Latest news with #Montanans
Newsweek
16-07-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
80% of US Counties Contain 'Health Care Deserts': Report
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A growing number of Americans find themselves living in "health care deserts," areas lacking in the specific infrastructure and services needed to ensure timely access to medicine and care, new data suggests. According to new research from health care and prescription price-comparison website GoodRx, 81 percent of U.S. counties—home to more than 120 million Americans—fall under this definition in some way. This includes those which lack proper access to either pharmacies, primary care, hospital beds, trauma centers or community health centers. Why It Matters As a result of large-scale drugstore closures this year, 2025 has already been marked by a rise in so-called "pharmacy deserts," with more Americans having to travel further from where they live to access essential medications. The broader term used by GoodRx denotes a more pervasive issue, one which it says threatens not only the availability of medicine but also vital services needed in times of emergency. Covenant Children's Hospital on February 28, 205 in Lubbock, Texas. Covenant Children's Hospital on February 28, 205 in Lubbock, issues with physically accessing health care are in addition to those associated with cost, as health care continues to prove prohibitively expensive for a significant number of Americans. What To Know According to the GoodRx data, as well as the 81 percent of counties experiencing a health care desert of some kind, a majority of people in 60 percent of counties lack adequate access to more than one form of critical health service. Certain states, the research suggests, are more exposed to these issues, with 87 percent of those in Wyoming, 74 percent of those in Vermont and 70 percent of Montanans living in a health care desert county. Amanda Nguyen, Senior Health Economist at GoodRx, told Newsweek the prevalence of health care deserts was driven "by structural gaps and shifting policies." Nguyen said certain areas had lost their federal shortage designations—which agencies use to help direct federal funding and other forms of assistance—despite the fact that health care access has not improved. She added that health care deserts were particularly common in rural and lower-income communities with high uninsured rates. This, she said, "creates a negative cycle—as more people struggle to pay for care, hospitals and pharmacies are more likely to close, further eroding access." A woman browses through what items remain on empty shelves at a Rite Aid store in Alhambra, California, on October 18, 2023. A woman browses through what items remain on empty shelves at a Rite Aid store in Alhambra, California, on October 18, 2023. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images Since its previous research into the topic, GoodRx said pharmacy deserts had seen the largest increase, with 48 million people now living in such areas, up from 41 million in 2021. In the U.S. today, 45 percent of counties can be classified as pharmacy deserts, GoodRx added, noting this was especially concerning given nationwide medication shortages. Emergency medical care also remains out of reach a significant number of Americans, the study suggests. GoodRx found that more than 28 million people live half an hour from the nearest hospital, nearly 50 million live over an hour from a facility able to handle major injuries, and 79 million are in areas with fewer than two hospital beds per 1,000 people. What People Are Saying Amanda Nguyen, Senior Health Economist at GoodRx, told Newsweek: "When care is far away or hard to afford, people may delay or skip care altogether. And that can have serious consequences. Our research found that nearly 1 in 5 Americans had to visit multiple pharmacies just to get their medication — and that's in areas with some access. Now imagine that same challenge in a county with no nearby pharmacy, hospital, or primary care provider. These delays and gaps add up, especially for people managing chronic conditions or without insurance." Tori Marsh, Senior Director of Research at GoodRx, discussing the issue of pharmacy closures and deserts with Newsweek previously, said: "Many of the counties hardest hit by pharmacy closures already had limited access. Now, they're losing their last remaining pharmacies, creating health care deserts with no immediate solutions in place." What Happens Next? Pharmacy closures are set to continue through 2025, as major chains such as CVS and Rite Aid scale down their nationwide footprint.
