Podcasts about montana legislature

Republicans in the Montana Legislature passed several new laws this session they say will protect election integrity. Lawsuits from a student political organization and the state's largest public employee union argue the new laws unduly burden the right to vote.

The Montana Legislature, which meets every two years, recently wrapped up the 2025 session in Helena. So, what happened at the Capitol this year? How do these new laws impact residents and county operations? From property taxes to jury duty summons to economic development, there is a lot to cover! This week, the commissioners spoke with Chris Lounsbury, Chief Administrative Officer for Missoula County, for a review of what went down. Learn more and see what bills Missoula County weighed in on during this session at missoulacountyvoice.com.Text us your thoughts and comments on this episode! Thank you to Missoula's Community Media Resource for podcast recording support!

Schools across the state struggle to fill staffing vacancies. And while improving teacher pay and retention has been a top priority for the Montana Legislature, schools often turn to emergency authorized licenses to fill the gaps.

The 69th Montana Legislature has concluded it’s session and over the next several weeks, Voices of Montana will be talking with stakeholders and industry experts to discuss the impact new laws may have. Montana Chamber of Commerce President Todd O'Hair […] The post MEPA Overhaul & Industry Highlights – Montana's 69th Legislature first appeared on Voices of Montana.

After 85 days, introducing more than 1,000 bills and passing a two-year state budget, the Montana Legislature has adjourned its 69th session. Montana Public Radio's Shaylee Ragar joined Elinor Smith to talk through the political dynamics and policy debates.

The 69th Montana Legislature adjourned Wednesday after passing a two-year, $16 billion budget and a proposal to restructure property taxes.

The Montana Legislature's flagship policy aimed at boosting pay for new teachers is headed to the governor's desk. A bipartisan group of lawmakers and public education advocates have cheered the so-called STARS Act. But, the policy is far from a cure-all for the financial issues plaguing public schools.

Competing proposals to mitigate property tax hikes are advancing through the Montana Legislature. Lawmakers must soon pick one winner. It's likely too late to enact any major rate change for this year's taxes.

Here the compelling conversations from listeners who share the stories of tragedy and challenge that shape their views on physician-assisted suicide, as the Montana Legislature tackles the issue in the 69th session. The post Voices of Montana Listeners Respond: Physician-Assisted Suicide first appeared on Voices of Montana.

A fourth attempt to make judicial elections partisan has failed in the Montana Legislature. GOP lawmakers and Gov. Greg Gianforte put partisan judicial elections at the top of their priority list in an effort to further regulate the third branch.

The governor's top priority tax proposals have stalled out at the Montana Legislature.The so-called homestead exemption would lower levies for primary Montana residences and small businesses while raising taxes for second homes and short-term rentals. Lawmakers are considering other bills to lower income and property taxes.

A bill in the Montana Legislature that would limit state officials' ability to regulate air quality standards has advanced to the Senate floor. This comes amid ongoing changes at the federal level to loosen regulations.

Strange bedfellows are united behind proposed tax credits for middle to low-income families at the Montana Legislature. There are differing motivations behind the shared goal.

In the latest ag update from the Montana Legislature, Karli Johnson with the Montana Farm Bureau updates on a bevy of bills ranging from the Montana Cattle Committee to water rights, career and technical education and ports of entry into Canada.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt Kuntz, Executive Director of NAMI Montana, and Cassie Wick of Ability Montana provided a thorough update on the major mental wellness bills tracking through the 69th Montana Legislature. Then, Montana's Sculptor, Jim Dolan, joined the program to discuss the […] The post Mental Health Movement in Montana first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Montanans voice mounting concern about the impact of federal budget cuts and tariffs. Montana's governor and congressional delegation don't seem to share those concerns. And the Montana Legislature faces a busy, and possibly contentious second act.

Montanans voice mounting concern about the impact of federal budget cuts and tariffs. Montana's governor and congressional delegation don't seem to share those concerns. And the Montana Legislature faces a busy, and possibly contentious second act.

The 69th Montana Legislature reached the halfway mark of their 90-day session and an important deadline. The Legislature will now take a four-day break before heading into the second half.

Debate over how to lower property taxes is revealing political divides at the Montana Legislature. GOP lawmakers have been hesitant to move forward Gov. Greg Gianforte's key policy.

Two bills to expand a scholarship to help low-income families pay for child care are advancing at the Montana Legislature.

SEN. CORA NEUMAN (D) BOZEMAN TRT: 8:16 MEDICAID EXPANSION RENEWAL/MENTAL HEALTH/SMALLER CLINICS/TRANSMITTAL DATE

One of the Montana Legislature's blockbuster proposals to boost school funding received universal, bipartisan acclaim during its debut hearing this week.

*Content Warning: sexual assault, sexual abuse, sexual violence, rape, suicidal ideation, and mental illness.Resources:Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network: RAINN.org1 in 6 Organization: 1in6.org1 in 6 Organization Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/1in6orgNational Sexual Violence Resource Center: https://www.nsvrc.org/find-helpNational Sexual Assault Hotline (1800-656-4763): https://www.rainn.org/resourcesSources:The 1 in 6 Statistic. (n.d.). One in Six Organization. Retrieved June 26, 2024, from https://1in6.org/statistic/Cal Poly Humboldt & North Coast Rape Crisis Team. (n.d.). Supporting Survivors. Sexualized Violence Statistics. Retrieved June 26, 2024, from https://supportingsurvivors.humboldt.edu/statisticChen LP, Murad MH, Paras ML, Colbenson KM, Sattler AL, Goranson EN, Elamin MB, Seime RJ, Shinozaki G, Prokop LJ, Zirakzadeh A. Sexual abuse and lifetime diagnosis of psychiatric disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis. Mayo Clin Proc. 2010 Jul;85(7):618-29. doi: 10.4065/mcp.2009.0583. Epub 2010 May 10. PMID: 20458101; PMCID: PMC2894717. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2894717/March 2020 Delayed Disclosure: A Factsheet Based on Cutting-Edge Research on Child Sexual Abuse. (2020). Montana Legislature. Retrieved June 26, 2024, from https://leg.mt.gov/bills/2023/Minutes/Senate/Exhibits/230227JUSa3.pdfT. Muller, R., PhD. (2020, October 15). The Invisible Male Victims of Sexual Trauma. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/talking-about-trauma/202010/the-invisible-male-victims-sexual-traumaNational Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2015 Data Brief - Updated Release. (2018). National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved June 26, 2024, from https://www.nsvrc.org/sites/default/files/2021-04/2015data-brief508.pdfNational Sexual Violence Resource Center. (n.d.). Sexual Assault: Statistics. Retrieved June 26, 2024, from https://www.nsvrc.org/statisticsPetersson, C.C., Plantin, L. Breaking with Norms of Masculinity: Men Making Sense of Their Experience of Sexual Assault. Clin Soc Work J 47, 372–383 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-019-00699-yRape, Abuse, & Incest National Network. (n.d.). Perpetrators of Sexual Violence: Statistics. RAINN. Retrieved June 26, 2024, from https://www.rainn.org/statistics/perpetrators-sexual-violenceRape, Abuse, & Incest National Network. (n.d.-b). Sexual Assault of Men and Boys: Statistics. Retrieved June 26, 2024, from https://www.rainn.org/articles/sexual-assault-men-and-boysU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (n.d.). National Center for PTSD: Sexual Assault - Males. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/types/sexual_trauma_male.aspLeRon Barton: LeRon's Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/leronlbarton Leron's Website: https://leronbarton.com/Follow Something Was Wrong:Website: somethingwaswrong.com IG: instagram.com/somethingwaswrongpodcastTikTok: tiktok.com/@somethingwaswrongpodcast Follow Tiffany Reese:Website: tiffanyreese.me IG: instagram.com/lookieboo business@tiffanyreese.me The SWW theme Song is U Think U, by Glad Rags. The S21 cover art is by the Amazing Sara Stewart.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Legislature is in session and there are a number of critical bills that will affect agriculture. Nicole Rolf with the Montana Farm Bureau helps us walk through some of the big topics affecting ag that will come up during the session.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 69th Montana Legislature opened in Helena Monday with both Republicans and Democrats highlighting affordability as one of the issues that will dominate the 90-day session.

