[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6221753,"mediaKeyId","3611513-beae2d00a62bbb620ba31847133067f5","parentId",3611513,"title","Host calls for more transparency: regents' land deals and telecom task force drew criticism for lack of public input","audioSeconds",582,"startMs",2714665,"endMs",3297180,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3611513-beae2d00a62bbb620ba31847133067f5&start=2714&end=3297","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3611513-beae2d00a62bbb620ba31847133067f5/thumbnail_2714665.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6221753/Missoula/Missoula-County/Montana/Host-calls-for-more-transparency-regents-land-deals-and-telecom-task-force-drew-criticism-for-lack-of-public-input","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221753-5dc68509b225aa9e0e84a5f88e610e10/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155089&Signature=VjcXeHBt4cvUN2aU3I63E9tiPqAbsT8qWOoafN~HgUDXsmtOFJJJaDeliqDRNzo~sgASH1r11WNey1cMUIf7qKo5J3iIP-l9OL1myH4TpZgN5K~KFev~3VmFx7CrgzNGNXdL24-NFucImidp6Irtvb6M2P1LNbA-w3Tx0F3miDtDZp5Tx4M2Ij~PTCNXRkJGMkyuqmiCvY-6w702dRHhNAB~G-m4uPdILgfyBNTFkFDzbZ1uISSW4kqzTZ2SJCrQOHeWKc6PlZLG-opeYb34QV-W~0fftFDyLFPuX2iHNLcFn3K2U3Hy~PlfAJp~EeYXjos6zDFU7Yw4dWbTrjfrgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Missoula, MT","date","2025-05-30T16:51:13Z","article","The program's host criticized state institutions and the Legislature for limited transparency and citizen access, citing a state attorney general's report on university land dispositions and a lengthy telecommunications task-force report that the host said left citizens out of the process.

The host said the attorney general's report on the disposition of public lands by the university system since 1972 documents what the host described as misfeasance and mismanagement and urged a replacement of the university system's long-serving attorney and foundation boards. The host described the report as a detailed accounting of land trades and alleged problems.

On telecommunications, the host said the governor's Blue Ribbon Task Force's report cost tens of thousands of dollars but contained only three paragraphs about cable television. He said local public access centers like Missoula Community Access Television were not consulted and urged broader public hearings and more daily media coverage of legislative hearings, including Montana Public Television coverage.

The host also urged stricter lobbyist disclosure rules and suggested that Montana needs more citizen participation in legislative hearings rather than leaving the process to paid lobbyists.

These comments were framed as editorial perspective and a call for institutional reforms; no formal complaints or legal actions were announced during the broadcast.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Under the Copper Dome A Public Conversation #2","oneSentenceSummary","The program host criticized the university regents' land disposals report and the governor's Blue Ribbon Telecommunications Task Force for limited outreach, urged stronger lobbyist disclosure and daily legislative coverage, and cited a report on university land dispositions as evidence of problematic practices.","taxTitle","Missoula, Missoula County, Montana","taxId",4050,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6221758,"Montana House minority leader urges investment in prevention programs, warns against tapping coal trust",550,1919825,2470105,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3611513-beae2d00a62bbb620ba31847133067f5&start=1919&end=2470","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3611513-beae2d00a62bbb620ba31847133067f5/thumbnail_1919825.jpg","/articles/6221758/Missoula/Missoula-County/Montana/Montana-House-minority-leader-urges-investment-in-prevention-programs-warns-against-tapping-coal-trust","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221758-b9ebc615e2501737912ea69098f6bbad/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155089&Signature=CU-qkBwBB5AQ4aGLFao3XGByTvt0r~rehUDhhRI1sP1KzUl7R70LESwh-7vVxOUSuSWQORXs2SpprZvCzxJ7Rg6HfQ0bFBVArHaoYLXrTPkZMp70Of3Ft~-7w~lDdPBpf9GL5Ux61qIWnmIptIln2o0qlkmxnNBPTwqE6DaggClWXDr9qDrrP6cqIZyILZ-kbbvMfuVQ22uug7IRsShKyG3c0fwKW40TarGIjbuHKAdDZ90VHrLG3MtejcOgIrKu69oDe9cUmuQGJZ80n7H3zGlZWxbpkl3dlvuE4NHM~0gbew0p9kk8Uv3WL7rhi59rrU-oKQYcdQGxKpA-njdYIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Vicki Cutturella, the House minority leader, said she is focused on prevention programs for children and families and warned that shifting resources into corrections and incarceration is the wrong direction for Montana.

