MATR Newsletter – September 14, 2023
The state with the best education wins!

Journalism is printing what someone else doesn’t want printed. Everything else is public relations.”

George Orwell

Today’s MATR Newsletter is sponsored by:

Pandemic Population Boom in Rural Hotspots Sparks Resentment
“There’s a lot of resentment,” said Maggie Doherty, a writer and columnist who lives in Flathead County, Montana. “There’s bumper stickers that say ‘Montana’s full’ or ‘Don’t California my Montana.’”
‘Zombie Trout’ Unsettle Montana, Long a Fly-Fishing Mecca
Warming waters and other factors along the state’s rivers like the Big Hole appear to be contributing to alarmingly low numbers of the state’s renowned rainbow and brown trout.
Montana WWAMI Medical Education’s White Coat Ceremony – 9/15 – Montana State University
The 30 students, all residents of Montana, hail from Browning, Dillon, Gardiner, Eureka, and Polson (to name a few). They will receive iconic white coats and stethoscopes, marking completion of orientation to medical school and the first two weeks of clinical skills training. This is the first white doctor’s coat and stethoscope they’ll receive to use throughout medical school.

Inside the Regional Innovation Approach in Phoenix (Part 2)
The collaboration and shared learning made possible through the smart region consortium known as The Connective enhances tech work for cities that are members — such as Phoenix, Mesa and Surprise, Ariz.
Celebrate the Growth of Manufacturing in Missoula! Diversified Plastics New Facilities – 10/4
Join us for an exciting new chapter as DPI expands its manufacturing facility in Missoula! Tour the new 40,000-square-foot facility and hear from the team who made this project possible.
Study Finds Gap Between What Rural Residents Want for End-of-Life Care and What They Receive
Lack of conversations among the family members, and a more difficult access to healthcare are among the reasons responsible for the discrepancy.
Montana State to host business panel discussion on impact entrepreneurship Sept. 27
The event will feature representatives from three Montana companies — HomeStake, West Paw and Headframe Spirits — and is free and open to the public.
CBS Sunday Morning – Oprah Winfrey and Arthur Brooks collaborate on “Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier,”
During the pandemic, Oprah Winfrey contacted Harvard professor Arthur Brooks, famed for his lessons on happiness, and proposed teaming up to write a book about finding enjoyment and meaning in your life.

Laurel’s 19% increase in taxable value results in savings for homeowners
Laurel Public Schools superintendent Matt Torix said the district’s taxable value has increased by 19%, largely due to the construction of NorthWestern Energy’s methane gas plant and the scheduled phase-in of improvements at CHS Refinery’s hydrogen plant project.

Episode 18 THE VAULT at 201 North Broadway – Lukas Seely
Get ready to laugh, learn, and be inspired in this hilarious and insightful episode of The Vault at 201 N Broadway! We’re thrilled to have Lukas Seely, a Billings native, join us to share his incredible journey from open mic competitions to making audiences roar with laughter in LA and beyond.

GFDA Top Ten for 9-12-23
We have TWO great career opportunities to join the GFDA team. Download info on Small Business Advisor — Director Regional Small Business Development Center or Food and Ag Business Development Officer. GFDA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer!

Millions of dollars, hundreds of jobs put at risk says Fort Belknap Indian Community
A longtime lawyer for a Fort Belknap Indian Community company that generates most of the reservation’s revenue faces accusations in a newly filed lawsuit that she was behind alleged financial mismanagement of the company that has caused deep divides, and potentially put hundreds of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars at risk in northern Montana.

Want Your Child to Be Smarter? Make Sure They Do This, Say Cambridge Neuroscientists
This brain-boosting activity is easy, fun, and accessible to all.
How Montana is paying the way in trades education
From the cockpit to the welding shop, a state-funded public school program is helping put students in the workplaces they want.
Prince George’s County Saves Big by Bundling School Construction
A first-of-its-kind school construction project will save a Maryland school district hundreds of millions of dollars — and create exceptional learning environments.
Montana State ‘s Wheeler Center to host Sept. 20 lecture about Sen. Mike Mansfield
The lecture, “Montana, Mansfield and the Lost Art of Bipartisanship,” will be given by author and historian Marc C. Johnson, who will discuss what he characterizes as the complex relationship between Montana’s Mansfield, a Democrat, and Republican U.S. Sen. Everett Dirksen of Illinois during the turbulent 1960s.
Mansfield Center – How to Depolarize American Democracy – 9/14 – University of Montana and Zoom
Larry Diamond, Stanford Global Democracy Expert, will headline this year’s Constitution Day Lecture, examining practical reforms and innovations to strengthen and depolarize American democracy.

2023 Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential – Leader – Montana state Representative Zooey Zephyr
The Montana bill passed, but in the months since, Zephyr—now widely known for her work to combat it—has continued to use her national profile to champion protections for transgender Americans.

How Maine got more than 100,000 residents to install heat pumps – Goal is another 175,000
“Our transition to heat pumps is creating good-paying jobs, curbing our reliance on fossil fuels, and cutting costs for Maine families, all while making them more comfortable in their homes — a hat trick for our state,” Mills said. “We are setting an example for the nation, and with our new and ambitious goal, we will continue to lead the way when it comes to embracing efficient, climate-friendly technologies that strengthen our economy, protect our environment, and save people money.”
Interior Department invests $5M to restore bison in tribal communities
The funding includes $3.5 million from the Inflation Reduction Act that will support the InterTribal Buffalo Council’s herd development. The council consists of 80 tribes and facilitates management of more than 20,000 buffalo.

A trailer that generates energy as it is being towed
MARS is ideal for refrigerated freight trucks and sustainably powered vehicles, and large fleets are likely to generate more energy than they need, resulting in a source of additional income.
54% Of Gas-Powered Vehicle Drivers Say They’re Ready To Make An EV Their Next Purchase Or Lease
Over the last 2 years, the exponential increase in EV enthusiasm has been quite remarkable.
Self-Driving Tractor Automates Agriculture, Frees Up Labor
An autonomous tractor from Illinois firm Sabanto aims to solve two issues plaguing modern farming: the growing scarcity of labor in rural areas and the increasing costs of machinery.
Reconstructing the Street? Move the Curb!
If the reconstruction project involves replacing the curb, don’t miss the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something transformative.

Solar Power Europe Predicts EU Will Reach Its Renewable Energy Goal 3 Years Early
Solar power in Europe is enjoying strong growth, so much so that the EU may reach its solar power goal years ahead of time.