Montana
Montana Nurses Association: Support nurses in union contract, at legislature – Daily Montanan
Some 650 nurses at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula are entering mediation on a union contract a labor leader said will shape the hospital’s ability to care for patients going forward.
“This contract negotiation is really going to be telling on the future of St. Pat’s as we know it,” said Cassidy Dillon, a registered nurse and bargaining team member for the Montana Nurses Association Local 17, in a phone call Tuesday.
The COVID-19 pandemic dealt blows to the healthcare industry, and Dillon said St. Pat’s has been “tremendously affected” since 2020.
First-year turnover rates for nurses are 20 to 30% mainly because the professionals cannot establish roots in Missoula, Dillon said. The health care workers face high property taxes and rising housing costs.
“They have been priced out of Missoula,” Dillon said.
St. Patrick Hospital is part of the Providence system, which operates in 51 hospitals and 1,000 clinics in five states, according to its website.
St. Patrick’s Director of Communications Stacy Rogge said in an email the hospital has been negotiating with the union since Jan. 16, and 12 bargaining sessions are scheduled through March.
“We are glad to be back at the table this week,” Rogge said in an email. She also praised the mediation process ahead. “Federal mediators help find common ground, and having them involved throughout the remainder of the bargaining process will accelerate our path to agreement.”
Dillon said as the Local 17 enters mediation at St. Pat’s on its first contract negotiation since 2020, nurses are hoping the result will be a plan that brings stability to patients for the next 10 years.
In negotiations, she said nurses are focused on recruitment and retention; keeping nurses local; safe staffing ratios; and reducing workplace violence.
To support its industry, the Montana Nurses Association also has pushed for change at the legislature in the past and will continue to do so, said Robin Haux, labor program director for the Montana Nurses Association.
Recruitment and retention
Dillon said nurses want to stay in Missoula, but at least one-in-five leaves in their first year here because of financial constraints.
“If we have nurses constantly coming and going in this revolving door, your loved one isn’t going to have those experienced nurses to take care of them,” Dillon said.
Starting pay for a nurse in Missoula is $31.60, or $65,728 a year based on a 40-hour week.
That’s close to the median household income in the county of $66,840, but it’s much less than starting pay for a nurse at a Providence hospital just a couple of hundred miles away.
For example, a nurse who works in Spokane for Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center earns $41.13 an hour, or 30% more than a starting nurse in Missoula, according to labor contracts.
That amounts to $20,000 more annually in Spokane based on working 40 hours a week.
Dillon said the nurses are precluded from discussing the details of their contract negotiations, but base pay is always a consideration.
Rogge offered another data set.
Citing Becker’s Hospital Review, she said annual hospital nurse turnover rate in December 2023 was 22.5%. However, she said St. Pat’s turnover rate “is much lower” at 15% — and has been improving the last several years.
“Providence St. Patrick Hospital is committed to reaching agreement on a fair contract that will help us recruit and retain the best nurses while staying true to our mission of sustainably serving all members of our community,” Rogge said.
She also said negotiations have been positive and productive so far.
“While many dynamics impact nurse turnover, no one solution can resolve it,” Rogge said. “We are proud of the progress we are making and are committed to focusing on this issue.”
Dillon said St. Pat’s is “pretty good” at listening to nurses about how to fill staffing holes, and it is relying less on expensive traveling nurses than it did in the past. However, she also said local employees have been frustrated about the expenditure on outside nurses.
“Why not take that money and invest in us?” Dillon said is the sentiment among nurses.
She said the current contract negotiation is the most “involved” one St. Patrick Hospital has had in a long time. She said a mediator arrives Wednesday.
“We live to serve our community,” Dillon said. “We want to stay here. We want to continue to better our community. But again, we need Providence to invest in us. And right now, they’re not showing us that.”
Violence against nurses, staffing standards
Patient and nurse safety are also a priorities for the nurses, and the union is advocating for input in staffing ratios in the new contract and may lobby for related legislation in 2025, the nurses said.
Dillon said violence against nurses is prevalent, and it usually occurs when a patient is not of sound mind or delirious and attacks a nurse physically, verbally or sexually. She said nurses and St. Pat’s are updating policies to better protect nurses.
