Montana News: Recent Episodes
Montana Public Radio
The Flathead National Forest has approved a plan to replace and modernize a wastewater treatment system for western Montana’s Holland Lake Lodge.
The state is looking for public comment on a potential tungsten mine in the Flint Creek Range of southwest Montana. Comments will be accepted until Friday, Aug. 14.
The Bitterroot National Forest Friday raised its fire danger level to "Extreme," the highest level. Under these conditions fires start quickly, spread furiously, and burn intensely.
Montana fire officials are bracing for another round of critical fire weather this weekend. Any fires that develop over the next several days will spread rapidly and be very difficult to control.
Researchers at the University of Montana identified a unique mouse that may hold some clues for cancer research. This Andean mouse’s high-elevation home is what attracted researchers.
Northwest Montana has a below-average huckleberry crop this year. That means bears are now looking for alternative food sources and getting into trouble as a result.
Bozeman and Missoula declared 100% clean electricity goals in 2019 and have been chipping away at this effort ever since. Now both cities have committed to a new renewable energy plan that gets them closer to carbon neutrality by 2030.
Back in early spring Montana’s summer drought conditions were expected to be a lot worse than they currently are. June storms brought some relief, but the long-term outlook is less encouraging.
As fuel prices rise due to the Iran war, so does the cost of everything else. The grocery store is often where families feel the financial pinch first. That’s because it costs more to ship food across the country. Food banks are also facing higher costs and increasing demand.
Officials say residents near a wildfire burning in Flathead County should prepare to evacuate on a moment’s notice. The warning comes ahead of what has the potential to be a very active wildfire weekend in western Montana.
Gusty wind, low humidity, temperatures pushing 100 degrees and dry fuels will create critical fire weather conditions in northwest and west-central Montana Saturday.
It’s been a little over four years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the right to an abortion. Many states have banned or severely restricted access since then. The Dobbs decision also impacted Montana, where abortion access is enshrined in the state Constitution.
A federal judge ruled in favor of conservation groups this month in a decision against allowing increased road building in the Bitterroot National Forest. The lawsuit, filed in 2024, argued federal agencies didn’t take a hard enough look at the impacts of roads on threatened species.
Last year, Congress eliminated two years of federal funding for public media via a rescission package. MTPR expected to receive this funding in both 2025 and 2026. This summer drive helps us cover that second year of lost funding, which is roughly $375,000.
Researchers continue to find PFAS, or 'forever chemicals,' in Montana’s waterways. The latest samples come from Flathead Lake. Advocates are calling for more attention and funding to research these substances.
The Public Service Commission, which regulates Montana utilities, is closing public comment on NorthWestern Energy’s controversial 20-year plan on July 28. The proposal has drawn criticism from private citizens and environmental advocacy organizations.
Some Montana nonprofits that rely on federal grants say they’re not getting the funds they’ve already been awarded. The problem extends far beyond the Treasure State.
Plaintiffs in the Lighthiser v. Trump climate lawsuit are asking the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider their case after it was dismissed last month.
A district court judge has thrown out a state senator’s guilty verdict less than 24 hours after it was spoken. Sen. Jason Ellsworth was found guilty of using his access to Senate funds to privately award $170,000 in government contracts to a longtime friend, using a loophole to avoid a public bid. A retrial is scheduled for December.
The Sheep Creek Mine in Ravalli County is on the federal list of fast-tracked projects. That could mean faster permitting, along with scaled-down public input and environmental review. As one company looks for rare earth minerals, local residents, county commissioners and federal representatives remain opposed to the project, citing concerns over impacts to the watershed.
The Fort Shaw Indian School Girls Basketball Team navigated boarding school and forced assimilation while becoming a team of skilled athletes, artists and 1904 world champions. Now, more than 120 years later, the team is inspiring new generations and helping people connect with their families and their own cultural identities. Learn more about the team's legacy and why it resonates so strongly, on this episode of The Big Why.
Congress has voted to overturn part of the federal management plans for millions of acres of BLM lands in eastern Montana. The development of the Miles City plan involved mineral owners, industry groups, landowners, ranchers, farmers, hunters and 17 tribal nations.
This week: A second edition of "The Little Why," where we tackle questions from our younger listeners. Saddle up, grab the reins and ride along with us as we learn about wild horses in Montana.
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed last month at a Turning Point USA event in Utah on a nationwide tour of college campuses. But the tour is continuing as planned. That included a stop at Montana State University Tuesday night.
Montana has long had one of the highest suicide rates nationwide. Many of those deaths involve firearms. Montana’s seniors are also dying by suicide at high rates.
