Keila Szpaller

Missoula

Deputy Editor, @daily_montanan. [email protected]. Covering education, but taking all story ideas. Text or call 406 531 7077.

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Articles

Major education bill advances, would boost starting Montana teacher pay

1 week ago | bozemandailychronicle.com | Keila Szpaller

HELENA — Sen. John Fuller championed a $55 million education bill by reminding the Senate of his fiscally conservative values. “Some of you may know that I’m so tight, I squeak when I walk, but I do support public education, and I support it fiercely,” Fuller, R-Kalispell, said Tuesday. Sen. Sara Novak, a Democrat from Anaconda, said House Bill 252 isn’t perfect, but it’s a step in the right direction, and it will help especially small rural schools and young educators.
Federal cuts hit Montana food banks

1 week ago | belgrade-news.com | Keila Szpaller

Pantries across Montana that help low-income people, including seniors, will receive less food to distribute because of recent federal cuts to a U.S. Department of Agriculture program. Last month, the USDA cancelled $500 million worth of food that had been planned to go to food banks across the country through TEFAP, or The Emergency Food Assistance Program. kAm%96 |@?E2?2 u@@5 q2?< k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>73?]@C8Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm}6EH@C<k^2m[ H9:49 D6CG6D bb_ A2CE?6CD :? E96 DE2E6[ D2:5 :?
Major education bill advances, would boost starting teacher pay

1 week ago | dailymontanan.com | Keila Szpaller

Sen. John Fuller championed a $55 million education bill by reminding the Senate of his fiscally conservative values. “Some of you may know that I’m so tight, I squeak when I walk, but I do support public education, and I support it fiercely,” Fuller, R-Kalispell, said on Tuesday. Sen. Sara Novak, a Democrat from Anaconda, said House Bill 252 isn’t perfect, but it’s a step in the right direction, and it will help especially small rural schools and young educators.
Committee tables bill to split health department

1 week ago | dailymontanan.com | Keila Szpaller

Admonishing the Montana Legislature for being the “enabler” of a “pampered” and “dysfunctional” health department, Rep. John Fitzpatrick said Monday it’s time to break up the largest bureaucracy in the state. The Republican from Anaconda said legislators have been forking over tens of millions of dollars to the Department of Public Health and Human Services and excusing it from accountability, and it’s time for a structural change.
Committee tables bill to split health department

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Keila Szpaller

Montana State Hospital. Credit Keith SchubertAdmonishing the Montana Legislature for being the “enabler” of a “pampered” and “dysfunctional” health department, Rep. John Fitzpatrick said Monday it’s time to break up the largest bureaucracy in the state. The Republican from Anaconda said legislators have been forking over tens of millions of dollars to the Department of Public Health and Human Services and excusing it from accountability, and it’s time for a structural change.
Committee tables bill to split health department

1 week ago | kpvi.com | Keila Szpaller

Montana State Hospital. Credit Keith SchubertAdmonishing the Montana Legislature for being the “enabler” of a “pampered” and “dysfunctional” health department, Rep. John Fitzpatrick said Monday it’s time to break up the largest bureaucracy in the state. The Republican from Anaconda said legislators have been forking over tens of millions of dollars to the Department of Public Health and Human Services and excusing it from accountability, and it’s time for a structural change.
Amid spending concerns, budget advances, major new trust proposed

1 week ago | dailymontanan.com | Keila Szpaller

Montana’s big budget bill, House Bill 2, is headed to the full Senate after bulking up in the Senate Finance and Claims Committee, as is a separate proposal for a beefy new trust fund. The debate over spending is taking place alongside a discussion about how the state can keep paying for its needs — and whether legislators can keep adequate oversight and control over state dollars.
Committee tables bill to split health department

1 week ago | fairfieldsuntimes.com | Keila Szpaller

Montana State Hospital. Credit Keith SchubertAdmonishing the Montana Legislature for being the “enabler” of a “pampered” and “dysfunctional” health department, Rep. John Fitzpatrick said Monday it’s time to break up the largest bureaucracy in the state. The Republican from Anaconda said legislators have been forking over tens of millions of dollars to the Department of Public Health and Human Services and excusing it from accountability, and it’s time for a structural change.
Amid spending concerns, budget advances, major new trust proposed

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Keila Szpaller

Photo illustration illustration by Getty Images. Montana’s big budget bill, House Bill 2, is headed to the full Senate after bulking up in the Senate Finance and Claims Committee, as is a separate proposal for a beefy new trust fund. The debate over spending is taking place alongside a discussion about how the state can keep paying for its needs — and whether legislators can keep adequate oversight and control over state dollars.
Montana Federation of Public Employees members rally at Capitol

1 week ago | dailymontanan.com | Keila Szpaller

14:27 News Story EducationGovernment & PoliticsLegislature 2025 President calls for more union members to run for the Montana Legislature “Union busting bills” and a school voucher bill that threatened to siphon $100 million from public schools were on the table earlier this session, said Amanda Curtis, president of the Montana Federation of Public Employees. And back in February, the state pay play wasn’t scheduled for a hearing in the Senate yet, she said.