I-155 only citizen initiative on ballot

Secretary of State Brad Johnson said Wednesday that only one citizen initiative qualified for the November ballot in Montana: I-155, the Healthy Montana Kids Plan Act.

It provides government-funded health coverage for as many as 30,000 uninsured children.

Johnson said I-155 backers collected 31,349 signatures, compared to the 22,308 required. I-155 qualified in 64 house districts, well in excess of the required 34 house districts for a statutory initiative.

Johnson said the ballot will also have two issues referred by the Legislature: LR-118, a tax levy for the university system; and C-44, a constitutional amendment affecting the way in which certain public funds are invested.

The deadline for collecting signatures for ballot issues was July 18.

State health insurance gets $1 million boost

The Montana Comprehensive Health Association will receive more than $1 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to operate its high-risk pool.

U.S. Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester announced the funding Wednesday.

The high-risk pool helps sick or recovering Montanans pay for health insurance they couldn't otherwise afford because they have pre-existing diseases or conditions.

Patients with cancer, diabetes or other debilitating diseases can be excluded from health insurance plans or charged exorbitant fees because they are expensive to insure.

More than 3,000 Montanans are enrolled in the high-risk pool. Within the pool, members living near the poverty level also qualify for additional insurance premium assistance.

Baucus played an instrumental role in the creation of the high-risk pool program, which began in Montana and later expanded to other states.

Family sues BIA for released inmate's death

GREAT FALLS (AP) -- The family of a Browning man who froze to death in February 2007 is suing the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the federal government for $20 million.

In a federal court lawsuit filed Wednesday, the plaintiffs allege law enforcement was negligent when they released William West Wolf from jail at 2 a.m. in frigid temperatures.

A receptionist at the BIA district office in Billings said no senior officials were available to comment Wednesday afternoon.

West Wolf was arrested for public intoxication around 5 p.m. on Feb. 10. As is BIA policy he was held eight hours and then released. The lawsuit says he still had a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit and walked toward home with the temperature just 3 degrees.

He died four blocks from the jail and his body was found six days later.