Last Best News (https://montana-mint.com/lastbestnews/tag/billings-city-council/page/3/)
If you haven’t read it yet, don’t miss Paul Cartwright’s guest editorial in the Friday edition of the Billings Gazette. The former Helena city commissioner deftly explains what’s wrong with Montana’s liquor licensing quota system, and he lays out several options for finally doing something to seriously reform it. (more…) Continue Reading →
It’s awfully early in the 2015 Montana legislative session to be optimistic about anything, but Jani McCall thinks this might just be the year lawmakers finally authorize cities and towns to pursue local sales taxes. “I think it’s going to be a tough haul,” McCall said, “but I think if there was ever an opportunity to do it, this will be the session to do it.” (more…) Continue Reading →
In response to the recent article you posted in the Last Best News, “As Predicted, Chickens Coming Home to Roost” (Nov. 30, 2014), I take umbrage with your allegation that Billings City Council members were duped into supporting the Backyard Chicken Ordinance passed in August of 2012. (more…) Continue Reading →
The good, responsible citizens of Billings begged and pleaded with their City Council not to approve it, warning that a “yes” vote would lead to lawsuits, and to no end of trouble in bathrooms and changing rooms all over the city. I refer, of course, to the ordinance allowing the keeping of backyard chickens, approved by the City Council in August 2012. (more…) Continue Reading →
Just three months ago, the Billings City Council voted down a nondiscrimination ordinance that would have expanded civil rights protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The vote came at 3 a.m., following a very long meeting. Later that day, Councilman Brent Cromley, who supported the NDO, said the setback would not halt the steady progress being made on LGBT rights. (more…) Continue Reading →
I come before you today to admit that I am a lawbreaker. Since our family acquired our first dog about 15 years ago, I would estimate that I have broken the local ordinance prohibiting dogs in city parks at least 300 times. I could have broken it that many times in Pioneer Park alone. (more…) Continue Reading →
Barely 48 hours after being chosen as the new Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat from Montana, Amanda Curtis stopped in Billings briefly to cheer on supporters of a nondiscrimination ordinance. Curtis, a Billings native and Butte schoolteacher serving her first term in the Montana House, spoke Monday evening on the steps of the First Congregational United Church of Christ. (more…) Continue Reading →
All eyes will be on Mayor Tom Hanel Monday night, when the Billings City Council is finally scheduled to vote on a nondiscrimination ordinance. Hanel appears to be the swing vote on the 11-member council, and on a roll-call vote the mayor is traditionally the last one to cast his vote. (more…) Continue Reading →
Hope Errico Wisneski told supporters of a nondiscrimination ordinance in Billings on Tuesday that they are moving forward swiftly, however slow the process might seem. Things truly move slowly in Washington, D.C., she said, which is why the Human Rights Campaign is working for change in states and individual communities. (more…) Continue Reading →
The BBC is asking the question. So is CNN, Russia Today and Al Jazeera. Who is Rob Rogers, the newest appointee to the Billings School District 2 Board of Trustees? Well, as the Billings Gazette explained, Rob is a former Gazette reporter who covered the district for the past five years. (more…) Continue Reading →
