The Billings Gazette (Billings, MT) articles from September 2005

The Billings Gazette (Billings, MT) archives from September 2005

Former executives of Montana utility receive lucrative severance payments.
September 10, 2005... Byline: Jan Falstad Sep. 10--Running NorthWestern Corp., one of Montana's three largest utilities, has been a game of musical chairs since the company bought Montana Power Co. three years ago: a very lucrative game for top executives. ...

Katrina, accidents to result in higher Billings, Mont., energy prices.
September 17, 2005... Byline: Jan Falstad Sep. 17--Hurricane Katrina may have destroyed large sections of the American Gulf Coast, but she also took straight aim at other U.S. regions by boosting the cost of heating homes this winter and filling gas tanks. ...

Montana fights big child health insurance program increase.
September 27, 2005... Byline: Mike Dennison Sep. 27--HELENA -- Health officials said Monday the state is willing to pay a 3.45 percent increase in premiums for the program that provides health insurance to more than 11,000 kids in low-income families. But...

Billings, Mont., city council votes to take trails off map.
September 27, 2005... Byline: Tom Howard Sep. 27--During a two-hour public hearing before the City Council Monday night, dozens of rural property owners said the controversial Heritage Trail Plan represents a threat to their private property rights. Dozens...

Billings, Mont., school projects run above budget.
September 27, 2005... Byline: Laura Tode Sep. 27--The Billings School Board decided Monday night to dip into its contingency fund to pay for changes on two construction projects, and more expensive changes are expected on two other projects in the next two...

Rocky Mountain College council meeting delayed.
September 28, 2005... Byline: Mary Pickett Sep. 28--The chairman of a national advisory body for Rocky Mountain College has postponed the group's annual meeting because of "a series of challenges" confronting the college. In a letter dated Sept. 22 and...

Creoles closes after 22 months.
September 29, 2005... Byline: Jan Falstad Sep. 29--As the twin hurricanes that struck the Gulf Coast are proving, loss is relative. Seeing her cousin who was only 58 years old die after being evacuated from New Orleans to Little Rock, Ark., made Mary Burst...

NorthWestern Energy may aid needy customers.
September 29, 2005... Byline: Mike Dennison Sep. 29--HELENA -- With its customers facing record-high home-heating costs this winter, NorthWestern Energy said Wednesday it may contribute as much as $1 million to help "hardship cases" pay their bills if other...

Gas prices affect tourism.
September 29, 2005... Byline: Lorna Thackeray Sep. 29--Gas prices may finally have reached a barrier that tourists are unwilling to cross. Through years of slowly spiraling price increases, travelers bit the bullet, packed the car and headed out across the...

Montana's state mental hospital short nurses.
September 29, 2005... Byline: Jennifer McKee Sep. 29--HELENA -- Montana's state mental hospital is facing a budget-busting nursing shortage because of low salaries for nurses and a surge of new patients, officials said this week. The Montana State Hospital...

Montana's projected surplus increases.
September 29, 2005... Byline: Charles S. Johnson Sep. 29--HELENA -- The state is projected to have a $205 million general fund surplus by mid-2007, but that doesn't include costs to fix Montana's school funding and public pensions, a new legislative report...

Montana's tourism lags in August.
September 29, 2005... Byline: Lorna Thackeray Sep. 29--Gas prices may finally have reached a barrier that tourists are unwilling to cross. Through years of slowly spiraling price increases, travelers bit the bullet, packed the car and headed out across the...