HEAT WAVE See Address, Page 5 Livingston Set to Break Record on Friday
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☛ ☛ NTERPRISEt h e l i v i n g s t o n E Thursday, April 29, 2021 •Livingston,Montana•Vol.115 No.93 $1.00 Address to Congress Biden declares: America’s democracy ‘is rising anew’ WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden declared Wednesday night that “America is rising anew” as he called for an expansion of federal programs to drive the economy past the pandemic and broadly extend the social safety net on a scale not seen in decades. n Republican response by Sen. Tim Scott: Page 6 In his first address to Congress, he pointed optimistically to the nation’s emergence from the coronavirus scourge as a moment for America to prove that its democracy can still work and maintain primacy in the world. Speaking in highly personal terms while demanding massive structural changes, the president marked his first 100 days in office by proposing a $1.8 trillion investment in children, families and education to help rebuild an econo- my devastated by the virus and com- pete with rising global competitors. His speech represented both an auda- cious vision and a considerable gamble. He is governing with the most slender of majorities in Congress, and even Enterprise photo by Justin Post some in his own party have blanched at Brittany Summerlin, second from left, lifts baby Tristan, 7 months old, from a stroller during a playdate with friends on a warm and sunny the price tag of his proposals. afternoon on Wednesday at Mike Webb Park in Livingston. Others attending the playdate are, from left, Chelsea Shenker; Gia Sanchez, At the same time, the speech high- with Frankie Carney, 3, and Nora Carney, 1; and Eva Wesen with Keenan, 1, on her lap. lighted Biden’s fundamental belief in the power of government as a force for good, even at a time when it is so often the object of scorn. HEAT WAVE See Address, Page 5 Livingston set to break record on Friday By Sam Klomhaus Chambers said, in front of a cold front that melt a little bit, but a one-to-two-day heat Enterprise Staff Writer will cool things down following Friday’s event shouldn’t have too much of an effect. heat. “It’s actually coming out just about right riday is going to be a hot one. Saturday’s high is expected to be in the for the Livingston area,” Chambers said of The record high in Livingston for 70s, Chambers said, with temperatures the runoff. April 30 is 80 degrees, according to dropping into the 50s Sunday. The expected cold front will likely also F National Weather Service Billings The 10-day forecast for Livingston shows bring with it some precipitation, Chambers Meteorologist Todd Chambers. high temperatures in the 50s and 60s, Cham- said, which won’t result in any snow accu- With a forecasted high of 84 degrees, “we bers said, Friday’s anomaly notwithstand- mulation but will help suppress snowmelt. should break that,” Chambers said Thurs- ing. The heat also won’t have much of an AP day. Chambers said Friday’s unseasonable heat effect on fire danger, the meteorologist said. Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and The NWS is encouraging residents to shouldn’t have much of an effect, if any, on Chambers said the Livingston area has House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., hydrate frequently, apply sunscreen and spring runoff. received 1.6 inches of precipitation since stand and applaud as President Joe wear light-colored clothing in response to Lower-elevation snow has already melted, April 1, which has greened up the grass and Biden addresses a joint session of Con- the heat, according to its website. Chambers said, and mid-elevation snow, up should prevent any significant wildfire dan- gress on Wednesday. A ridge of high pressure is building up, to 8,000 feet above sea level, will start to ger. Health Department workers take to the streets to distribute leftover vaccines By Sam Klomhaus vaccinated. Enterprise Staff Writer “It was really cool to see how many people had been vaccinated,” Van Pernis said, “although I At the end of a near 600-dose COVID-19 vaccine guess not when you’re trying to distribute vac- clinic Wednesday, the Park County Health Depart- cines.” ment found they had nine doses left over. All Montanans 16 and up are eligible for the After efforts calling around yielded only one COVID-19 vaccine, with first-dose clinics in Liv- more vaccine recipient, according to Health ingston generally held Thursdays and second-dose Department employee Alexis Van Pernis, the clinics generally held Wednesdays. department took to the streets in downtown Liv- “It’s cool to see the effects of your work in the ingston, with the doses and supplies in what basi- real world,” Van