\"My big huge concerning, number 1, is the trend I see here for cutting prevention programs of all kinds in favor of incarceration of human beings,\" Cutturella said. She cited Head Start as an example, saying she opposes returning federal funds that were intended to help children.

Cutturella expressed opposition to proposals to break the coal tax trust — a reserve she described as a savings account for the state. \"I don't think that the governor's plan ... is worth that kind of vote,\" she said, arguing that dismantling the trust risks Montana's future fiscal stability.

She also warned that a property tax freeze without broader reform could create a larger future burden for schools and local governments. Cutturella said Missoula homeowners face increases of \"63%\" and described a simple freeze as \"locking the monster in the closet and feeding him.\"

The minority leader criticized the influence of corporate lobbying in committee work and urged citizens to watch the process closely. She also noted that there are three Native American legislators in the Democratic caucus and one on the Republican side and said those members help keep tribal issues visible in Legislature debates.

Cutturella gave no formal motions or legislative amendments during the interview; her comments were a statement of priorities and critique of current legislative trends.","House Minority Leader Vicki Cutturella said she prioritizes prevention programs in education and social services over expanding incarceration, voiced concern about proposals to break the coal tax trust, and criticized committee decisions that have placed federal Head Start funds at risk.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6221763,"Montana Women’s Lobby launches 'Community Conversations' to mobilize progressive groups against what it calls extremist legislation",547,1000130,1548030,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3611513-beae2d00a62bbb620ba31847133067f5&start=1000&end=1548","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3611513-beae2d00a62bbb620ba31847133067f5/thumbnail_1000130.jpg","/articles/6221763/Missoula/Missoula-County/Montana/Montana-Womens-Lobby-launches-Community-Conversations-to-mobilize-progressive-groups-against-what-it-calls-extremist-legislation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221763-13a830171e23f4b6c83c542fa63ec8bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155089&Signature=UoYWAgnaMv7lHkrzKahfItNOlXG0eXExic3lMWP1MMUicm39M~8iDFRbkhVvBmVgRGtdJsTCBA-~WT2wEDXKyA7nwBajLLPHqaRV~jEVk5Z9hGG1KKFPsmLvPolekTirJOrbdfCHGlJLtYzDSsyKaA5kWBbY6W7KV7xtxwQ0gd-EnJWFLDmiIix0THwdpIEG0R2hq2P2zFDKDG0mPhBPQDGlIlT3tOBpLdek7YFKQF7uUC-qMsBuM9b7ciUClBThwa-uW2EzYgXxoR~JiBYEgqBwz7G9jV0~fHNj5brcCrMN~vW0YD0fQlenN2grz5GXFjgJatlClU-t-J7jO1sWHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Montana Women's Lobby and partner groups said they are taking a statewide outreach approach to mobilize citizens against what they call \"extremist\" tactics and policy proposals at the Montana Legislature.

Sandy Eutsinger, director of the Montana Women's Lobby, described a series of town-hall style events called Community Conversations that the lobby is organizing with groups including the Montana Human Rights Network, Montana NARAL and others. The Missoula conversation was scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. at University Congregational Church.

Eutsinger said the roadshow aims both to \"let people know what we see happening\" at the legislature and to listen so organizers can bring local concerns back to Helena. She identified two dynamics motivating the outreach: high-profile \"carnival\" culture debates (for example those targeting school curricula or social issues) and deeper economic-policy changes affecting services such as Head Start and child-care funding.