“We’re making headway,” Dillon said.
In an email, St. Pat’s Rogge said the hospital has a record of supporting nurses.
“We have a long history of collaborating with Montana Nurses Association on contracts that advance the nursing practice, are market competitive, and meet the needs of our nurses and our ministry,” Rogge said.
During the 2023 Montana Legislature, lawmakers passed House Bill 590, which requires health care employers to ensure workers who experience violence report incidents to the provider. If the worker consents, the employer must report to law enforcement.
The bill, sponsored by Great Falls Republican Rep. Ed Buttrey, also calls for the Department of Justice to produce an annual report based on reports from health care employers.
Haux said felony penalties exist for attacking police officers, K-9 officers and referees, but not for nurses, although she said the union will take direction from members on how to proceed at the upcoming legislature on any lobbying efforts.
However, she said the Montana Nurses Association may push for another version of House Bill 568, which was tabled last session but would have set nursing-patient standards for hospitals. She said such standards result in better outcomes for patients.
She said ratios and standards vary depending on a hospital’s location — in a rural place versus urban, for example — and based on a department’s needs and patient acuity.
But Dillon said as St. Pat’s addresses those ratios in Missoula, nurses want to be part of the conversation. She said they want to offer more input into safe staffing standards and are asking for it in contract negotiations.
“Patient safety and positive patient outcomes are our primary goals,” Dillon said.
Montana
Montana Lottery Mega Millions, Big Sky Bonus results for March 27, 2026
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at March 27, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from March 27 drawing
13-27-28-41-62, Mega Ball: 16
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from March 27 drawing
04-05-15-16, Bonus: 14
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 27 drawing
06-09-28-33-46, Bonus: 04
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
- Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Montana
REAL Montana participants gain global perspective on agriculture during Morocco trip
GREAT FALLS — REAL Montana, short for Resource Education & Agriculture Leadership, is a two-year leadership development program through Montana State University Extension designed to strengthen the future of the state’s natural resource industries. The program combines in-state seminars, national travel, and an international study tour to expose participants to a wide range of perspectives.
Madison Collier reports – watch the video here:
Montana Ag Network: REAL group highlights international industry
The mission is simple: build a network of informed leaders who can help advance Montana agriculture and natural resource industries in a rapidly changing world.
A global classroom
This year, participants traveled across Morocco, visiting farms, research centers, and food production facilities to better understand how agriculture operates on a global scale.
According to REAL Montana Co-Director Tara Becken, the trip is about more than just travel, it’s about perspective.
“We were able to see how Montana commodities fit into the global picture,” said Becken, who also attended the trip. “Wheat from Montana’s Golden Triangle ends up on a plate on the other side of the world.”
Participants explored everything from citrus production to international trade, gaining firsthand insight into how food systems connect across continents.
Similar challenges, different landscapes
While Morocco’s environment and crops differ from those in Montana, participants said the challenges facing producers still felt familiar.
“Even though we’re worlds away, our challenges are very, very similar,” Becken said, pointing to issues like drought, labor shortages, and market pressures.
For Alice Miller, a participant in the program, those similarities stood out immediately.
“They’ve been dealing with drought. They’re working through input costs and labor… those are the same conversations we’re having here,” Miller said.
From farm to global table
One of the most impactful moments for participants came from seeing food production up close and realizing how connected it is to back home.
“Eating oranges right off the trees and then thinking about how that food ends up on our grocery store shelves… it just hits different when you’re there,” Miller said.
The experience reinforced a broader takeaway: Montana agriculture plays a role far beyond state lines.
“Montana really is feeding the world. That’s not just a phrase, that’s a reality,” Miller said.
Building the next generation of leaders
The international trip is just one part of the REAL Montana program, which includes eight in-state seminars and a national policy-focused trip to Washington, D.C.
Participants are selected from across Montana’s natural resource industries, including agriculture, energy, and forestry, with the goal of building a diverse network of future leaders.
Program leaders say those experiences are critical as the industry faces ongoing challenges, from global trade to shifting consumer demands.