The Montana Legislature will soon take up a bill to create the Montana Cattle Committee. Working Group member Jim Steinbeisser joins us to explain how the committee would function and how funds could be invested to protect the future of the industry and increase profitability for Montana's cattle producers. More information on the committee at: https://montanacattlecommittee.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every two years, the Montana Legislature meets for 90 days to pass bills and the statewide budget. Bills become laws and dictate policy on everything from taxes to healthcare access and more. Starting in January, 100 representatives and 50 senators will meet in Helena to work together in committees and hearings to address issues that matter to all Montanans. This week, the commissioners spoke with Missoula Rep. Mark Thane about his predictions for the session, his insights on school funding and what types of tax relief are on the table.This is a longer episode with lots of tax talk. Click here for a refresher on tax vocabulary.Text us your thoughts and comments on this episode! Thank you to Missoula's Community Media Resource for podcast recording support!

On this week's episode of TMI with Aldous Tyler, we look at how two books, taken together, help explain much of the ethos behind modern American conservatism. Not only do we speak to how Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" had been an obvious cornerstone of the "I've got mine, screw you" crowd, but how insidiously "The Secret" managed to creep in and influence our current state of politics. Next, we look at how tensions flared in Congress as incoming Representative Sarah McBride (D-DE), poised to become the first openly transgender member of Congress, found herself personally targeted by Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC). Mace, in a highly controversial move, criticized McBride's right to use women's restrooms, arguing that McBride should be forbidden from accessing them due to her transgender identity, going so far as to introduce legislation to keep all transgender people from being able to use the restrooms that correspond to their presentation. We go over how McBride's response differs from that of Montana State Representative Zooey Zephyr when she was faced with targeted discrimination in the Montana Legislature, and what the implications are for all transgender people who visit Federally-owned facilities. All this and more on TMI for Friday, November 22, 2024 – listen in for YOUR Cure for the Common Media!

The Montana Legislature has a new, interactive model to forecast impacts of a hypothetical sales tax in the state.

Join Daily Inter Lake reporter Taylor Inman for some of this week's biggest headlines for northwest Montana. Including hearing from local fire officials about what is potentially in store for the summer, a recent case from the U.S. Attorney General's Office detailing a wire fraud scam and what Kalispell Republican Representative Courtnay Sprunger has to say about immigration reform. Read more of this week's stories: Average fire season forecast for the Flathead ValleyFormer bookkeeper for Kalispell firearms manufacturer stole $159,000Sprunger says she supported reconvening Montana Legislature to address immigrationRead more local and state coverage:  State lawmakers pass on special session on immigration Backers say nonpartisan primary and majority vote initiatives qualify for fall ballot Teenage motorcyclist killed in US 93 collision Dog Tag Buddies marks graduation of service dog teams County commissioners approve lower wage increase for employees County approves contract for fairgrounds grandstand inspection Whitefish rally takes aim at Biden's Title IX revisions Subscribe to all our pods! Stay in the know with timely updates from News Now, keep up with northwest Montana sports on Keeping Score, dig into stories with Deep Dive, and keep grooving to local artists with Press Play. Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and subscribe to us! Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Got a news tip, want to place an ad, or sponsor this podcast? Contact us!

Tuesday, March 26th, 2024Today, Judge Merchan has set an April 15 trial date for the Trump Election interference hush money case; a New York appeals court lowered Trump's bond to $175M; the feds have executed a search warrant on the home of Sean P. Diddy Combs; Bibi Netanyahu has canceled a DC delegation visit after the US refused to veto a UN ceasefire resolution; Oath Keeper Stewart Rhodes' son is running for office as a Democrat; billionaire TikTok investor Jeff Yass owned shares of Trump's Truth Social merger partner; the wife of a judge on the mifepristone case took payments from an anti-abortion group; Republican Rep Tim Burchett has been sued for saying the Kansas City Chiefs' parade shooter was a “illegal immigrant”; plus Allison and Dana deliver your good news.Promo Code:For pure, effective CBD solutions designed to help support your health. Visit https://CBDistillery.com and use code DAILYBEANS for 20% off.Our Guest Yusuf Dahl:https://www.thurmondamendment.orgGaza: Security Council passes resolution demanding ‘an immediate ceasefire' during Ramadanhttps://news.un.org/en/story/2024/03/1147931Big Republican Donor Jeff Yass Owned Shares in Trump Media Merger Partnerhttps://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/24/business/jeff-yass-shares-trump-media-merger.htmlWife of Judge on Mifepristone Case Was Paid by Anti-Abortion Grouphttps://www.thedailybeast.com/wife-of-james-ho-judge-on-mifepristone-case-was-paid-by-anti-abortion-groupGOP Rep Sued For Falsely Claiming Man Was Chiefs' Parade Shooter, ‘Illegal Alien'https://www.thedailybeast.com/gop-rep-tim-burchett-sued-for-falsely-claiming-man-was-chiefs-parade-shooter-illegal-alienOath Keepers Founder Stewart Rhodes' Son Is Running for Office—as a Democrathttps://www.thedailybeast.com/oath-keepers-founder-stewart-rhodes-son-is-running-for-officeas-a-democratSubscribe to Lawyers, Guns, And MoneyAd-free premium feed: https://lawyersgunsandmoney.supercast.comSubscribe for free everywhere else:https://lawyersgunsandmoney.simplecast.com/episodes/1-miami-1985Check out other MSW Media podcastshttps://mswmedia.com/shows/Follow AG and Dana on Social MediaDr. Allison Gill Follow Mueller, She Wrote on Posthttps://post.news/@/MuellerSheWrote?utm_source=TwitterAG&utm_medium=creator_organic&utm_campaign=muellershewrote&utm_content=FollowMehttps://twitter.com/MuellerSheWrotehttps://www.threads.net/@muellershewrotehttps://www.tiktok.com/@muellershewrotehttps://instagram.com/muellershewroteDana Goldberghttps://twitter.com/DGComedyhttps://www.instagram.com/dgcomedyhttps://www.facebook.com/dgcomedyhttps://danagoldberg.comHave some good news; a confession; or a correction?Good News & Confessions - The Daily Beanshttps://www.dailybeanspod.com/confessional/From The Good News:Healthcare.govhttps://www.healthcare.govThe Secret Apprentice: Dynasty Book 1, A High Fantasy Series (Amazon Link)https://a.co/d/7IZ36CMHuman Rights Campaignhttps://www.hrc.orgUpcoming Live Show Dateshttps://allisongill.com (tickets and show dates)Sunday, June 2nd – Chicago IL – Schubas TavernFriday June 14th – Philadelphia PA – City WinerySaturday June 15th – New York NY – City WinerySunday June 16th – Boston MA – City WineryWednesday July 10th – Portland OR – Polaris Hall (with Dana!)Thursday July 11th – Seattle WA – The Triple Door (with Dana!) Live Show Ticket Links:Chicago, IL https://tinyurl.com/Beans-ChiPhiladelphia, PA https://tinyurl.com/Beans-PhillyNew York, NY https://tinyurl.com/Beans-NYCBoston, MA https://tinyurl.com/Beans-BosPortland, ORhttps://tinyurl.com/Beans-PDXSeattle, WAhttps://tinyurl.com/Beans-SEA Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:The Daily Beans on Apple PodcastsWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?Supercasthttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/OrPatreon https://patreon.com/thedailybeansOr subscribe on Apple Podcasts with our affiliate linkThe Daily Beans on Apple Podcasts

