Category: News Article

Researchers at the University of Montana are working to develop a COVID-19 vaccine with the help of a $2.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. The University of Montana has become a leader in vaccine development, ever since a team led by Jay Evans joined UM in 2016, after pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline downsized its operations in Hamilton, and the research team moved to Missoula. Evans and his team at UM’s Center for Translational Medicine began working on the vaccine after being contacted by the NIH in February, prompting them to get to work on COVID-19 research while the federal grant

The Center for Translational Medicine at the University of Montana recently received a $2.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to identify and advance a COVID 19 vaccine. Montana Senator Steve Daines visited the campus on Thursday and received a tour of the center and spoke to the researchers about the effort to find a COVID 19 vaccine. “I had an outstanding brief from the scientists at the University of Montana who are doing cutting edge research on developing a vaccine for COVID 19,” said Daines. “To think that some of the best research and the best scientists

Montana received a funding boost from the Centers for Disease Control on Thursday to enhance its testing capabilities as it prepares for a phased reopening and works to reboot its economy. Sens. Jon Tester and Steve Daines said the state will receive $5 million in funding earmarked for enhanced contact tracing and testing, and to protect vulnerable populations and high risk individuals. Gov. Steve Bullock laid out his plans for the phased approach this week. The state’s stay-at-home order will expire Sunday and some Main Street businesses will reopen on Monday. Others will follow shortly after. At the University of

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., outlined the importance of a phased reopening of the Montana economy while discussing COVID-19 relief efforts on Capitol Hill during a virtual chat with the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday morning. Daines said the good news is that Montana has seen a steady decline in confirmed COVID-19 cases – with zero reported on Sunday and just four on Monday – but the bad news is the statewide shutdown has resulted in 75,000 unemployed Montanans. “We prepared for the worst but thankfully the worst didn’t happen,” Daines said. He said it is time to consider

Four new cases of coronavirus were reported in Montana on Tuesday, bringing the state’s total to 437. And of those, 273 cases have recovered and there have been 12 deaths due to the respiratory illness. The state reports at covid19.mt.gov there are 14 who remain hospitalized out of 59 hospitalizations and 11,241 tests have been performed. That’s an increase of 190 tests from Monday. Also on Tuesday, the governor said he was able to get more masks, shields and other protective gear for health care workers. Two of the newest cases were in Gallatin County, which now has 145. Yellowstone reported one new case

BIG SKY – The fourth installment of EBS’s virtual Town Hall meetings brought key voices to the weekly conversation, kicking off the evening with Montana Gov. Steve Bullock. The state executive joined the meeting in between conversations with business leaders, public health experts and others to determine the best way to roll out a phased reopening anticipated to begin April 25, the day following the termination of the governor’s stay-at-home directive. Bullock echoed statements he made in his own press conference last week, advising Montanans to reshape their expectations of what life outside of quarantine conditions will look like. “Our

MISSOULA — Montana’s senators are optimistic about how the state will rebound from the coronavirus shutdown. But they’re also saying it will take a phased approach, geared to the different circumstances. Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines have had some differing viewpoints over how everyone is dealing with the pandemic. Tester has been more critical of the rollout of stimulus funds and assistance, while Daines is more praiseworthy of the efforts to help individuals and businesses. And while they each have their own perspective on how the country should re-open after the long shutdown, both are expressing confidence that Montana’s

Montana Senator Steve Daines held a press conference on Tuesday afternoon from his office in Washington just after the U.S. Senate voted on more funding to provide help for Montanans struggling during the COVID 19 crisis. “Just literally minutes ago the U.S. Senate passed a very important package of over $480 billion of additional relief,” he said. “This will be targeted in some key areas. There’s $25 billion for testing, and Montana will be receiving over $16 million for developing, administering and processing the tests for COVID 19.” Daines continued with more details about the hard-fought passage of the additional

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress has reached a tentative agreement with President Donald Trump on a nearly $500 billion coronavirus relief bill. The US Senate voted in favor of the bill on Tuesday with a small group of senators pushing the bill through in whats known as a “pro forma session.” Sen. Rand Paul spoke up to say he objected to the bill being voted on without the full Senate, but stopped short of forcing the entire Senate to return to Washington. The bill now moves to the House. The measure would replenish a small business rescue program, provide hospitals with

Lane Nordlund has the Montana Ag Network report for Monday, April 20, 2020. #1 Friday, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program will provide $19 Billion dollars to provide relief for farmers, ranchers, and consumers. “This new $19 Billion program will take several immediate actions to assists farmers, ranchers and concerns in response to the COVID-19 national emergency,” Perdue stated during a White House COVID-19 press conference. North Dakota Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, released a detailed draft of the plan. $16 billion in direct payments for farmers and ranchers,