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PNS - Tuesday, December 17, 2024 A deadly school shooting is under investigation in Wisconsin. The Electoral College convenes today as the Senate considers abolishing it, and Trump discusses media lawsuits, TikTok's future and drone sightings in a scattered news conference.
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PNS - Tuesday, December 17, 2024 - Teen student, teacher killed in WI; two students reported to be in critical condition; Nearly 90 food banks, pantries across CO get more than $2.6 million; Report: Fossil-fuel lobbyists fail to disclose in WA; Simplifying SNAP benefits to fight senior hunger.
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Big Sky Connection - Legal services advocates in Montana will use a $275,000 grant to make it easier for low-income Montana residents to access the online help they need to stay in their homes. Comments from Linden Howard-Murphy, community legal education coordinator, Montana Legal Services Association; and Ron Flagg, president, Legal Services Corp.
Click on the image above for the audio. A $275,000 grant awarded to the Montana Legal Services Association will help streamline legal aid to low income residents. The information will be integrated into the organization's LegalServer case management system. (Adobe Stock)
MT Legal Services Association will improve online help
Mark Moran
Low-income Montana residents are getting help accessing legal aid online.
In some cases, updates to automated legal forms could help residents facing eviction stay in their homes, and also assist people who need help with family law issues.
Montana Legal Services Association will use the $275,000 technology assistance grant to overhaul and redesign its most-used automated, online legal forms.
MLSA's Community Legal Education Coordinator Linden Howard-Murphy said the information from those forms will be integrated into the state's court systems.
"We know that not everyone can afford a lawyer, and we also know that navigating the court system on your own can be extremely overwhelming," said Howard-Murphy. "One of the cornerstones of our work here at MLSA is empowering Montanans with the tools they need to handle their civil legal problems pro se. Pro se means without a lawyer."
MLSA data show there is only one legal aid attorney for every 8,900 Montanans who need civil legal help. Howard-Murphy said upgrading the online forms will help improve those numbers.
Ron Flagg - president of the Washington, D.C.-based Legal Services Corporation, which awarded the grant - said streamlining the online help low-income Montanans can access could be the difference between staying in their home and being evicted.
"And if you're living on the edge, that means you're one medical expense, one fender-bender from not being able to pay your rent," said Flagg. "And having legal assistance available in those cases is a game changer."
The Legal Services Corporation funds 130 nonprofit legal aid programs nationwide.
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PNS - Monday, December 16, 2024 - President-elect Trump rethinks his ability to lower prices, mass deportations could spur economic losses on par with the Great Recession, and Sen. Bernie Sanders says he'll work with the Trump administration to raise the federal minimum wage.