Max Wolf and David Gray talked about what to do with the Old Post Hospital. Then it was Missoula ECON 101 with Missoula Economic Partnership CEO Grant Kier and Dick Barrett. Barrett is a retired economist and former member of the Montana Legislature.

There's been a great amount of discussion over Montana's rising home values and the burden of higher property taxes. Some have looked back critically at the 2023 Montana Legislature for not doing more on the issue. Click on the podcast […] The post Legislature Mulls Over Tax Debate first appeared on Voices of Montana.

They were numerous, many bipartisan, but a handful controversial. Among the 1300 measures approved by the 68th Montana Legislature were a number of bills strengthening parental rights and protections for minors. Click on the podcast to hear family advocates, and […] The post In Defense of Parents and Children at the 68th first appeared on Voices of Montana.

Matika Wilbur (Swinomish and Tulalip) set out on an ambitious project more than a decade ago to photograph citizens of all the federally recognized tribes. Now, her complete work is collected in the book Project 562 and it's as much about her own journey as it is about the vivid portraits of her subjects. [caption id="attachment_25637" align="alignleft" width="169"] TikTok creator Victoria Cheyenne (Courtesy Victoria Cheyenne)[/caption] Plus, in our NAC Sidebar, Montana is the first state to ban the popular TikTok app over fears it allows the Chinese government to collect information on Americans. The ban is a blow to some Native content creators who express themselves and even draw reve  nue from TikTok. Filmmaker and TikTok creator Victoria Cheyenne (Northern Cheyenne and Aymara) is among those who testified against the TikTok ban in front of the Montana Legislature.

On this episode of "The Federalist Radio Hour," "Montana Talks" host Aaron Flint joins Federalist Western Correspondent Tristan Justice to discuss Montana Republicans' fight against radical transgender ideology, explain the legislative processes that led to the censure and ban of transurrectionist Democrat Rep. Zooey Zephyr, and analyze the corporate media's coverage of the events. You can find Flint's radio show here: https://montanatalks.com/

On this episode of “The Federalist Radio Hour,” “Montana Talks” host Aaron Flint joins Federalist Western Correspondent Tristan Justice to discuss Montana Republicans’ fight against radical transgender ideology, explain the legislative processes that led to the censure and ban of transurrectionist Democrat Rep. Zooey Zephyr, and analyze the corporate media’s coverage of the events. You […]

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, a former state legislator, went to work early, and his team stayed busy throughout the 68th Montana legislature convincing lawmakers the state needed to up it's game on public safety. The result is several measures […]

