Roy McKenzie
Roy McKenzie is the Publisher of Western Montana News, where he reports on local government, politics, and current events in Missoula County. His work includes coverage of local responses to key events, election integrity, and political developments shaping Western Montana.
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- Chaotic Scene at Butte St. Patrick’s Day Parade as Protester Disrupts Zinke Float
- Montana Democrats Share Photo of “Freezer Morgue” That’s Actually A Mobile MRI Unit, Hospital Says
- Montana Voting Software Linked to Chinese Data Leak Arrest
- 30 of 56 Montana Counties Including Missoula Granted Zuckerberg Money for Elections, Legislature Investigating
- UPDATED: School Board Notified of Inappropriate Sexual Orientation Questionnaire Distributed by Missoula Teacher
Roxy Theater Cancels Showing of Documentary Critical of Mayor Engen’s Administration
The Roxy Theater in Missoula cancelled a showing of a forthcoming documentary critical of Mayor John Engen’s 14-year administration titled Engen’s Missoula citing “overbooking.” Three days after signing a contract with the producer at the beginning of December, The Roxy Theater rental coordinator Christina Tripp notified the producer of the alleged overbooking, refunded the deposit,…
Media Response To Manzella Religious Liberty Speech Shows LGBTQ Victimization A Potent Tool To Silence Dissent
Rispen’s took Manzella’s words out of context, stripped them apart, and capped off Manzella’s original thought with a mischaracterization of her statement. Rispens suggested that Manzella was shrugging off violence against LGBTQ people as a “normal consequence” when Manzella specifically said that, according to her beliefs, all people should be approached “in love.”
UPDATED: Federal Judge Grants Montana’s Request For Injunction On CMS Vaccine Mandate, Benefis Insists on Jab
Montana healthcare workers are protected under HB-702 which adds vaccination status as a protected class.
PHOTOS: Statewide Rallies Against Vaccine Mandates Draw Over a Thousand Across Montana
Update (11/30/2021): A federal judge has blocked CMS vaccine mandates for healthcare workers. Yesterday, over a thousand Montanans showed up for statewide rallies against vaccine mandates imposed on healthcare workers by the Biden Administration. Demonstrators attended rallies in Billings, Bozeman, Glendive, Great Falls, Hamilton, Helena, Kalispell, Miles City, Missoula, and Sydney at 2:00pm in highly…
Missoula Healthcare Workers Join Statewide Protests Against Vaccine Mandates Nov 28th in 10 Montana Cities
Statewide protests against vaccine mandates set for November 28th at 2PM.
WATCH: In Forthcoming Documentary “Engen’s Missoula” Councilman Jesse Ramos Explains TIF
Yesterday, local writer, artist, and videographer Travis Mateer released a trailer for a forthcoming documentary about Missoula called “Engen’s Missoula.” The trailer features Ward 4 City Council member Jesse Ramos explaining how a tax scheme called “tax increment financing” skims off the top of property tax-payers yearly tax bill and redirects funds to the Missoula…
Community Hospital To Fire Unvaccinated Workers Despite Losing 26% of Beds Since September
Many nurses and healthcare workers have been seeing the writing on the wall for months now. Hospitals across the United States have been sending notices to their workers, pressuring them to get vaccinated. On Veteran’s Day, Missoula’s Community Medical Center went a step further and told workers that they need to either get vaccinated or…
University of Montana Unlawfully Discriminates Against Unvaccinated Athletes Requiring Masks and Testing
The UM Athletics Department appears to believe NCAA “recommendations” supersede Montana State Law.
Missoulian Reporter Hansen Solicits Only Positive Feedback for Puff Piece on Child Vaccines
Missoulian reporter Jordan Hansen filed a report Tuesday stating that “all” parents, doctors, and health officials were “excited” to get 5-11-year-olds vaccinated after soliciting feedback only from parents who planned to vaccinate their children. On November 3rd, Hansen took to Twitter requesting interviews with parents who were, “looking to get their kids vaxxed [sic] with…
Pfizer Vaccine Creates 164 Myocarditis Cases in Boys For Every 189 COVID-19 Hospital Stays Prevented
In one scenario, for every 21 hospitalizations of COVID-19 prevented, 179 boys will develop a case of myocarditis, 98 boys would be hospitalized, and 57 boys would be admitted to ICU’s.
Missoula Elections Office “Incompetent…Derelict” Integrity Group 52-Page Report to SoS, AG Alleges
The Missoula election integrity group released a 52-page report Tuesday documenting “a pattern of irregularities” in Missoula County’s 2020 General Election and “troubling issues” found in a study of the county voter registration database.
Senate Can Meet to Review Montana Elections, Legislative Legal Office Says
Legislative staff attorney Jaret Cole stated, “It is my opinion that the president of the Senate has the authority to create a Senate special committee to review Montana’s election laws and processes.”
Missoula Schools: Masks Stay Until Children Vaccinated
The Missoula County Public School Board of Trustees met last night to make decisions regarding mask mandates including the terms required to be fulfilled before the school board will allow children to be unmasked. The “COVID-19 Task Force” subcommittee, appointed by the board of the trustees, recommends lifting the mask mandate after the following requirements…
Judge Marks Denies Halt to School Masks, Parents to Consider Appeal to Supreme Court
District Court Judge Jason Marks denied parents request for injunctive relief against Missoula County Public School mask mandates on Friday, issuing a 16-page order that said the parents did not provide sufficient evidence that rights to privacy or dignity were being violated. Judge Marks also said that injunctive relief was denied because parents did not…
86 Montana Legislators Request Special Committee on Elections
State Senator Theresa Manzella (SD-44) shared a letter on Facebook signed by 86 Montana Legislators requesting a Special Select Committee on elections. The request letter was transmitted to Senate President Mark Blasdel (SD-4) and House Speaker Wylie Galt (HD-30) on Wednesday and includes signatures from 24 State Senators and 62 State Representatives. The representatives are…
Oral Arguments Heard in Parents Mask Lawsuit Against Missoula Schools
Missoula County Court Room 4 was at capacity with families and students this morning for oral arguments in a lawsuit brought by parents against mask mandates from Missoula County schools. Judge Jason Marks allowed extra time for the burgeoning crowd in the lobby overflow area to pull up the Zoom meeting link on their phones.…
Montana Democrats Share Photo of “Freezer Morgue” That’s Actually A Mobile MRI Unit, Hospital Says
Former Lt. Governor Mike Cooney, Senator Ellie Boldman, and Helena Commissioner Emily Dean spread misinformation about a mobile MRI trailer being a portable COVID “freezer morgue”
Hundreds of Montanans Attend Missoula, Hamilton Election Integrity Events
Wednesday, over 500 Montanan’s and a dozen or more legislators including representatives Paul Fielder (HD-13), Lola Galloway (HD-22), Steven Galloway (HD-24), Bob Phalen (HD-36), Amy Regier (HD-6), Matt Regier (HD-4), Jerry Schillinger (HD-37), Derek Skees (HD-11), Brad Tschida (HD-97), and senators Theresa Manzella (SD-44) and Keith Regier (SD-3) attended events in Missoula and Hamilton which…