Pernis said. cally amounted to a tackle box, in search of people yet to be vaccinated. “It was a funny way to end the day,” Van Pernis Mary Crable, middle, smiles and points to the said. band-aid on her left arm after receiving the COV- The Health Department went in and out of busi- ID-19 vaccine Wednesday evening in downtown nesses downtown and talked to people on the Livingston, as Andrew Miller, right, looks on and street. Everyone who the department employees Park County Health Department employee Alexis encountered downtown was nice, Van Pernis said. Van Pernis, left, signs someone up for the vaccine. So nice, in fact, that the biggest issue they ran into Photo by Noah Raumm was most people they talked to had already been Gianforte proposes amendments for worker vaccine bill HELENA (AP) — Montana Gov. Gianforte, a ties are exempt from the bill if com- “Concerns remain with the ability rule Tuesday to require hospitals to Greg Gianforte has proposed Republican, pro- pliance would violate regulations or of hospitals to protect patient and report vaccination rates among amendments to a bill that seeks to posed an amend- guidance issued by the Centers for worker safety,” Peterson said, health care staff, Peterson noted. prevent discrimination based on ment on Wednes- Medicare and Medicaid Services or which could impact medical liabili- Republican Rep. Ed Buttrey of vaccine status that appear to try to d a y a n d t h e the Centers for Disease Control and ty costs and coverage and affect Great Falls said Wednesday that he address concerns raised by health House approved Prevention. workers’ compensation costs due to was surprised that the governor’s care organizations. i t , c l a r i f y i n g The Senate was expected to act on on-the-job risks. amendment did not exempt hospi- The bill that passed both houses that employees the amendments on Thursday. Supporters of the bill included tals from the bill if it would cause of the Legislature would have pro- could voluntari- The bill alleviates some, but not some employees of Benefis Health them to violate federal standards. hibited employers from requiring ly provide their all of the medical groups’ concerns, System in Great Falls, which had He also said the definition of “rea- vaccinations as a condition of vaccine records said Katy Peterson, spokesperson said it would require its employees sonable accommodations” could employment. MONTANA and that employ- for the Montana Hospital Associa- to get the COVID-19 vaccine to keep lead to court challenges. The Montana Hospital Association LEGISLATURE ers will not be tion. While the amendment would their jobs. Republican Rep. Jennifer Carlson and other organizations argued that 2021 seen as discrimi- exempt nursing homes from the Under the bill, employers would of Manhattan said the bill, which the bill could leave them unable to n a t i n g w h e n bill’s provisions, it does not include not be allowed to require employees she sponsored, was meant to make screen potential employees and they impose rea- the same exemption for hospitals to to receive vaccinations that are it clear that employees cannot be would prohibit them from requiring sonable accommodations, such as meet federal guidelines. being distributed under emergency fired for a personal choice. vaccines of employees who have requiring masks, for employees “Hospitals treat very sick and use authorization, under which the “We have been able to keep peo- direct contact with patients and the who are not vaccinated or choose vulnerable populations — the same Food and Drug Administration has ple safe in hospitals who are not public. They said the bill could lead not to divulge their vaccine status. ones served by nursing homes,” she authorized COVID-19 shots to be vaccinated,” she said. “This clari- to all employees having to wear Gianforte’s amendment also said said, along with babies in neonatal administered. fies those practices are still allow- masks and for facilities to limit visi- that nursing homes, long-term care intensive care units, chemotherapy The Centers for Medicare and able and not considered discrimina- tors. facilities and assisted living facili- patients and others. Medicaid Services proposed a new tion.” Page 2, Livingston Enterprise Thursday, April 29, 2021 OBITUARIES BRIEFS Richard Lee Adams • United In Light, home to the draft Scholarshipprovides$500foraPark • The Park County Health Depart- horsesanctuary,continuesitopenhous- Countyhighschoolgraduatetoattenda mentasksresidentstosignupwith RichwasborntoWayneandJennie esthefirstSaturdayofeverymonth tradeorvocationalschool.Moreinfor- NIXLE,thecommunitynotificationsys- (Frelich)AdamsinLivingstononSept. from10a.m.tonoon,startingMay1. mationisavailableonlineathttps://find.