After an early round loss, NBA great Giannis Antetokounmpo had a much watched, quite heartfelt press conference in which he asserted that there's no such thing as failure in sports. Ethan Strauss, NBA expert and former beat writer has a nuanced counter take. Yes, there is. Plus, The Montana Legislature shames itself through censure. And an NBC reporter needs to mix it up, no matter the costs to his credibility. Check out more from Ethan Strauss at his Substack - House of Strauss | Ethan Strauss | Substack Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Subscribe to The Gist Subscribe: https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/ Follow Mikes Substack at: Pesca Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs FOUR gun control bills into law | Colorado lawmakers stand with Zooey Zephyr of Montana | Anti-hate groups worry domestic extremists will be training Arizona police under new rule | A chance to see her bee business take off | Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit at Red Rocks and on HBO Max documentary Song playsIntro by hostWelcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod's Talking Politics, every Monday.Support this show and all the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the link for Patreon, or go to Patreon.com/HeartlandPod to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month, with even more extra shows and special access at the higher levels. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.Alright! Let's get into it: COLORADO NEWSLINE: Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs four gun control bills into lawGOVERNMENTBY: SARA WILSON - APRIL 28, 2023 11:54 AMThe Governor, surrounded by gun-control advocates at a bill signing ceremony said, “Coloradans deserve to be safe in our communities, in our schools, our grocery stores, nightclubs and everywhere in between,” The new laws raise the minimum age to buy a gun to 21, impose a three-day waiting period for gun purchases, expand the state's Extreme Risk Protection Order law and make it easier for gun violence survivors to sue the gun industry.Under Senate Bill 23-170, district attorneys, educators, mental health professionals and other medical providers will be able to petition a judge to confiscate guns from a potentially dangerous person. Previously, only law enforcement and family members had that power under the state's Extreme Risk Protection Order law, also known as the red flag law, which was created in 2019.The expansion aims to increase utilization of the process and extend the petition authority to people who interact with an at-risk person regularly. It is a recognition that some law enforcement officials have been reluctant to use the red flag law when potentially appropriate due to concerns over the Second Amendment.Senate Bill 23-169 raises the age to purchase any gun to 21 years old. Previously, the age restriction was 18 to buy a long gun and 21 to buy a handgun. There are exceptions for members of law enforcement and the military.House Bill 23-1219 imposes a three-day waiting period for people to get a gun after they pay for it. Bill sponsors said that the delayed access to firearms will provide a cooling-off period for people in crisis who might harm themselves or others.Cities will be able to establish longer waiting periods if they choose. If the purchaser's background check takes longer than three days — which it rarely does — they would still need to wait until the background check clears to get their gun.Finally, Senate Bill 23-168 removes a state protection for gun and ammunition dealers and manufactures against lawsuits. Previously, plaintiffs had to pay the legal fees for defendants in dismissed cases involving gun sellers. That is no longer the case.The law makes the gun industry susceptible to lawsuits under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act.bill sponsor Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, a Longmont Democrat, said, “​​We finally, after 23 years of waiting, can open up Colorado courtrooms to gun violence victims and survivors seeking justice,” Less than an hour after the bill signing, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners leader Taylor Rhodes announced on Twitter that the group had already filed lawsuits challenging the minimum age requirement and waiting period laws. He said they are seeking plaintiffs who could establish standing against the other two new laws.Lawmakers are also considering a bill that would outlaw unserialized firearms, also known as ghost guns. Another firearm bill that would have banned semi-automatic weapons in the state died in its first committee hearing last week.The Legislature adjourns on May 8.COLORADO NEWSLINE: Colorado lawmakers stand with Zooey ZephyrDemocratic state Rep. Brianna Titone of Arvada led over 75 Colorado elected officials - including two Republicans - in sending a letter to Montana lawmakers condemning the removal of Rep. Zooey Zephyr and calling for her to be allowed back in the Montana House chamber.In the letter, Rep. Titone said the removal was an attempt to erase trans people amid growing violence against them and an increase in anti-trans laws being passed in state legislatures.Titone said “As elected officials, it is our responsibility to act with integrity and defend our democracy, and we are deeply concerned with erosion of democratic norms we see proliferating in statehouses across the country. Regardless of your personal stance on these issues, she is still a colleague and a duly elected and sworn representative of the people of Montana. Her voice is no less important than yours.”The letter was joined by two Republican lawmakers, state Reps. Ron Weinberg of Loveland and Rick Taggart of Grand Junction.On Tuesday, Montana House Republicans posted a notice announcing they would take up disciplinary measures against Zephyr, Montana's first openly transgender representative, after she said that legislators who voted for a bill that bans gender-affirming care for minors would have blood on their hands, in reference to suicide rates among trans youth. The Montana House voted along party lines Wednesday to bar Zephyr from entering the House floor or gallery for the remainder of the legislative session, only allowing her to participate in votes via Zoom.Rep. Titone made history in 2018 when she was elected the first openly transgender state legislator in Colorado. As chair of the Colorado Legislative LGBTQ caucus, she's worked alongside members of the House and Senate to expand and protect LGBTQ rights in the state.In the letter, Titone applauded Zephyr for her efforts in the Montana Legislature, saying that she has “placed a spotlight of truth on the very real damage anti-trans legislation could have on Montanans who are already struggling with discrimination and growing fear of physical harm.”The Montana state legislative session ends on May 10, and Zephyr is unlikely to be reinstated before the end of the session. Aside from state Rep. Brianna Titone, here are the elected officials from Colorado who signed Titone's letter to the Members of the Montana House of Representatives:Statewide officials:Colorado Secretary of State Jena GriswoldColorado State Treasurer Dave YoungColorado state senators and representatives:House Speaker Julie McCluskieSenate President Steve FenbergHouse Majority Leader Monica DuranSenate Majority Leader Dominick MorenoRep. Ruby DicksonRep. Jenny WillfordRep. David OrtizRep. Kyle BrownRep. Sheila Lieder Rep. Cathy KippRep. Lindsey DaughertyRep. Steven WoodrowRep. Mary YoungRep. Barbara McLachlanRep. Meg FroelichRep. Lorena GarciaRep. Steph VigilRep. Jennifer Lea ParentiRep. Michael J. WeissmanRep. Mandy LindsayRep. Junie Joseph Rep. Karen McCormickRep. Said SharbiniRep. Elizabeth VelascoRep. Regina EnglishRep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez Rep. Elisabeth Epps Sen. Lisa A CutterRep. Tammy StoryRep. Naquetta RicksRep. Dafna Michaelson JenetRep. Andrew Boesenecker Rep. Iman JodehRep. Emily SirotaRep. Shannon BirdRep. Marc SnyderRep. Meghan LukensRep. Jennifer BaconRep. Chris deGruy KennedySen. Janet Buckner Sen. Julie GonzalesSen. Nick HinrichsenSen. Janice MarchmanRep. Eliza Hamrick Rep. Matthew MartinezRep. Ron Weinberg Sen. Rhonda FieldsSen. Faith WinterRep. Javier MabreyRep. Judy AmabileRep. William LindstedtSen. Rachel ZenzingerRep. Leslie HerodRep. Bob MarshallRep. Rick TaggartRep. Tisha MauroSen. Sonya Jaquez LewisSen. Chris HansenSen. Dylan RobertsSen. Jeff BridgesRep. Alex ValdezSen. Jessie DanielsonSen. Tony ExumLocal government:Castle Pines City Councilman Roger D. HudsonBroomfield Mayor Guyleen CastriottaArvada City Councilmember Randy MoormanArvada City Councilmember Lauren SimpsonErie Trustee Emily BaerErie Trustee Daniel HobackErie Mayor Justin BrooksBoulder County Commissioner Ashley StolzmannGreeley City Councilor Tommy ButlerGreeley City Councilor Member Deborah L DeBoutezBoulder Mayor Aaron BrockettDouglas County Commissioner Abe LaydonARIZONA MIRROR: Anti-hate groups worry about Arizona law enforcement trainingBY: ISAAC STONE SIMONELLI/AZCIR - MONDAY MAY 1, 2023 11:32 AMWarnings issued by high-profile civil rights and advocacy groups to Arizona's governor and attorney general failed to stop a rule change that effectively lowers the bar for extremist organizations attempting to radicalize law enforcement officers through government-funded training.Letters sent in March by the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center warned the rule creates a loophole that could be exploited by domestic extremist groups.The contentious rule change, as first reported by AZCIR in 2022, shifted the responsibility of continuing education training oversight from the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board to local law enforcement heads. In their letters, the groups cited an increase in extremist and conspiratorial rhetoric espoused by Arizona public officials, specifically, publicly elected sheriffs. “We are deeply concerned by the possibility that this amended rule will open the door for Arizona peace officers to receive training from adherents of the ‘constitutional sheriffs' movement and other actors who urge local law enforcement to assume authorities beyond those allowed by law,” wrote Mary McCord, the executive director of Georgetown University Law Center's ICAP, a nonpartisan institute focused on constitutional rights and protecting democratic processes.McCord warned that such taxpayer-funded trainings “would place residents at risk of improper activity by county peace officers” and pose a particular threat to brown and Black communities, “who are at the greatest risk of harm from abuses by law enforcement.”The letters cited previous reporting