\"We really wanna get out there and talk to people and let them know what we see happening and also, more importantly, to listen,\" Eutsinger said. She told the interviewer the group sees some policy moves as scapegoating that distract from addressing \"the real economic problems\" facing the state.

Eutsinger named partner organizations and several local Missoula supporters, including Women's Voices for the Earth, WORD, and Missoula Advocates For Social Justice. The community conversation format is framed as both education and listening tour; she said organizers hope to build a more unified progressive response to the Legislature.

No formal legislative action followed from the conversation announcement; the event was framed as grassroots organizing and public education.

Details in the interview: Missoula event — University Congregational Church, Feb. 11, 7 p.m.; partners include Montana NARAL, Montana Human Rights Network, Women's Voices for the Earth, WORD, and Missoula Advocates For Social Justice.","Sandy Eutsinger of the Montana Women’s Lobby said the group organized a statewide series of community conversations — including a Missoula event Feb. 11 — to coordinate progressive responses to legislative proposals the lobby and partners view as \"extremist\" and to listen to local concerns.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6221768,"State lands board duty vs. development: Cooney says trustees must weigh long-term stewardship on McDonald Gold Mine site",243,638770,882620,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3611513-beae2d00a62bbb620ba31847133067f5&start=638&end=882","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3611513-beae2d00a62bbb620ba31847133067f5/thumbnail_638770.jpg","/articles/6221768/Missoula/Missoula-County/Montana/State-lands-board-duty-vs-development-Cooney-says-trustees-must-weigh-long-term-stewardship-on-McDonald-Gold-Mine-site","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221768-bf161d7f58b98e5aae07391b1573edc0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155089&Signature=XhdL1N~jZWc-ct~A67tRt9QE4VbWhLvk8Fk1ZYe3ahf0tuj0Y023xExdH6PQymYBbp87cuAKorqh6~27i11OQLZ27ZijJ0xcn2WY4F083unQxSNCtTreG46qdFvL~LrOWvl~WvTmSCnPIA1tajCGBK86FQO3rHXEfwA89d8TL9N5jPqxvSjgCbM4L56GlxoZqX9f9VPvu0iFYjpdGgW8EfhLBfvuBA4GCEEDaslelxV45Iafj-OOvr4yTyomYA2Msy0do5pIe7uWiZ37K4BDLgNBFDUzUkhGuqlMIf6diPtHZ3b1sVMuyKiuFHWNP8YFC3TqOLkNSrLgq2INtsCwtA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Secretary of State Mike Cooney said Montana’s State Board of Land Commissioners has a fiduciary duty to maximize returns to the school trust but also must act as a steward of state lands when evaluating development proposals — including the contested McDonald Gold Mine.

\"It is clear that the board's major responsibility is a fiduciary one, and it's to return the...the highest amount of money to the...school trust,\" Cooney said. He added the board also has \"a responsibility to be good stewards of the land\" so that it can continue producing returns for future generations.

Cooney told interviewer McCarthy Coyle that the McDonald Gold Mine proposal is a \"fairly controversial issue\" and that the company is proposing to mine on terrain that is \"right smack dab on a state lease.\" Because of that, he said, the land board will have to give \"a final okay or a final disposition\" for the project before it can proceed.

Cooney said the land board will weigh both the immediate return to the school trust and \"the long range public interest,\" and he signaled the board intends to be attentive to environmental and intergenerational impacts in its consideration.

In his remarks Cooney also described the related role of the Board of Examiners for state borrowing and gave an example of tax revenue anticipation bonds (\"trans bonds\") as one instance where the board's decisions have fiscal consequences. He recalled a past special legislative session that resulted when the Board of Examiners refused to approve a particular financing instrument.

No formal land-board decision was made during the interview; Cooney said the land board — which includes the governor, secretary of state, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction and state auditor — will play a central role in any final disposition.

