Helena Based Upper News Today

Minnesotas legislative session wrapped up over the weekend with lawmakers banning so-called prison gerrymandering. The provision was part of an elections policy bill quickly signed by Gov. Tim Walz. ...

Montana constitutional experts say the state Supreme Court did the right thing by providing lawmakers a chance to override the governors veto of a popular marijuana sales-tax bill. Senate Bill 442 passed the Legislature with near unanimous support, but Gov. Greg Gianforte vetoed it minutes after the Senate adjourned, leaving lawmakers no chance to override the veto. ...

As this years primary approaches, supporters of a voter initiative in Idaho hope future primaries will look different. Idahos primaries are being held on Tuesday. Earlier this month, supporters of the open primary initiative exceeded the number of signatures needed to appear on the November ballot and are awaiting verification. ...

Veterans and service members in New Hampshire said legislation to create one of the nations strictest voter ID laws would be a betrayal of their sacrifice. The bill would require proof of citizenship to register to vote, and would get rid of the affidavit process to help new voters without documentation. Curtis Register, a member of the Durham Town Council and a former Marine Corps officer, said birth certificates or naturalization papers can be hard to come by for military members, who regula...

Advocates for the rights of people with disabilities have joined the Montana Quality Education Association in a suit to stop a school voucher bill in the state.

Virginia advocates believe more can be done to make higher education accessible to incarcerated people. Only a handful of community colleges partner with less than half of the states correctional facilities to help people obtain associates degrees. In 2023, incarcerated people became eligible for federal Pell Grants, supporting tuition costs for low-income individuals. ...

Advocates for the rights of people with disabilities have joined the Montana Quality Education Association in a suit to stop a school voucher bill in the state. Montana is the latest to enact a plan allowing parents to pay private school tuition with public money. Senate Bill 393 is much more narrowly focused than Educational Savings Accounts in other states. ...

A new report shows Black girls are enduring disproportionate discipline, sexual harassment and public humiliation from school-based police and security guards in Miami-Dade public schools. The report, "Keep Her Safe: Centering Black Girls in School Safety," compiles the experiences of Black girls and young women between the ages of 14 and 24, sharing their stories through surveys and focus groups about mistreatment by school safety personnel who make them feel unsafe. Bayliss...