about so-called “constitutional sheriff” groups, which include the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association. The group is part of a national movement built on the idea that a local sheriff's power supersedes that of higher government entities including the U.S. president and the U.S. Supreme Court, and that sheriffs have a duty to nullify laws they interpret as unconstitutional.The civil rights and advocacy organizations highlighted numerous connections between the CSPOA and a variety of hate groups, with the NAACP denouncing some CSPOA members as “prominent antisemites, QAnon conspiracists, white nationalists and neo-confederates.”Sarah Kader, community manager for ADL Arizona, a state-level branch of a national organization that combats hate groups in the U.S., wrote “If the revised rule goes into effect, we fear that domestic extremists, based on their previous actions, will rush to take advantage of the opportunity,” Rachel Goldwasser, a senior research analyst for the Southern Poverty Law Center, warned that the rule change could be used as a blueprint for creating workarounds allowing extremist organizations to train law enforcement in other states.Neither the governor, Democrat Katie Hobbs nor the attorney general, Democrat Kris Mayes, directly addressed concerns about neo-confederates and other domestic extremists running law enforcement trainings.ADL confirmed it did not receive a response from Gov. Hobbs' office until after the rule change took effect, though a spokesperson indicated the group had “every reason to believe that the Governor's office understands the concerns we have raised in our letters and is taking them seriously.” In their letters, ADL, SPLC and the NAACP all expressed concerns that more than half of Arizona sheriffs are at least partially aligned with the constitutional sheriff movement—connections AZCIR highlighted in its 2022 reporting.Rachel Goldwasser of SPLC said “Arizona has a large extremist presence in the Legislature, sheriffs' offices and among the public, unfortunately. They'll exploit any opportunity for these extremists to spread their ideology.”Three of the four letters also issued a warning about Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, who has known ties to CSPOA and is the frontman for Protect America Now, another so-called “constitutional sheriff” organization.Lamb, who announced a bid for the U.S. Senate in April, has developed a national presence by appearing on a slew of fringe right-wing news networks and podcasts, including those espousing QAnon conspiracies. Lamb did not respond to a request for comment.Sarah Kader of ADL said “In recent years, extreme ideologies have been mainstreamed and normalized at an alarming pace. This is due in large part to the growing number of elected officials and other high-profile individuals who traffic in conspiracies and hate.”This article first appeared on Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.DENVER WESTWORD: How Hard Can it Bee? ZzzzzzBee Here Now: Capella Ranch Has a Honey of an IdeaCATIE CHESHIRE APRIL 25, 2023 6:53AMIn countries like Germany and Slovenia, inhaling the aerosol created by bees in an apiary, or collection of beehives, is an authorized treatment for respiratory diseases. But in the United States, there are only three places that offer the experience: one in Georgia, one in Michigan, and Capella Ranch in Lafayette Colorado, which just opened for its second season.Carolyn Peterson, who owns the ranch with her family said “I'm going to be out here all summer, talking to people and enjoying them and hearing their stories. They're going to come stressed out, and then they're going to leave relaxed.”Capella Ranch currently has sheep, Nigerian dwarf goats, Nubian goats, ducks, chickens, a few turkeys and, of course, bees, the first of which arrived in 2018. To create their bee therapy Shangri-la, the Petersons started by building two cedar huts shaped like irregular pentagons. The cedar contributes to the aroma in the huts, although its durability in the Colorado weather is its chief asset here. The slanted roof of the hut concentrates the aerosol so people can breathe it in while they're lying flat. “Everyone comes out with a different experience,” Carolyn says. “They get in there. They lie down. They take in the whole thing, and then they just sort of concentrate on the humming of the bees.”When bees make honey, there's a lot of water in it at first, so the insects work to reduce the moisture content by flapping their wings. As it evaporates, the moisture is carried into the air to form an aerosol that people find therapeutic.The bees also create an electromagnetic field with their vibration, which is at a frequency that's calming to the human parasympathetic nervous system - a network of nerves that helps relax the body. Some people can feel the field, but most notice the smell first. Underneath the scent of cedar, there is the aromatic tang of the bees at work. Almost like the smell of a newborn baby, but with an extra oomph.“That is all the pollen, nectars, amino acids and essential oils that the bees are bringing in to make the honey,” Carolyn says. “It's just kind of an odd smell, and it's supposed to be very good to breathe in.”In Slovenia, the bee experience has been used to calm firefighters after hard jobs, children who have behavioral problems at school, and parents of those children, who might need some relaxation as well. The Petersons note that they aren't medical professionals, so they don't consider their huts medicinal.“If it happens to help, great,” Carolyn says. “It's relaxing. It's thirty minutes of nobody bugging you.”One person who says the bee huts have helped is Marsha Ruggeri, who lives in Lafayette. She went to Capella Ranch four times during its inaugural season.She first came with a friend who'd bought a deal on Groupon. After struggling with heightened asthma symptoms the past two years — which she attributes to wildfires and air pollution — Ruggeri was excited to learn of a potential way to alleviate her symptoms.And, it worked!“I'm not saying it was a panacea,” she says. “It felt like I was actually doing something that wasn't an inhaler or medication and I was regaining some control over how my body was reacting to all this shit in the air.”On Ruggeri's third visit, she experienced the electromagnetic field produced by the bees.“I was laying on my side, and then all of a sudden, I could feel it,” she says. “It really deserves more than one treatment. It's kind of like people who go for acupuncture, and they're like, ‘Well, it didn't do anything for me.' You really need to try it more than once.”Along with the eight hives in the huts, there are six to eight more near a special pond on the ranch where the bees drink. Last summer, over a hundred people came to Capella Ranch to check out the bees; a TikTok Charlie made announcing that the huts were open has gained about 20,000 views.One of those visitors, a reiki and yoga teacher from Fort Collins named Yarmey, found Capella Ranch on Instagram. “I'm really interested in energy and grounding and our connection to nature,” she says. Reiki is a practice of directing energy to help facilitate healing.After her first visit, Yarmey came back a second time, when she says she was really able to share a meditative space with the bees, reveling in their presence in a way that humans rarely get to do with other species.“When else in your life do you get to share space with a million other beings who all are very clear about their purpose and their path and what they need to be doing? Everything felt a little slower, more grounded.”The huts are now open for a second season; anyone is welcome except those allergic to bee or wasp stings. A thirty-minute session is $35; an hour runs $60. CONCERT PICK OF THE WEEKDENVER POST: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, with Angel Olsen - this Thursday and Friday night at Red Rocks.By JOHN WENZEL | jwenzel@denverpost.com | The Denver PostApril 28, 2023 at 6:00 a.m.Jason Isbell's voice can be a strapping, mournful thing, muscular and dripping with vulnerability as he chronicles his life in song. And on this day, it's still waking up.“This time of year I drink my black coffee cold so I can get it down quicker,” the 44-year-old singer-songwriter said over the phone from his Nashville porch on Monday. “I've spent so many years working late at night that it makes it hard for me to get on with normal life. It's tough, you know? But I think it's tough no matter how you do it.”Isbell's family and acclaimed music career test his resolve while giving him motivation to stay sober and productive. He has won a quartet of Grammy Awards since 2018 — about a decade after getting kicked out of his former alt-country band, Drive-By Truckers, for drinking and drugs In the HBO Max documentary “Music Box: Jason Isbell — Running with Our Eyes Closed,” which was released on April 7, we're afforded a close-up on his life as he records the album “Reunions” with his band, the 400 Unit. His intimate musical and romantic partnership with wife Amanda Shires (who is an acclaimed solo artist herself), his love of his daughter Mercy Rose, his past divorce, and the shock of the pandemic are all there in vivid cross-section.“If you're a recording artist or entertainer with any kind of success, you don't want to spend too much time looking back,” said Isbell, who was born in Green Hill, Ala., to a 17-year-old mother. “It's a self-centered way of living. But one thing I was surprised by watching the (documentary) is that I'd forgotten how hard those old days were, growing up where I did and having addiction issues. It was nice to see but painful to watch, that all of this was real and really happened to me, even if it's long in the rearview.”Isbell will headline Red Rocks Amphitheatre May 3 and 4 with the 400 Unit, on tour for their new album “Weathervanes,” to be released June 9. The lead single “Death Wish” has already been covered by Jack White and featured on “American Idol.” Isbell's melodies channel Americana, folk, country, and rock and roll. His lyrics are cutting, urgent, and full of visceral metaphors. On “Death Wish,” he sings:“I wanted action, she wanted answers / Sunrise with the dealers and the dancers / It takes a whole lot of medicine to feel like a little kid.”Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit With Angel Olsen, Two shows, May 3 and 4, at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Tickets at axs.com, and I think Adam may have an extra still, too. Welp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from Colorado Newsline, Arizona Mirror, Denver Post, and Denver's Westword.Thank you for listening! See you next time.

Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs FOUR gun control bills into law | Colorado lawmakers stand with Zooey Zephyr of Montana | Anti-hate groups worry domestic extremists will be training Arizona police under new rule | A chance to see her bee business take off | Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit at Red Rocks and on HBO Max documentary Song playsIntro by hostWelcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod's Talking Politics, every Monday.Support this show and all the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the link for Patreon, or go to Patreon.com/HeartlandPod to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month, with even more extra shows and special access at the higher levels. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.Alright! Let's get into it: COLORADO NEWSLINE: Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs four gun control bills into lawGOVERNMENTBY: SARA WILSON - APRIL 28, 2023 11:54 AMThe Governor, surrounded by gun-control advocates at a bill signing ceremony said, “Coloradans deserve to be safe in our communities, in our schools, our grocery stores, nightclubs and everywhere in between,” The new laws raise the minimum age to buy a gun to 21, impose a three-day waiting period for gun purchases, expand the state's Extreme Risk Protection Order law and make it easier for gun violence survivors to sue the gun industry.Under Senate Bill 23-170, district attorneys, educators, mental health professionals and other medical providers will be able to petition a judge to confiscate guns from a potentially dangerous person. Previously, only law enforcement and family members had that power under the state's Extreme Risk Protection Order law, also known as the red flag law, which was created in 2019.The expansion aims to increase utilization of the process and extend the petition authority to people who interact with an at-risk person regularly. It is a recognition that some law enforcement officials have been reluctant to use the red flag law when potentially appropriate due to concerns over the Second Amendment.Senate Bill 23-169 raises the age to purchase any gun to 21 years old. Previously, the age restriction was 18 to buy a long gun and 21 to buy a handgun. There are exceptions for members of law enforcement and the military.House Bill 23-1219 imposes a three-day waiting period for people to get a gun after they pay for it. Bill sponsors said that the delayed access to firearms will provide a cooling-off period for people in crisis who might harm themselves or others.Cities will be able to establish longer waiting periods if they choose. If the purchaser's background check takes longer than three days — which it rarely does — they would still need to wait until the background check clears to get their gun.Finally, Senate Bill 23-168 removes a state protection for gun and ammunition dealers and manufactures against lawsuits. Previously, plaintiffs had to pay the legal fees for defendants in dismissed cases involving gun sellers. That is no longer the case.The law makes the gun industry susceptible to lawsuits under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act.bill sponsor Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, a Longmont Democrat, said, “​​We finally, after 23 years of waiting, can open up Colorado courtrooms to gun violence victims and survivors seeking justice,” Less than an hour after the bill signing, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners leader Taylor Rhodes announced on Twitter that the group had already filed lawsuits challenging the minimum age requirement and waiting period laws. He said they are seeking plaintiffs who could establish standing against the other two new laws.Lawmakers are also considering a bill that would outlaw unserialized firearms, also known as ghost guns. Another firearm bill that would have banned semi-automatic weapons in the state died in its first committee hearing last week.The Legislature adjourns on May 8.COLORADO NEWSLINE: Colorado lawmakers stand with Zooey ZephyrDemocratic state Rep. Brianna Titone of Arvada led over 75 Colorado elected officials - including two Republicans - in sending a letter to Montana lawmakers condemning the removal of Rep. Zooey Zephyr and calling for her to be allowed back in the Montana House chamber.In the letter, Rep. Titone said the removal was an attempt to erase trans people amid growing violence against them and an increase in anti-trans laws being passed in state legislatures.Titone said “As elected officials, it is our responsibility to act with integrity and defend our democracy, and we are deeply concerned with erosion of democratic norms we see proliferating in statehouses across the country. Regardless of your personal stance on these issues, she is still a colleague and a duly elected and sworn representative of the people of Montana. Her voice is no less important than yours.”The letter was joined by two Republican lawmakers, state Reps. Ron Weinberg of Loveland and Rick Taggart of Grand Junction.On Tuesday, Montana House Republicans posted a notice announcing they would take up disciplinary measures against Zephyr, Montana's first openly transgender representative, after she said that legislators who voted for a bill that bans gender-affirming care for minors would have blood on their hands, in reference to suicide rates among trans youth. The Montana House voted along party lines Wednesday to bar Zephyr from entering the House floor or gallery for the remainder of the legislative session, only allowing her to participate in votes via Zoom.Rep. Titone made history in 2018 when she was elected the first openly transgender state legislator in Colorado. As chair of the Colorado Legislative LGBTQ caucus, she's worked alongside members of the House and Senate to expand and protect LGBTQ rights in the state.In the letter, Titone applauded Zephyr for her efforts in the Montana Legislature, saying that she has “placed a spotlight of truth on the very real damage anti-trans legislation could have on Montanans who are already struggling with discrimination and growing fear of physical harm.”The Montana state legislative session ends on May 10, and Zephyr is unlikely to be reinstated before the end of the session. Aside from state Rep. Brianna Titone, here are the elected officials from Colorado who signed Titone's letter to the Members of the Montana House of Representatives:Statewide officials:Colorado Secretary of State Jena GriswoldColorado State Treasurer Dave YoungColorado state senators and representatives:House Speaker Julie McCluskieSenate President Steve FenbergHouse Majority Leader Monica DuranSenate Majority Leader Dominick MorenoRep. Ruby DicksonRep. Jenny WillfordRep. David OrtizRep. Kyle BrownRep. Sheila Lieder Rep. Cathy KippRep. Lindsey DaughertyRep. Steven WoodrowRep. Mary YoungRep. Barbara McLachlanRep. Meg FroelichRep. Lorena GarciaRep. Steph VigilRep. Jennifer Lea ParentiRep. Michael J. WeissmanRep. Mandy LindsayRep. Junie Joseph Rep. Karen McCormickRep. Said SharbiniRep. Elizabeth VelascoRep. Regina EnglishRep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez Rep. Elisabeth Epps Sen. Lisa A CutterRep. Tammy StoryRep. Naquetta RicksRep. Dafna Michaelson JenetRep. Andrew Boesenecker Rep. Iman JodehRep. Emily SirotaRep. Shannon BirdRep. Marc SnyderRep. Meghan LukensRep. Jennifer BaconRep. Chris deGruy KennedySen. Janet Buckner Sen. Julie GonzalesSen. Nick HinrichsenSen. Janice MarchmanRep. Eliza Hamrick Rep. Matthew MartinezRep. Ron Weinberg Sen. Rhonda FieldsSen. Faith WinterRep. Javier MabreyRep. Judy AmabileRep. William LindstedtSen. Rachel ZenzingerRep. Leslie HerodRep. Bob MarshallRep. Rick TaggartRep. Tisha MauroSen. Sonya Jaquez LewisSen. Chris HansenSen. Dylan RobertsSen. Jeff BridgesRep. Alex ValdezSen. Jessie DanielsonSen. Tony ExumLocal government:Castle Pines City Councilman Roger D. HudsonBroomfield Mayor Guyleen CastriottaArvada City Councilmember Randy MoormanArvada City Councilmember Lauren SimpsonErie Trustee Emily BaerErie Trustee Daniel HobackErie Mayor Justin BrooksBoulder County Commissioner Ashley StolzmannGreeley City Councilor Tommy ButlerGreeley City Councilor Member Deborah L DeBoutezBoulder Mayor Aaron BrockettDouglas County Commissioner Abe LaydonARIZONA MIRROR: Anti-hate groups worry about Arizona law enforcement trainingBY: ISAAC STONE SIMONELLI/AZCIR - MONDAY MAY 1, 2023 11:32 AMWarnings issued by high-profile civil rights and advocacy groups to Arizona's governor and attorney general failed to stop a rule change that effectively lowers the bar for extremist organizations attempting to radicalize law enforcement officers through government-funded training.Letters sent in March by the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center warned the rule creates a loophole that could be exploited by domestic extremist groups.The contentious rule change, as first reported by AZCIR in 2022, shifted the responsibility of continuing education training oversight from the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board to local law enforcement heads. In their letters, the groups cited an increase in extremist and conspiratorial rhetoric espoused by Arizona public officials, specifically, publicly elected sheriffs. “We are deeply concerned by the possibility that this amended rule will open the door for Arizona peace officers to receive training from adherents of the ‘constitutional sheriffs' movement and other actors who urge local law enforcement to assume authorities beyond those allowed by law,” wrote Mary McCord, the executive director of Georgetown University Law Center's ICAP, a nonpartisan institute focused on constitutional rights and protecting democratic processes.McCord warned that such taxpayer-funded trainings “would place residents at risk of improper activity by county peace officers” and pose a particular threat to brown and Black communities, “who are at the greatest risk of harm from abuses by law enforcement.”The letters cited previous reporting about so-called “constitutional sheriff” groups, which include the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association. The group is part of a national movement built on the idea that a local sheriff's power supersedes that of higher government entities including the U.S. president and the U.S. Supreme Court, and that sheriffs