Many early-career teachers in Montana received an unprecedented salary bump this year. A new state law made the raises possible.
An aviation fuel company wants to inject wastewater into the ground along the Rocky Mountain Front. Federal officials say the plan wouldn’t put drinking water at risk. Residents are skeptical.
Local and tribal governments will now get an advanced notice before state wildlife officials relocate bears into their area, under a new state law that went into effect this week.
When you think of bison, Poland may not be the first place that comes to mind. One researcher is comparing human-bison coexistence on both sides of the Atlantic.
A Flathead nonprofit is suing over a state law that allows local police to check immigration status during traffic stops.
Many U.S. Department of Agriculture services are frozen as a result of the government shutdown. The freeze could have significant impacts for Montana’s farmers.
Glacier and Yellowstone national parks will remain open during the government shutdown, according to a federal memo. A major drop in staffing will impact park services and gateway communities.
Federal lawmakers this summer created a $50 billion fund to stabilize rural hospitals and other providers. State health officials want public comment on how to spend that money.
Environmental groups filed a second lawsuit over a gas-fired power plant on the banks of the Yellowstone River. The lawsuit takes issue with how the state issued the permit for NorthWestern Energy’s Yellowstone County Generating Station.
Many of Montana’s wheat producers have struggled with drought for five straight years. Now they’re facing economic headwinds because of President Trump’s tariffs.
The Trump administration is ending an annual nationwide hunger survey. Montana’s statewide foodbank says it’s a deeply concerning development that will make it harder to assess needs and gauge the effectiveness of food aid programs.
Gov. Greg Gianforte joined mining executives from the U.S. Antimony Corporation for a groundbreaking ceremony in Thompson Falls. Antimony is considered a “critical mineral” that’s used to develop military equipment.
After winning a landmark climate case at the state level last year, a group of young Montanans are taking the fight to the federal government. They presented their arguments to a judge in Missoula last week.
A Helena law firm says the state isn’t meeting its constitutional obligation to provide a quality education. Missoula schools are the first to sign on to a potential lawsuit over the issue.
The word "wildfire" often conjures dramatic images of walls of flame, charred landscapes and one particularly famous photo of elk in a river, surrounded by flames. So, how do wildlife fare during these big fires? This week on The Big Why, a listener asks, why we don't get any statistics on wildlife that die in wildfires.
State health officials told lawmakers this week they will likely need more funding to implement Medicaid work requirements.
Most Montanans have probably heard the old phrase: "If you don't like the weather, wait a minute and it will change." Montanans could get a striking demonstration of that phenomenon this week, forecasters say.
A group of local, state, and federal partners is studying how to better prepare for future large flooding events in the Flathead. The work looks different but is moving forward after federal funds were rescinded.
Many Montana schools faced defeat at the ballot box this May as they requested taxpayer dollars to pay for upgrades that keep students and staff safe. Two Missoula-area schools that say they won’t be able to keep their security up to date.
Libraries do more than just lend books. They offer community events, classes, access to computers — and they help preserve cultural knowledge. But, public funding is being slashed, delayed or taken back as the Trump Administration works to cut government programs. After recent federal cuts, one listener wants to know what’s going to happen to rural museums and libraries across the state.
After a rash of federal job cuts earlier this year, the U.S. Forest Service is reversing course and asking people qualified to fight fires to come back to work. Missoulian outdoors reporter Sam Wilson sat down with MTPR’s Austin Amestoy with more.
Senate Bill 188 would have established a voluntary, subscription-style option for businesses or individual homeowners to purchase shares of a solar array. They could then be credited on their monthly bill for the electricity generated by the solar panels.
The number of measles cases in Montana continues to rise. Twenty people have contracted the virus since April. Most cases have come from out-of-state travel, but measles may now be spreading in Gallatin County.
Helena Public Schools trustees voted to close its historic Hawthorne Elementary. The district cites the need to close a budget gap.
In 2023, a state audit found a culture of retaliation among Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks’ leadership. Last week, legislators were told the agency has made progress, but there’s more work ahead.
Montana’s Republican congressional delegation unanimously supports Israel’s military strikes against Iran.
With the legislative session over, lawmakers are beginning to look at how to solve some of the state’s biggest issues. They'll study competitive bidding for government contracts, and which branch of government should estimate the cost of a proposed law, among other issues.
Montana families with transgender children are quickly losing access to care. A Missoula hospital Wednesday announced it would stop offering gender-affirming care to minors. It is the latest hospital system to stop offering that service.
