Amy Beth Hanson, The Associated Press

While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Amy Beth Hanson, The Associated Press.

Montana Supreme Court upholds lower court ruling that allows gender-affirming care for minors

Montana Supreme Court upholds lower court ruling that allows gender-affirming care for minors

HELENA, Mont. (AP) -- A Montana law banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors will remain temporarily blocked, the state Supreme Court ruled Wednesday, after justices agreed with a lower court judge who found the law likely violates the state's constitutional right to privacy.

Judge hears case over Montana rule blocking trans residents from changing sex on birth certificate

Judge hears case over Montana rule blocking trans residents from changing sex on birth certificate

HELENA, Mont. (AP) -- A state judge in Montana heard arguments Thursday over policies that block transgender people from changing the sex designation on their birth certificates and driver's licenses.

12 Colorado mail ballots were stolen and filled out. 3 of them were counted

12 Colorado mail ballots were stolen and filled out. 3 of them were counted

At least 12 mailed ballots were stolen in a rural Colorado county and then sent in with fraudulent votes, three of which slipped past county election officials and were counted in next month's general election, state officials said Thursday.

Judicial panel recommends suspending Montana's AG from practicing law for 90 days

Judicial panel recommends suspending Montana's AG from practicing law for 90 days

HELENA, Mont. (AP) -- A state judicial panel is recommending that Montana's Republican attorney general be suspended from practicing law for 90 days for openly defying court orders and repeatedly attacking the integrity of justices in his defense of a law permitting the state's Republican governor to directly fill judicial vacancies.

Colorado judge who sentenced election denier Tina Peters to prison receives threats

Colorado judge who sentenced election denier Tina Peters to prison receives threats

A rural Colorado county courthouse beefed up security Friday after threats were made against staff and a judge who sentenced former county clerk Tina Peters to nearly nine years behind bars and admonished her for her role in a data breach scheme catalyzed by the lie that the 2020 election was stolen from former President Donald Trump.

Federal judge temporarily blocks Utah social media law aimed at protecting children

Federal judge temporarily blocks Utah social media law aimed at protecting children

A federal judge in Utah has temporarily blocked a social media access law that leaders said was meant to protect the personal privacy of children and limit their use of such platforms, saying it is unconstitutional.

Federal judge temporarily blocks Utah social media laws aimed to protect children

Federal judge temporarily blocks Utah social media laws aimed to protect children

A federal judge in Utah has temporarily blocked social media access laws that leaders said were meant to protect the mental health and personal privacy of children, saying they are unconstitutional.

ACLU plans to spend $1.3M in educate Montana voters about state Supreme Court candidates

ACLU plans to spend $1.3M in educate Montana voters about state Supreme Court candidates

HELENA, Mont. (AP) -- The American Civil Liberties Union plans to spend $1.3 million on campaign advertising to educate Montana voters about where state Supreme Court candidates stand on abortion and other civil rights issues with a measure constitutionally protecting protect abortion access also on the ballot.

Abortion rights supporters report having enough signatures to qualify for Montana ballot

Abortion rights supporters report having enough signatures to qualify for Montana ballot

HELENA, Mont. (AP) -- An initiative to ask voters if they want to protect the right to a pre-viability abortion in Montana's constitution has enough signatures to appear on the November ballot, supporters said Friday.

Montana attorney general didn't violate campaign finance rules, elections enforcer says

Montana attorney general didn't violate campaign finance rules, elections enforcer says

HELENA, Mont. (AP) -- Montana's elections enforcer said he found no evidence that the state's attorney general violated campaign finance rules by inviting another Republican to run against him so he could raise more money for his reelection campaign.

Montana judge: Signatures of inactive voters count for initiatives, including 1 to protect abortion

Montana judge: Signatures of inactive voters count for initiatives, including 1 to protect abortion

HELENA, Mont. (AP) -- A Montana judge said Tuesday that the Secretary of State's Office erred in changing the rules governing whose signatures should count on petitions for three constitutional initiatives -- including one to protect abortion rights -- after officials tried to omit the signatures of inactive voters.

Backers of ballot initiative to preserve right to abortions in Montana sue over signature rules

Backers of ballot initiative to preserve right to abortions in Montana sue over signature rules

HELENA, Mont. (AP) -- Two organizations that gathered voter signatures to qualify proposed constitutional amendments for the Montana ballot -- including an initiative to protect abortion rights -- have sued the secretary of state's office over changes made to the rules about whose signatures may be accepted after the signatures were gathered and while county election officials were verifying them.

Lawsuit filed after Montana's secretary of state changed signature rules for citizen initiatives

Lawsuit filed after Montana's secretary of state changed signature rules for citizen initiatives

HELENA, Mont. (AP) -- Two organizations that gathered voter signatures to qualify proposed constitutional amendments for the Montana ballot have filed a lawsuit alleging that the secretary of state changed the rules about whose signatures may be accepted after the signatures were gathered and while county election officials were verifying them.