have a duty to nullify laws they interpret as unconstitutional.The civil rights and advocacy organizations highlighted numerous connections between the CSPOA and a variety of hate groups, with the NAACP denouncing some CSPOA members as “prominent antisemites, QAnon conspiracists, white nationalists and neo-confederates.”Sarah Kader, community manager for ADL Arizona, a state-level branch of a national organization that combats hate groups in the U.S., wrote “If the revised rule goes into effect, we fear that domestic extremists, based on their previous actions, will rush to take advantage of the opportunity,” Rachel Goldwasser, a senior research analyst for the Southern Poverty Law Center, warned that the rule change could be used as a blueprint for creating workarounds allowing extremist organizations to train law enforcement in other states.Neither the governor, Democrat Katie Hobbs nor the attorney general, Democrat Kris Mayes, directly addressed concerns about neo-confederates and other domestic extremists running law enforcement trainings.ADL confirmed it did not receive a response from Gov. Hobbs' office until after the rule change took effect, though a spokesperson indicated the group had “every reason to believe that the Governor's office understands the concerns we have raised in our letters and is taking them seriously.” In their letters, ADL, SPLC and the NAACP all expressed concerns that more than half of Arizona sheriffs are at least partially aligned with the constitutional sheriff movement—connections AZCIR highlighted in its 2022 reporting.Rachel Goldwasser of SPLC said “Arizona has a large extremist presence in the Legislature, sheriffs' offices and among the public, unfortunately. They'll exploit any opportunity for these extremists to spread their ideology.”Three of the four letters also issued a warning about Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, who has known ties to CSPOA and is the frontman for Protect America Now, another so-called “constitutional sheriff” organization.Lamb, who announced a bid for the U.S. Senate in April, has developed a national presence by appearing on a slew of fringe right-wing news networks and podcasts, including those espousing QAnon conspiracies. Lamb did not respond to a request for comment.Sarah Kader of ADL said “In recent years, extreme ideologies have been mainstreamed and normalized at an alarming pace. This is due in large part to the growing number of elected officials and other high-profile individuals who traffic in conspiracies and hate.”This article first appeared on Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.DENVER WESTWORD: How Hard Can it Bee? ZzzzzzBee Here Now: Capella Ranch Has a Honey of an IdeaCATIE CHESHIRE APRIL 25, 2023 6:53AMIn countries like Germany and Slovenia, inhaling the aerosol created by bees in an apiary, or collection of beehives, is an authorized treatment for respiratory diseases. But in the United States, there are only three places that offer the experience: one in Georgia, one in Michigan, and Capella Ranch in Lafayette Colorado, which just opened for its second season.Carolyn Peterson, who owns the ranch with her family said “I'm going to be out here all summer, talking to people and enjoying them and hearing their stories. They're going to come stressed out, and then they're going to leave relaxed.”Capella Ranch currently has sheep, Nigerian dwarf goats, Nubian goats, ducks, chickens, a few turkeys and, of course, bees, the first of which arrived in 2018. To create their bee therapy Shangri-la, the Petersons started by building two cedar huts shaped like irregular pentagons. The cedar contributes to the aroma in the huts, although its durability in the Colorado weather is its chief asset here. The slanted roof of the hut concentrates the aerosol so people can breathe it in while they're lying flat. “Everyone comes out with a different experience,” Carolyn says. “They get in there. They lie down. They take in the whole thing, and then they just sort of concentrate on the humming of the bees.”When bees make honey, there's a lot of water in it at first, so the insects work to reduce the moisture content by flapping their wings. As it evaporates, the moisture is carried into the air to form an aerosol that people find therapeutic.The bees also create an electromagnetic field with their vibration, which is at a frequency that's calming to the human parasympathetic nervous system - a network of nerves that helps relax the body. Some people can feel the field, but most notice the smell first. Underneath the scent of cedar, there is the aromatic tang of the bees at work. Almost like the smell of a newborn baby, but with an extra oomph.“That is all the pollen, nectars, amino acids and essential oils that the bees are bringing in to make the honey,” Carolyn says. “It's just kind of an odd smell, and it's supposed to be very good to breathe in.”In Slovenia, the bee experience has been used to calm firefighters after hard jobs, children who have behavioral problems at school, and parents of those children, who might need some relaxation as well. The Petersons note that they aren't medical professionals, so they don't consider their huts medicinal.“If it happens to help, great,” Carolyn says. “It's relaxing. It's thirty minutes of nobody bugging you.”One person who says the bee huts have helped is Marsha Ruggeri, who lives in Lafayette. She went to Capella Ranch four times during its inaugural season.She first came with a friend who'd bought a deal on Groupon. After struggling with heightened asthma symptoms the past two years — which she attributes to wildfires and air pollution — Ruggeri was excited to learn of a potential way to alleviate her symptoms.And, it worked!“I'm not saying it was a panacea,” she says. “It felt like I was actually doing something that wasn't an inhaler or medication and I was regaining some control over how my body was reacting to all this shit in the air.”On Ruggeri's third visit, she experienced the electromagnetic field produced by the bees.“I was laying on my side, and then all of a sudden, I could feel it,” she says. “It really deserves more than one treatment. It's kind of like people who go for acupuncture, and they're like, ‘Well, it didn't do anything for me.' You really need to try it more than once.”Along with the eight hives in the huts, there are six to eight more near a special pond on the ranch where the bees drink. Last summer, over a hundred people came to Capella Ranch to check out the bees; a TikTok Charlie made announcing that the huts were open has gained about 20,000 views.One of those visitors, a reiki and yoga teacher from Fort Collins named Yarmey, found Capella Ranch on Instagram. “I'm really interested in energy and grounding and our connection to nature,” she says. Reiki is a practice of directing energy to help facilitate healing.After her first visit, Yarmey came back a second time, when she says she was really able to share a meditative space with the bees, reveling in their presence in a way that humans rarely get to do with other species.“When else in your life do you get to share space with a million other beings who all are very clear about their purpose and their path and what they need to be doing? Everything felt a little slower, more grounded.”The huts are now open for a second season; anyone is welcome except those allergic to bee or wasp stings. A thirty-minute session is $35; an hour runs $60. CONCERT PICK OF THE WEEKDENVER POST: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, with Angel Olsen - this Thursday and Friday night at Red Rocks.By JOHN WENZEL | jwenzel@denverpost.com | The Denver PostApril 28, 2023 at 6:00 a.m.Jason Isbell's voice can be a strapping, mournful thing, muscular and dripping with vulnerability as he chronicles his life in song. And on this day, it's still waking up.“This time of year I drink my black coffee cold so I can get it down quicker,” the 44-year-old singer-songwriter said over the phone from his Nashville porch on Monday. “I've spent so many years working late at night that it makes it hard for me to get on with normal life. It's tough, you know? But I think it's tough no matter how you do it.”Isbell's family and acclaimed music career test his resolve while giving him motivation to stay sober and productive. He has won a quartet of Grammy Awards since 2018 — about a decade after getting kicked out of his former alt-country band, Drive-By Truckers, for drinking and drugs In the HBO Max documentary “Music Box: Jason Isbell — Running with Our Eyes Closed,” which was released on April 7, we're afforded a close-up on his life as he records the album “Reunions” with his band, the 400 Unit. His intimate musical and romantic partnership with wife Amanda Shires (who is an acclaimed solo artist herself), his love of his daughter Mercy Rose, his past divorce, and the shock of the pandemic are all there in vivid cross-section.“If you're a recording artist or entertainer with any kind of success, you don't want to spend too much time looking back,” said Isbell, who was born in Green Hill, Ala., to a 17-year-old mother. “It's a self-centered way of living. But one thing I was surprised by watching the (documentary) is that I'd forgotten how hard those old days were, growing up where I did and having addiction issues. It was nice to see but painful to watch, that all of this was real and really happened to me, even if it's long in the rearview.”Isbell will headline Red Rocks Amphitheatre May 3 and 4 with the 400 Unit, on tour for their new album “Weathervanes,” to be released June 9. The lead single “Death Wish” has already been covered by Jack White and featured on “American Idol.” Isbell's melodies channel Americana, folk, country, and rock and roll. His lyrics are cutting, urgent, and full of visceral metaphors. On “Death Wish,” he sings:“I wanted action, she wanted answers / Sunrise with the dealers and the dancers / It takes a whole lot of medicine to feel like a little kid.”Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit With Angel Olsen, Two shows, May 3 and 4, at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Tickets at axs.com, and I think Adam may have an extra still, too. Welp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from Colorado Newsline, Arizona Mirror, Denver Post, and Denver's Westword.Thank you for listening! See you next time.

