Hi there, Helena! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Summer Community Celebration at the Clancy Old Red Schoolhouse and 4 more events.
Today's riddle: What did the wall say to the other wall. 🤔 (Answer below!)
• NorthWestern Energy customers question sudden spike in summer power bills (ktvq.com) — Helena residents are reporting that their NorthWestern Energy power bills have suddenly doubled or tripled this summer, prompting confusion and complaints to the Montana Public Service Commission. While the utility points to higher usage and modest rate hikes, state regulators are asking affected customers to email copies of their bills as they investigate what's driving the spikes.
• Psychiatry groups file complaints over Blue Cross reimbursement practices (mtpr.org) — A Helena-based psychiatrist is helping lead complaints that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana is underpaying for complex psychiatric visits by automatically downcoding them. Local patients could see shorter appointments or lose access to providers who may stop accepting Blue Cross, as state regulators review the allegations about reimbursement practices.
• Political complaints pointing to new AI law dropped (fairfieldsuntimes.com) — A federal challenge to Montana's new AI "deepfake" election law just had its first arguments heard in Helena's federal district court, with a ruling expected in September. The law, sponsored by Helena Democrat Sen. Janet Ellis, restricts AI-generated depictions of candidates near elections, and a conservative PAC argues those rules unconstitutionally limit political speech and satire statewide.
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Ok Helena! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Meet me at the corner. (Thank you Earlene M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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