For the last 25 years, intrepid groups of teens have set out to explore, document and preserve some of the most fragile ecosystems around Montana: caves. Ahead of National Cave Week, Montana Public Radio’s Ellis Juhlin joined them for a trip deep into the Judith Mountains.
The Montana Supreme Court Monday threw out three abortion-related laws passed in 2021. The justices ruled the laws violated the right to privacy outlined in the state Constitution.
Montanans could see their power bills spike this year, but by how much is still up for debate. Utility regulators Tuesday heard public comment on NorthWestern Energy's latest request to hike electricity rates. The hearings are scheduled to run through June 20.
Public media faces its most urgent threat yet. Congress will soon vote on whether to eliminate $1.1 billion in already-approved funding. Visit Protect My Public Media to learn how to call your representatives and voice your support for public media.
A new full-service cancer center opened in Lewistown this month. The nearly 17,000 square foot facility will offer radiation, chemo and other oncology services. It’s the only facility like it within 100 miles.
Snowpack across Montana is well below normal for early June; Heat and drought are stressing Great Falls' aging trees; Flathead Lake managers say there's not enough water to fill the lake this year
Butte residents Wednesday voiced their concerns on the possibility a new state women’s prison is built in town. The Department of Corrections has Butte on a shortlist of potential locations.
Amid ongoing federal efforts to revitalize the timber industry, an annual intertribal timber symposium took place in Montana last week.
The Montana Supreme Court Friday affirmed a lower court ruling finding that state environmental regulators failed to assess the greenhouse gas emissions associated with a fossil fuel power plant.
Gov. Greg Gianforte and two state agencies are suing the federal government. They argue Yellowstone National Park’s new bison management plan violates federal law.
The Montana Supreme Court Thursday ruled that Gov. Greg Gianforte may be allowed to withhold certain documents from public review. The case centered on the question of whether or not the governor has “executive privilege.” That’s the legal right to keep files and communications private and unavailable for public access.
Downhill skiing in Montana is getting more expensive. The price of lift tickets has gone up at ski areas across the state since the pandemic. MTPR’s John Hooks takes a look at the economic pressures driving up the cost.
In a first, the Montana’s ’s highest court last week affirmed that the constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment includes a stable climate. Although the decision could have future implications, it doesn’t drastically change environmental policy in the state right now.
Advocates for early child care and education have a list of ideas to boost access and affordability heading into the 2025 legislative session.
Sunny K. White pleaded "guilty" to charges of vehicular homicide after striking and killing Mika Westwolf in March of 2023.
Included in the suite of bills is legislation to identify potential trails that could be connected for long distance biking, and to allow for new rock climbing routes in wilderness areas.
Montana’s outgoing U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale held a final tele-town hall with constituents before he leaves office in January. He told them he’ll hold his ground on his last major vote in the House.
A nonpartisan observation group that monitored the November election in 16 counties has released its preliminary findings. The group found Montana’s general election was fair and well-conducted.
Much of the country continues to see big declines in drug overdose deaths, but deaths in Montana were virtually unchanged.
Next month, the state education department will have a new leader for the first time in eight years. Townsend Public Schools Superintendent Susie Hedalen is set to take over the Office of Public Instruction following a campaign promising to “bring education back to basics.” She joined MTPR’s Austin Amestoy to talk about her plans for her first term.
The state’s highest-ranking K-12 education leader is set to leave her post next month after eight years in office. Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Artnzen presided over an education landscape rocked and reshaped by the COVID-19 pandemic. She joined MTPR’s Austin Amestoy to reflect on her two terms and look ahead to the future of Montana’s schools.
Among the sparkling lights and fresh pine scent of the holidays lies a minefield of potential dangers to household pets. Here are some tips to help keep your pets safe and sane during the holidays.
An advisory jury last week found that districts to elect utility regulators were not drawn in a way that favored one political party over another. This is the latest in an ongoing legal fight over the maps
Montana’s governor held an invite-only session on Tuesday with the state’s most powerful utility companies and energy industry players. The governor asked his selected industry leaders how state policy could help them make more power.
A district court in Helena temporarily blocked a pair of state agency rules that prevented transgender Montanans from updating their identification documents.
You probably know snowpack affects the amount of water in our rivers. But snowmelt also recharges underground water systems and flows back into the rivers and streams, keeping them running even after the snow melts. What happens to groundwater supplies when the snowmelt comes earlier in the year?
The Montana Supreme Court has decided a right to a clean and healthful environment includes a stable climate. It’s the final step in a case where 16 young people sued the state for failing to act on climate change.