The 68th Montana Legislature adjourned Tuesday, immediately after passing a budget and killing some proposals that were still in play.

Billings selects a new superintendent, U.S. officials tour Malmstrom Air Force Base, and a slate of bills in the Montana Legislature could have a chilling effect on legal challenges to the energy industry.

The first of nearly a dozen anti-abortion bills have passed the Montana Legislature and are headed for the governor's desk. Reproductive rights advocates rallied in Helena on the same day.

Republicans in the Montana Legislature have advanced several proposed constitutional amendments. But without unanimous caucus support, it's unclear if they'll make it to the finish line.

Elk populations across much of the state are growing, and above ideal thresholds set by wildlife managers. In recent years landowners, hunters and outfitters have disagreed about how to update policy to match the trend. But that could change during the current session of the Montana Legislature.

The state legislature has tackled some issues – tax rebates and reductions, paying off the state's debts, investing in road repairs, education, housing … but the state budget is still a work in progress. Montana Speaker of the House, Matt […]

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte has signed his first batch of bills sent to his desk by the 68th Montana Legislature.

Resources“The Time Is Now,” NCSL

The 68th Montana legislature is in session planning out the budget for the next biennium and working to move of bills through the house and senate chambers each week. Today is the 25th day of this legislative cycle, with the session wrapping up at the beginning of May.Flathead Beacon reporters Denali Sagner, Mike Kordenbrock and Maggie Dresser joined host Micah Drew to to talk about legislation they've been tracking throughout January and share updates to their reporting. To find detailed information about bills, contact your local legislator or watch and listen to proceedings, visit www.leg.mt.gov/.Read more about all of this week's stories and get the latest breaking news at flatheadbeacon.com and sign up for our new daily newsletter at flatheadbeacon.com/newsletter.RELATED LINKSFebruary 1 E-EditionSenate Judiciary Committee Passes Bill to Ban Gender-Affirming Medical Care for MinorsColumbia Falls Legislator Withdraws Mandatory Fetal Death Certificate Proposal After Extensive PushbackBill Seeks to Expand Sexual Assault Response Resources‘We Are Losing Money Every Month'New Medicaid Proposal Would Limit Abortion AccessKalispell Senator's Bill Seeks to Tighten Laws on Impact FeesThe introductory music in this this episode is “Thinking Music” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, The episode also features two songs from Montana singer/songwriter Mike Murray's album We Are Like Warriors, "The Good Ol' Days You're In" and "Moment of Time," used with permission.Read more about all of this week's stories and get the latest breaking news at flatheadbeacon.com and sign up for our new daily newsletter at flatheadbeacon.com/newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.