of vulnerable populations with chronic health conditions, are elderly, or have asthma.

But even if you’re not in a more vulnerable population, smoke can still have adverse health effects, especially if you’re recreating outside and exerting a fair amount of energy.
Small smoke particles get into the lungs and then the bloodstream impacting overall health, mood, and even sleep. So what are some ways that you can help protect yourself from the smoke especially when you’re trying to escape it indoors?

“If you have a portable air cleaner that has a HEPA filter, those can clean out smoke particles from the air inside. And you can also build a DIY box fan filter with a MERV 13 or higher rating furnace filter and just attach it to your box van. And those filters also remove smoke from the air” explained Missoula Public Health Air Quality Specialist Kerri Mueller.

Besides creating these filters for your home, you can also wear an N95 mask or respirator if you’re headed outside for an extended period of time. But be sure you watch how hot you’re getting as heat-related illnesses oftentimes pose a greater risk than the smoke itself.

Visit https://www.montanawildfiresmoke.org/ for more information on how to keep yourself safe and stay up to date on smoke conditions.

A grant from the U.S. Department of Labor is providing $2 million to the State of Montana to provide workforce retraining and other services to lumber workers losing their jobs because of the closures of two lumber companies in western Montana.

The U.S. Department of Labor provided the Montana Department of Labor and Industry with the first disbursement of $800,000 on Monday, the governor’s office said, to help workers affected by the pending closures of Pyramid Mountain Lumber, the largest employer in Seeley Lake, and Roseburg Forest Products in Missoula.

“For over a century, the timber industry has been an integral part of the Montana economy, and the loss of these companies is felt across our state,” said Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner Sarah Swanson. “Empowering Montanans through work and opportunity is our work at DLI, and with these funds we will help every impacted worker in the region leverage their Montana work ethic, skill up, and reenter the workforce in high wage, high skilled jobs.”

The Missoulian reported last week that Pyramid Mountain Lumber had run its last logs through its sawmill last week, and the company was set to lose 10 employees. Between Pyramid and Roseburg, according to the Missoulian, more than 250 people will be laid off by the two companies this year.

The money will come through the U.S. Department of Labor’s National Dislocated Worker Grant program, which helps dislocated workers and others by utilizing local organizations to provide job training, career services, and transitional help so workers can find new jobs.

Counties that are eligible to access money from the grant include Missoula, Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Mineral, Powell and Sanders. The Blackfeet and Flathead reservations can also utilize the funds.

The Montana Department of Labor and Industry said it would work with local organizations to develop a plan for the timber workers to get them into high-demand jobs in western Montana. In April, the department launched a skills-matching dashboard so affected workers could match their skills to other jobs.

“Thanks to the work of Commissioner Swanson and the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, our lumber industry professionals facing unemployment due to recent mill closures will have more resources to get back on their feet and in a career,” Gov. Greg Gianforte said in a statement. “Our administration will continue to secure support for Montanans and industries in need.”