Cooney's comments indicate that at least some members intend to treat the McDonald Gold Mine proposal as more than a straightforward revenue maximization question; he framed the matter as requiring review of both financial return and long-term public interest.","Secretary of State Mike Cooney, a member of Montana’s State Board of Land Commissioners, said the board must balance its fiduciary duty to return income to the school trust with stewardship of land and that the proposed McDonald Gold Mine — located on or adjacent to state lease land — will be closely scrutinized.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6221773,"Montana secretary of state says elections office must ‘tear down barriers’ while declining to endorse fusion voting",106,196500,303380,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3611513-beae2d00a62bbb620ba31847133067f5&start=196&end=303","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3611513-beae2d00a62bbb620ba31847133067f5/thumbnail_196500.jpg","/articles/6221773/Missoula/Missoula-County/Montana/Montana-secretary-of-state-says-elections-office-must-tear-down-barriers-while-declining-to-endorse-fusion-voting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221773-7f2bfd1a4f167782aa8a40ba80446a07/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155089&Signature=V7hHXTCeJqES~AlF9NDz6-rGUlhqT1~IGOyCF-uVveYHDf75hAxot2dueRAWgL-Vvm4s1TkEO9k0QUysSpspb0-0UZsD~fjQfbcCOd8BQD2CZMGfM~d7Bwf9V1iRx0eRWUqy4biHwBQu9nsfIcdf2kJD7SnrqA~JTlNFH8fEEmCOpJQTS7M5fIJBgKaL1G2zaFB1uWZnHdXjHHWQrTKYPeTyFDcHlNulorpOoaBbQRtrm4clS-~kl1W2nCaFBQW~DBWAbAs-6eSeCal3bfLnTzet140a-8AAjGh5OaSTZqHoz8NKOHDP60~0PyATK~014E2DCV~hnXPcZcSSyTRn3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Secretary of State Mike Cooney said the most important work of his office is running elections and that he supports reforms that expand voter and candidate participation, though he says he has not studied every option in depth.

\"First of all, secretary of state is the head of elections,\" Cooney said, adding that elections are \"the cornerstone of our democratic process.\" He told interviewer McCarthy Coyle that he favors measures that \"tear down barriers\" that keep people from participating as candidates or voters.

Cooney declined to endorse any specific fusion-voting model now used in places such as New York, saying \"I've not studied it, and it's never really been brought up as a viable option in Montana.\" He said greater access to candidates \"gives people a bigger choice,\" but framed his comments as exploratory rather than a policy commitment.

On the mechanics of party processes, Cooney said caucuses and primaries have different trade-offs: caucuses can \"empower a lot of people\" but are \"time consuming\" and logistically difficult, while primaries are more convenient for voters. He said Montana should keep seeking ways to bring new people into the system.

Cooney also described the secretary of state's role as relatively nonpolitical compared with other statewide offices and said that fact allows the office to provide services without being constantly embroiled in controversy.

The interview placed the election topics in the context of local developments in Missoula, where new party activity has reshaped city politics; Cooney said change is difficult but that additional parties \"represent more people\" and can broaden participation.

No formal actions or policy changes were announced. Cooney emphasized that any structural change to Montana's ballot access rules would require study and, if needed, legislation or rule changes handled through the normal legal and legislative processes.","Secretary of State Mike Cooney said the office’s most important duty is running elections, called for reforms that make it easier to participate, and said he has not fully studied fusion voting used in other states but would consider measures that broaden voter and candidate access.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Host calls for more transparency: regents' land deals and telecom task force drew criticism for lack of public input

Montana House minority leader urges investment in prevention programs, warns against tapping coal trust

Montana Women’s Lobby launches 'Community Conversations' to mobilize progressive groups against what it calls extremist legislation

State lands board duty vs. development: Cooney says trustees must weigh long-term stewardship on McDonald Gold Mine site

Montana secretary of state says elections office must ‘tear down barriers’ while declining to endorse fusion voting