Pam Bean News Today

After a three year absence, the Vienna Historical Society will be showcasing its acting and improv skills once again with the annual play which has been ongoing for almost 40 years.

Finally re-opening after the pandemic, the Vienna Historical Society will present their annual humorous plays which vividly portray the foibles and eccentricities of small town life. The performances will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, July 20 and 21; and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 22, in Vienna […]

Experts say Missouri ranks low among states when it comes to steps it has taken to improve accessibility in voting. Denise Lieberman, director and general counsel of the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, which has a disability-rights committee, said people with disabilities face barriers at all stages of the voting process, from registering to vote to casting a ballot and having their ballot counted. She pointed out for many people with disabilities, casting their vote independently is real...

More than 3.7 million people with disabilities live in New York, according to the federal government, and they just got a new advocate in the governors office. Gov. Kathy Hochul has appointed Kimberly Hill as the states first Chief Disability Officer to advance and advocate policies to support New Yorkers with disabilities. ...

The Omicron variant of COVID-19 has led to the greatest spike of the virus in Montana since the start of the pandemic. While some might consider getting the virus inevitable when cases are so high, it still has more dangerous consequences for certain populations. People who have compromised immune systems - such as people receiving treatment for cancer, recent organ-transplant recipients or those with rare disorders - still have a higher risk of severe reaction to COVID-19. ...

Service animals: A common discrimination topic in MT housing

The most common housing discrimination issue in Montana is landlords not making accommodations for service and assistance animals, according to Pam Bean, executive director of Montana Fair Housing, a private nonprofit that addresses housing discrimination. Bean said accommodations in housing in the state are protected under the federal Fair Housing Act and Montana Human Rights Act, allowing for both service and assistance animals. She said people with disabilities can request accommodations for...