Montana
Montana voters approve constitutional right to abortion
Montana voters approved a ballot measure enshrining abortion in the state constitution, NBC News projects, delivering a victory to advocates for reproductive rights in a Western red state.
The amendment will not change current law on abortion in Montana: Abortion is legal in the state until fetal viability, around the 23rd or 24th week of pregnancy, backed up by a 1999 ruling by the state Supreme Court.
But advocates for the ballot measure wanted to guard against potential changes by the Legislature or state Supreme Court justices in the heavily Republican state.
The amendment establishes a right for people to “make and carry out decisions about one’s own pregnancy,” including the right to abortion; prohibits the government from “denying or burdening” the right to abortion before fetal viability; and bars the government from “denying or burdening access” to abortion when a health care professional determines it is “medically indicated to protect the pregnant patient’s life or heath,” according to the ballot language.
The measure also prevents the government from “penalizing patients, healthcare providers, or anyone who assists in exercising their right to make and carry out voluntary decisions about their pregnancy.”
The ballot measure required a simple majority to pass. It withstood a series of legal challenges from Republicans in the solidly conservative state.
Nine other states considered constitutional amendments concerning abortion rights in this election: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New York and South Dakota.
Montana
Montana Lottery Mega Millions, Lucky For Life results for Dec. 31, 2024
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 31, 2024, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from Dec. 31 drawing
13-22-27-29-35, Mega Ball: 01, Megaplier: 2
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 31 drawing
19-27-37-41-48, Lucky Ball: 15
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Dec. 31 drawing
03-19-20-21, Bonus: 15
Check Big Sky Bonus 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: 9:00 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:00 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: 8:00 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.
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
Freight Rail Company Beats Montana Covid-19 Vaccine Complaints
A federal Covid-19 vaccine mandate preempted a Montana state law prohibiting employers from discriminating against unvaccinated workers, a federal judge ruled.
The state law has been the subject of a number of lawsuits, including a challenge from doctors and immunocompromised individuals that the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rejected in October. Montana was one of roughly a dozen states that implemented vaccine status-related anti-discrimination laws during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Judge Brian Morris of the US District Court for the District of Montana stopped short of issuing a blanket injunction for future vaccine claims against BNSF Railway Company …
Montana
Montana AG supports federal TikTok ban, as Trump calls for delay in U.S. Supreme Court filing
HELENA — Next week, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments over whether to uphold a federal law that would ban the app TikTok if its Chinese owners don’t sell it. Montana’s attorney general is asking the court to let the law go into effect – even as President-elect Donald Trump seeks to delay it.
“I think Congress got it right this time – I don’t often say that, but I think Congress got this one right,” Attorney General Austin Knudsen told MTN.
Last spring, on a bipartisan vote, Congress approved a law that gave TikTok’s parent company nine months to divest the app or risk losing access to U.S. app stores and internet hosting services. That deadline is approaching, on Jan. 19 – the day before Trump’s inauguration.
TikTok sued over the federal law, on the grounds that it infringed on the right of free expression for its millions of users. The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case and scheduled oral arguments for Jan. 10, leaving just a few days before the effective date.
On Friday, Knudsen and 21 other Republican state attorneys general filed an amicus brief, asking justices to let the law take effect.
“Allowing TikTok to operate in the United States without severing its ties to the Chinese Communist Party exposes Americans to the risk of the Chinese Communist Party accessing and exploiting their data,” they wrote.
Knudsen’s Amicus Brief:
At the same time, Trump’s attorneys submitted their own brief. In it, they said they weren’t taking a position on the merits of the case, but that they wanted the court to put a stay on the law, to give Trump time to reach a deal once in office that could resolve the issue “through political means.”
“President Trump alone possesses the consummate dealmaking expertise, the electoral mandate, and the political will to negotiate a resolution to save the platform while addressing the national security concerns expressed by the Government—concerns which President Trump himself has acknowledged,” they wrote.
While Trump’s brief didn’t support either side in the lawsuit, it did suggest there were “valid concerns” about First Amendment implications from blocking a social media platform.
Trump’s Amicus Brief:
In 2023, the Montana Legislature passed and Gov. Greg Gianforte signed Senate Bill 419, which said TikTok couldn’t operate in the state and app stores couldn’t offer it for download within Montana’s borders. Knudsen was one of the main backers of the law, and he cited concerns that China might be able to access U.S. users’ data. TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a company based in China, but has denied any claims that it puts data at risk.
TikTok and a group of Montana-based content creators challenged the state ban. A federal district judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking it, ruling that the state infringing on users’ rights and overstepping onto the federal power over foreign policy. Knudsen appealed that decision, but the entire case was put on hold until the challenge to the federal law was resolved.
Knudsen said what the Supreme Court rules in the federal case will clearly make a difference when it’s time to rule on Montana’s ban. In his amicus brief, he accused TikTok of “trying to have its cake and eat it too” by arguing the state law intruded on federal authority but also challenging the federal law.
In 2020, during his first term as president, Trump issued an executive order that sought to ban TikTok, citing its connections to China. However, during his 2024 campaign, he spoke more favorably about the app, eventually saying people who wanted to “save TikTok in America” should vote for him.
Knudsen told MTN that he doesn’t believe Trump’s change in tone has had an impact on the concerns Montanans have about the app.
“Actually, if you look at what President Trump has said in his public statements, he likes the platform because he was able to reach a lot of young people and he thinks that helped him get elected,” he said. “But if you read that brief that they filed, they don’t dispute the fact that TikTok is a Chinese spying application.”
While China was the biggest topic during the debate over Montana’s SB 419, the law also criticized TikTok for what it said was promoting dangerous content for minors. Knudsen filed a lawsuit against the app and its owners earlier this year, making similar arguments. He told MTN Monday he’d have to “wait and see” what form a divestiture of TikTok would take, before he could say whether it would address those issues to his satisfaction.
While the U.S. Supreme Court typically doesn’t rule quickly on cases, Knudsen said he expects that may be different this time.
“We don’t often see them move this fast, but I think the Roberts court probably recognizes that this is an important issue – it’s a hot issue for certain,” he said.
-
Technology1 week ago
There’s a reason Metaphor: ReFantanzio’s battle music sounds as cool as it does
-
News1 week ago
France’s new premier selects Eric Lombard as finance minister
-
Business7 days ago
On a quest for global domination, Chinese EV makers are upending Thailand's auto industry
-
Health3 days ago
New Year life lessons from country star: 'Never forget where you came from'
-
Technology3 days ago
Meta’s ‘software update issue’ has been breaking Quest headsets for weeks
-
World1 week ago
Passenger plane crashes in Kazakhstan: Emergencies ministry
-
Politics1 week ago
It's official: Biden signs new law, designates bald eagle as 'national bird'
-
Politics5 days ago
'Politics is bad for business.' Why Disney's Bob Iger is trying to avoid hot buttons