Time Out
02-07-2025
- General
- Time Out
These states eat the most hot dogs, and it's not the ones you think
July is peak hot dog season. Between the Fourth of July and National Hot Dog Day (a.k.a. July 16), grills across the U.S. are loaded with franks—but which states are scarfing down the most, and what do they pile on top? According to a new survey of over 2,000 Americans by CanadaCasino, Montana takes the title of the most hot dog–obsessed state in the country. The average Montanan puts away 17 hot dogs a month, which adds up to more than 200 per year. That's nearly triple the national average of seven per month. Wyoming comes in second, clocking in at 13 hot dogs a month per person. Delaware grabs the third spot with 11 monthly dogs per person. And while the national average across all states adds up to about 4,712 hot dogs over a lifetime, Montanans are pushing 10,000—enough to reach the height of 16 Statues of Liberty if you stacked those dogs end to end. Meanwhile, not every state is riding the hot dog wave. North Dakota, South Dakota and Utah are the most dog-reluctant, with fewer than two hot dogs eaten per person per month. So how are people topping all these hot dogs? Ketchup reigns supreme, favored by 53-percent of Americans and taking the number one spot in 23 states including California, Ohio and Pennsylvania. It's followed closely by yellow mustard (48-percent) and onions (45-percent). Cheese comes in hot at 43-percent, while chili sauce brings the heat for 27-percent—unsurprisingly a big player in Texas-style dogs. Not everyone is on board with spicy toppings, though. Only 9-percent go for chili peppers, 6-percent choose Tabasco and just 5-percent reach for Sriracha. It turns out most Americans like their dogs mild, if not plain, as 4-percent skip the toppings entirely. From backyard barbecues to ballpark stands, the hot dog still holds its place as a true American staple. And in places like Montana and Wyoming, it's practically a food group. Whether you're Team Ketchup or Team Mustard, there's no wrong way to enjoy this grill-side classic. The U.S. states that consume the most hot dogs Montana Wyoming Delaware District of Columbia Maine Tennessee Louisiana Arkansas Washington Arizona
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NorthWestern Energy announces another rate increase
(Photo by Scott Olson | Getty Images) NorthWestern Energy's electric customers could get a double whammy this summer. On May 30, NorthWestern Energy said it planned an increase of $9.04 on a typical residential electric bill as part of a quarterly adjustment on electric supply. Earlier last month, the monopoly utility announced it was pushing up rates 17% without regulatory approval, effective May 23. The earlier increase amounts to $17.07 a month on top of a typical residential bill of $101.14, according to NorthWestern Energy. If the Montana Public Service Commission signs off on the most recent increase, the average residential customer will be paying $127.16 in July, according to information from the agency. Altogether, that would be a more than 25% increase from May 1 to July of this year. NorthWestern Energy spokesperson Jo Dee Black said the latest change reflects dollars for electric supply costs generally passed through to customers and adjusted quarterly since 2023. 'This approach helps avoid large, once-a-year adjustments,' Black said in an email. However, an engineer for the Montana Environmental Information Center said the increase shows NorthWestern's argument the large gas plant it built in Laurel isn't offsetting bills as the company promised. Nick Fitzmaurice, energy transition engineer for the energy watchdog, also said customers will be paying 39.4% more a month this July than they did in August 2022. 'NorthWestern' subversive tactics unfairly hide the truth from Montanans, who are now paying the price with skyrocketing electric bills,' Fitzmaurice said in an email. PSC spokesperson Alana Lake said the agency routinely examines a utility's accounting to ensure accuracy, and the Commission had questions about this recent increase, so it has yet to sign off on it. However, Lake also said the increase will be implemented unless the PSC finds an error in NorthWestern's calculations. 'It is important to note that these rates will only be in effect until September 2025,' Lake said, if they are approved. 'At that point, (NorthWestern) must file an application with justification for final approval of these adjustments, which will need to be reviewed and approved by the Commission.' The 17% hike is separate, already in effect, and part of an upcoming hearing on an application for rate increases NorthWestern Energy filed with the PSC in July 2024. NorthWestern earlier defended the increase it implemented prior to approval by the Montana Public Service Commission — and the PSC confirmed the utility acted legally. The monopoly energy company said regulators didn't act on its application for a rate increase in a timely fashion, so it used a law that allows it to implement one on its own in the meantime, after nine months have passed. However, PSC President Brad Molnar earlier said NorthWestern is responsible for delays in the case, and its customers are going to feel pain as a result of the increase, which he characterized as 'crushing.' A hearing on the rate case will take place starting Monday, June 9, and run possibly through June 20. If the PSC decides NorthWestern erred in the increase, the company will return the extra money to customers, plus 10%. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NorthWestern Energy ‘not as in touch with Montanans' as rate case unfolds