“Unless we can understand the world around us, it’s really hard to tackle our own problems,” Becken said.
As the current class prepares to graduate, the focus now shifts to applying those lessons back home.
“We hope they go out and make a difference for the state of Montana and their communities,” Becken said.
Looking ahead
Applications for the next REAL Montana class are open through March 31. The program targets individuals working in Montana’s natural resource industries who are interested in growing as leaders and making an impact in their communities.
For Miller, the experience is one she encourages others to pursue.
“It’s an investment you won’t regret making, in yourself and in your industry,” she said.
The Montana Farmers Union is now offering a scholarship to help offset the cost of participation for eligible members accepted into the program. The support is designed to make leadership development more accessible to those working in agriculture and natural resource industries.
More information on scholarship opportunities and the application process can be found on the REAL Montana website.
Montana
Montana’s measures to tackle housing crunch offer hope for Michigan
State House considers reforms that allowed greater variety of construction in Big Sky State
Michigan could follow Montana’s lead after state House members introduced a bipartisan package of bills aimed at making housing less costly.
“The bipartisan Housing Readiness Package modernizes our development processes to reduce unnecessary costs and delays, making housing more affordable and available across the state,” according to a press release from the House Republican caucus. “This is about ensuring Michigan is prepared for growth and that more residents have access to safe, stable homes.”
The package draws on ideas Montana successfully enacted in 2023 and 2025 to ease the state’s housing shortage. It includes Michigan House bills 5529, 5530, 5531, 5532, 5581, 5582, 5583, 5584 and 5585. The package is intended to restrain cities and counties from restricting accessory dwelling units, duplexes, and other non-single-family units; to limit protests and impact studies on developments; and to reduce local red tape.
Housing costs in Michigan have almost doubled in recent years, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Michigan has exceeded the pace of housing inflation found in other states.
The average price of homes in the state was about 75% of the national average in 2012, but it is roughly 82% of the average today, according to Jarrett Skorup, vice president of marketing and communications at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.
Inflation, interest rates, and rising construction costs have increased housing prices, Skorup told Michigan Capitol Confidential, but local government red tape is still making things worse.
“A lot of this is because of dumb, unnecessary, big-government policies at the local level,” Skorup told CapCon in an email. “This bill package protects the private property rights of citizens in a way similar to what Montana and many other states have done. It is good policy that will help people afford to live where they want.”
Montana made changes to legalize duplexes, allow accessory dwelling units, open commercial zones to housing, and permit taller buildings that can accommodate more housing units.
The laws faced a legal challenge, but the Montana Supreme Court unanimously upheld the bipartisan legislation.
“There are a lot of similarities between what is being proposed in Michigan and what we accomplished in Montana,” Forrest Mandeville, a Republican state senator from Stillwater County, told Michigan Capitol Confidential in an email.
Montana enacted laws that call for freedom to build duplexes and accessory dwelling units by right (with no need for extra approvals) in many cities. The Big Sky State also streamlined review processes and simplified public participation.
“These reforms were necessitated by a housing market that was seeing prices skyrocket and existing zoning that created a lot of single-family-only development in large areas,” Mandeville said.
A broad coalition supported the changes: builders, real estate agents, free-market advocates and some local government groups, Mandeville told CapCon. Housing prices and rents have stabilized since the legislation was enacted.
“We tried to get government out of the way to encourage building without red tape,” Sen. Jeremy Trebas, a Cascade County Republican, told CapCon in an email about the housing situation in Bozeman. With a population of 60,000 and slow growth, the city faced a housing crunch, with a large inventory of aging and obsolete buildings. Expensive housing and taxes, Trebas said, were driving people to move to Washington, California and other states.
“If we could change land-use policy, encourage development of higher density like duplexes as infill, allow for housing in commercial zones (as it was a 100 years ago), reduce minimum lot sizes, and allow by-right accessory dwelling units and such, we could let the market work to produce density and supply without spending government dollars to incentivize it,” Trebas said.
Opponents of Montana’s reforms expressed concerns about more people moving in from out-of-state, said Trebas. He countered that Montana natives were hurt by high costs that price upcoming generations out of the housing market.
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