Articles written by Eric Dietrich
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NorthWestern Energy electric rates higher than regional peers
Montana's utility regulation commission has come under criticism recently for an agreement that lets the state's largest power company, NorthWestern Energy, implement a 28 percent... — Updated 11/15/2023
Montana counties, governor spar over property tax that funds schools
Months of finger-pointing between state-level Republicans and local government leaders over who to blame for rising property taxes escalated last week as the lobbying organization... — Updated 9/20/2023
Governor nixes pay bump for Montana legislators
Gov. Greg Gianforte has vetoed a bill raising the wages paid Montana legislators, arguing the proposed increase - from about $16 to $24 an hour starting in 2025 on top of... — Updated 5/16/2023
Gianforte signs $1 billion Republican tax rebate, tax-cut package into law
Flanked by dozens of Republican lawmakers on the steps of the state Capitol, Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a tax cut, rebate and spending package totalling more than $1 billion... — Updated 3/14/2023
GOP bills would require re-votes on some local property taxes
A slate of bills advanced by a prominent Republican lawmaker would try to lower Montana property taxes by requiring revotes on some local tax levies while also raising the approval... — Updated 2/22/2023
Choosing sides
This story is excerpted from the MT Lowdown, a weekly newsletter digest that showcases a more personal side of Montana Free Press’ reporting. There’s a theory I hear often while reporting stories on Montana’s population... — Updated 9/7/2022 
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Districting commission takes an initial look at public-proposed U.S. House district maps
HELENA - The commission tasked with dividing Montana into two U.S. House districts for the first time since the 1980s asked the public for input last month. Montanans responded... — Updated 9/22/2021
Bullock says post-COVID re-opening plan coming
HELENA - Gov. Steve Bullock said at a Friday, April 17, press briefing that his administration is in the process of developing a plan for scaling back anti-coronavirus social distan... — Updated 4/22/2020 Full story
Montana is the oldest state in the West
HELENA - Montana is, in fact, a country for old men, and women too, according to demographic statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, which indicate that based on median age,... — Updated 9/4/2019
Does remote work bring Montana workers big-city wages? Yes - for some
On the list of ideas for tackling the twin challenges that plague Montana workers - scarce rural jobs and low wages even in cities - telework is close to the top. As better... — Updated 12/19/2018 Website