The Montana Public Service Commission is hearing NorthWestern Energy's rate case this week and next. (Photo by fhm | Getty Images) Even before the Public Service Commission approved a settlement that meant a 28% rate increase for NorthWestern Energy customers, Chris Blazer's friend struggled. Blazer, of Helena, said her friend lives on just $2,000 a month. 'Even five years ago, before the big rate increases, she was living in darkness and cold so that she could feed herself and her horses,' Blazer said. Blazer made her comments Wednesday to the Public Service Commission during a hearing on the monopoly utility's rate case. She said some people do not realize the impact so-called 'minor increases' have on customers' lives. In August 2022, NorthWestern Energy's electric customers paid $91.27 a month, according to its own records. On July 1, likely before the PSC issues an order in the current case, those same customers could be paying $127.24, a 39.4% increase in three years. NorthWestern Energy said rates could drop compared to the current rate if the PSC approves a settlement in the case — the PSC put June rates at $118.20 for the average electric customer. But a couple of other adjustments are pending in the meantime, and a group of organizations intervening in the case are asking commissioners to take a closer look at costs. At the hearing this week, a lawyer representing the group also quizzed a NorthWestern Energy vice president about the utility's response to an earlier order requiring the utility to assess its programs to help people with lower incomes. In a discussion about rate increases nationally, PSC President Brad Molnar said NorthWestern customers pay the 12th lowest electric rates in the U.S. 'So we're actually living pretty well,' Molnar said. *** On the witness stand earlier in the week, NorthWestern Energy CEO Brian Bird agreed with Commissioner Annie Bukacek's perspective that the utility's rates are reasonable in comparison to other expenses people pay. Bird said coffee can be $5 and a Big Mac meal can be $9.99. By comparison, he said, NorthWestern Energy powers all appliances in a person's home and supplies all of its natural gas for $6 a day. 'I think people don't really appreciate that when we can do that as affordably as we have,' Bird said. Customer Jocelyn Leroux, however, said NorthWestern Energy executives don't appreciate the financial pressures Montanans face — for some, an extra $20 on a bill is money that used to pay for groceries. 'Imagine having to choose between sweating through the night to save on electricity, or turning on the air conditioning, and going light on food for the week,' said Leroux, with the Montana chapter of the Sierra Club. 'These are the kinds of calculations that many people are forced to make.' She said the reason customers are forced into these choices is NorthWestern executives 'seem to be prioritizing their own financial status' over more affordable and cleaner energy sources — despite all the wind and solar potential in Montana. A NorthWestern Energy shareholder report on the utility's website outlined compensation for executive officers in 2024, including salary, stocks, deferred compensation and other pay: Brian Bird, CEO: $4.81 million Crystal Lail, CFO: $1.74 million Shannon Heim, general counsel: $1.00 million Bobbi Schroeppel, VP customer care, communications, HR: $892,457 John Hines, VP, supply/MT government affairs: $929,887 In an introduction to the report, Bird encouraged shareholders to review the information in preparation for an April 30th meeting. The executive pay section describes its aim. 'Our executive pay program is designed to align the long-term interests of our executives, shareholders, and customers,' the report said. But some Montanans still need help paying the bills. Tuesday, lawyer Jenny Harbine asked if NorthWestern Vice President Schroeppel had reviewed data that showed 20% to 50% of Montana households with incomes of less than $75,000 said they needed to reduce or forego spending on basic necessities to pay their utility bills. Harbine represents a group of organizations that are asking the PSC to reject a settlement in the case. They argue NorthWestern is falling short when it comes to responsibly planning for the future, taking climate change into account and ensuring reasonable bills, especially for customers with lower incomes. When it comes to household budgets, though, Schroeppel said the reverse is true at times, and some households forgo paying their electric bills to afford other items. Harbine also wanted to confirm some of those families might not be buying daily lattes and burgers. 'Can we agree that Mr. Bird's testimony about the cost of a daily soda or Big Mac or coffee may overlook the experience of these families?' Harbine asked. 'I can't speak to that,' said Schroeppel, vice president of customer care, communications and human resources. Harbine asked if Schroeppel was aware the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program reached only 15% of the eligible population in Montana in 2024. Schroeppel said she's seen numbers as high as 20% across the state. However, she said the figure includes customers served by other utilities. In response to Harbine, however, she conceded the majority of that population is made up of NorthWestern customers, although she also said LIHEAP is a program run through the state health department, not the utility. In an order in January 2024, the Public Service Commission directed NorthWestern Energy to evaluate the efficacy of low-income energy assistance programs. The PSC ordered the utility to, 'at a minimum,' address information gaps about trends in affordability for low-income customers, barriers to programs, and the most effective outreach. Harbine wanted to know if NorthWestern had made any changes since the order. The group Harbine represents is comprised of the Montana Environmental Information Center, the Human Resource Council District XI, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the NW Energy Coalition. Schroeppel said the utility had not made changes, 'but I don't read the commission order to indicate that that's what they were looking for.' Rather, she said, the directive was to pull a stakeholder group together to understand why customers don't participate in programs and determine the best way to reduce barriers and communicate. To that end, she said NorthWestern is evaluating significant customer research that's 'hot off the press' and includes national data as well as information from its own customers. After reviewing the research, Schroeppel said, the utility will talk to the stakeholder group, start 'strategizing around (the PSC's) objectives,' and likely hire a consultant to 'further facilitate the stakeholder group' and look at data to understand what needs to change. Harbine wanted to know if the group had produced any recommendations based on the PSC order. Schroeppel said the group is at that point right now, saying it has 'a whole host of recommendations,' including, for example, to allow 'categorical eligibility.' That would mean a customer could be automatically eligible for utility assistance if the person already qualifies for, say, Medicaid. Harbine wanted to know if the group would make a proposal that addressed the PSC's order before its next rate case, but Schroeppel said she anticipated it would issue findings and an update instead. 'The proposal would come more along the lines if we were going to come in and ask to change something,' Schroeppel said. 'And you don't anticipate asking to change something?' Harbine said. Schroeppel said NorthWestern does not anticipate changing anything yet because it needs to do more work around analytics and the cost of different ideas. 'I think some of the barriers can probably be just worked on between the various agencies and the stakeholder group,' Schroeppel said. Harbine wanted to know if Schroeppel believed NorthWestern was committing enough resources to address affordability concerns, and Schroeppel said she does. But Schroeppel said the consultant will help, and she anticipates that work will extend 'beyond the scope of what this initial commission order was' and look at 'future programs,' including ideas from other utilities. The hearing is expected to continue through June 20.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Report: Most Montanans agree tourism benefits outweigh negative impacts
A NPS ranger monitors a packed parking lot at Logan Pass in Glacier National Park. (Image via NPS) The percentage of Montanans who believe the benefits of tourism outweigh the negative impacts held steady from last year, but residents feel local communities are becoming more overcrowded, according to a report released in April by the University of Montana Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research (ITRR). The report, 'Montana Residents: Attitudes Towards Tourism 2024,' is the latest survey posing a set of questions to Montanans over the last 30 years regarding their attitudes toward visitors. Overall, 68% of respondents to the 2024 survey agreed that the benefits of tourism outweigh the negative impacts, in line with last year's 69%. However, it was just the fourth time less than 70% of Montanans have expressed a positive attitude toward out-of-state visitors. The lowest recorded positive attitude (52%) was in 2001, which researchers attributed to the aftermath of the September 2001 terrorist attacks. The second-lowest finding was in 2022, which followed record-breaking visitation after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the ITRR report, residents of Montana's Glacier Country tourism region, which covers the state's eight westernmost counties, remained the least likely to see tourism as a benefit, but that sentiment climbed for the second year in a row. However, that region of the state is also seeing a drastic visitation change this year, as visits from Canadians are down, following President Donald Trump's threats to make the neighbor the 51st state, and prompting targeted marketing from Montana. Residents in Central Montana saw the largest increase in positive sentiment, up to 70%, while residents of Southeast and Southwest Montana dropped their views on visitors. 'In general, Montana residents held a positive yet balanced attitude toward tourism within the state,' the report said. 'A majority of residents feel that the benefits of tourism outweigh the negative impacts, while also being in strong agreement that tourism promotion by the state provides an economic benefit to their community.' In Montana out-of-state visitors spent nearly $5 billion in 2024, contributing to the state's robust outdoor recreation economy. However, the state was split on other nuanced views about tourism. Forty-two percent of respondents said they felt the state was becoming overcrowded from tourists, while the same percent disagreed with that statement. Compared to 2021 — one of the most crowded years for tourism in Montana — significantly fewer respondents (14%) felt overcrowding was an issue. On a local level, more residents felt their communities were becoming overcrowded by tourists, with 47% responding that during the summer travel season they were seeing too many visitors. While that represented a 7% increase from the 2023 survey, the report notes that the responses heavily varied by region. Yellowstone Country and Glacier Country, the tourism regions associated with their eponymous national parks, 72% and 67% of respondents, respectively, felt tourists were overcrowding their communities. In contrast, only 23% of Central Montana respondents and 12% from Missouri River Country had the same sentiment. The survey also asked respondents if they felt the overall quality of life for Montana residents would improve if tourism were to increase. Overall, 35% of Montanans said that quality of life would improve with increased tourism, compared to 38% who felt it would decrease. Interactive data from the 2024 Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research can be viewed here. As the region with historically the most negative attitude towards tourism, Glacier Country, officials working to promote western Montana have worked to change the way they market the area. The Glacier Country Regional Tourism Commission is a nonprofit that partners with Western Montana communities to 'welcome visitors and support livelihoods while protecting quality of life, extraordinary outdoor resources, and cultural heritage.' Following droves of pandemic-era tourists in 2021, Glacier Country Tourism held a series of community meetings to discuss how to shift their marketing approach to a more sustainable model for communities. A new long-term collaborative 'Destination Stewardship Strategy' was launched aimed at promoting smaller communities that wanted more visitors while pulling back from some mainstream destination marketing centered around Glacier National Park and Whitefish – core economic anchors for the region's tourism industry. Another set of community listening events was held in 2024, and Glacier Country Tourism President Racene Friede said many of the conversations showed their strategies had accomplished many of the goals. 'Tensions towards tourists were still a little high, but we came out of a lot of those community meetings feeling like one, we really heard what people were thinking deep down, and we also were able to make sure these communities felt like they were being heard,' Friede said. 'It felt very validating to the work we'd done after what we heard in 2021.' One nuance Friede said she discussed with many communities across Western Montana was the issue of overcrowding, which she said isn't perfectly correlated with increasing numbers of tourists. 'Those tourists are here, but they're also mixed with a lot of new residents, and that means there's more new people in the community, year round,' she said. 'Some audiences were really interesting to talk with when they extracted that particular point.' Recent census data shows that Kalispell has been one of the fastest growing cities in the nation since 2020, with most western counties seeing significant growth as well. While Friede said these regular community input sessions help shape long-term visitation and marketing strategies for the region, the Tourism Commission also responds to short term changes to visitor patterns. 'Weirdly,' she said, the region is looking at a shortfall of visitors at the moment, mostly from a decrease in Canadian travel due to inflammatory rhetoric between the federal government and the neighbors to the north. 'Over 50% of the businesses that replied to a survey I sent out said business is down compared to last year at this point,' Friede said. 'The closer you are to the border, the more businesses are feeling it, and they're really worried.' 'It's a whole different world this year than we expected to see,' she added. Friede said the commission recently launched a short-term marketing campaign targeting Canadian cities near Montana, promoting it as a weekend destination. 'I wasn't even thinking about that six weeks ago,' she said. 'But we're focused on people over politics, letting the Canadian people know that we're here when they're ready to visit, and we can't wait to welcome them back.' She said the organization being nimble and able to react and respond to different local needs throughout the year is essential. 'We can't control who's coming here, but we can control what role we play and how they impact our local communities,' Friede said.