A Whitefish doctor was sentenced to six months of jail and another six months of house arrest for defrauding Medicare and other federal health programs.
Montana’s early snow season is off to a slow start, but it's too soon to be worried, hydrologist says.
Montana groups are looking to help wildlife safely cross I-90 near Missoula where collisions with cars are becoming more common.
A new audit reports that an estimated $1.2 billion in taxable value from new construction in Montana went unaccounted for over the last six years. The report identified several ways the properties are slipping through the cracks.
Montana’s expensive housing market poses particular challenges to senior citizens who live on a fixed income and need a space they can age in. Locals in Park County are hoping to build more housing options that seniors can afford.
K-12 public school enrollment in Montana is down for a second year in a row. The schools have nearly 2,000 fewer students this fall than last — a 1.2% decrease. That’s according to preliminary data from the state education department.
Attorneys for the state defended two rules in court on Thursday that bar transgender Montanans from updating their identity documents. Two trans plaintiffs sued the state to block those rules.
Gov. Greg Gianforte gave a preview Wednesday of his proposed state budget for the next two years. It includes money for tax cuts, schools and Medicaid expansion.
A judge has ruled in favor of wildlife advocacy groups in a legal battle over the lethal removal of grizzly bears. The judge found the federal agency failed to adequately assess how its actions harm grizzly recovery.
A Democrat appears to have flipped a legislative seat in southwest Montana after preliminary election results showed the Republican candidate in the lead.
A grizzly bear recently killed near Seeley Lake has fish and game officials urging recreationists to be particularly "bear aware" this time of year.
The head of Montana’s department of criminal investigation is retiring after 43 years in law enforcement. Montana gas prices are at their lowest in more than a year. Big game harvest numbers remain strong.
Just a week after the election, 150 representatives and senators from around the state descended on Helena to begin legislator orientation and choose their leaders.
Nearly 600,000 Montanans cast ballots in the 2024 election. The election was a show of Republican dominance in state and national politics. Montana voters share their reactions to the election.
Join us for a panel discussion with experts on all sides of the grizzly debates. We'll try to find a shared vision on how to coexist with bears no matter what comes next.
Two days after The Wide Open premiered, host Nick Mott had a grizzly encounter of his own.
Republicans sweep to victory in Montana's top races. Montana's newly elected Senator promises to bring people together. Voters say ‘yes’ to protecting the right to an abortion. "Campaign Beat" wraps up for the year.
Every year, pumpkins of all shapes, sizes, and colors, along with arrays of decorative squash, adorn our homes to welcome fall. Montana Public Radio's Ellis Juhlin sat down with Austin Amestoy to discuss alternatives to throwing pumpkins in the trash.
A homeless shelter in Kalispell has reopened its doors after the city shut it down earlier this year. A judge ruled that the shelter can operate while the court case over the city’s actions plays out.
A Lewis and Clark District Court judge says he’ll likely decide in the coming days whether to block regulations on abortion providers passed by the last state Legislature.
Glacier National Park says it will test a “timed entry” system for popular areas of the park. Those who get vehicle reservations will be assigned a time block that they can enter but can stay in the park as long as they like.
While Republicans won big this election, Montana Democrats gained some ground in the state Legislature and knocked out the GOP’s supermajority. That was expected under new districts in use for the first time.
Mold Wranglers claimed to have mitigated lead paint at a Fort Harrison veterans housing complex, but did not do the work.
The closure of two lumber mills this year in Missoula County had a wide-ranging impact on the Montana economy, with an estimated 20% drop in Montana’s timber harvest.
The Flathead National Forest says it’s received a new permit application for Holland Lake Lodge. A Forest Service spokesperson says the application is for the continued use of the lodge in its existing footprint, with no proposed expansion.
Polls and pundits will soon be proven right or wrong. Last-ditch ads stray further from the facts. Early voting is higher in some counties than others.
What happens after voters turn in their ballots or visit the polls?MTPR’s Austin Amestoy sat down with Montana Association of Clerks and Recorders president Eric Semerad to find out how ballots are handled and counted.
Hospitals in Montana are grappling with a nationwide shortage of IV fluids. Hospitals are conserving supplies so they can continue to treat patients.
In the coming days, Montanans will elect a new majority to the Public Service Commission. Those three new commissioners will regulate utility companies that provide homes with electricity, gas, and trash services.
More than 75,000 Montana children will receive delayed food benefits that were supposed to be sent to families this summer.
Federal prosecutors said Travis John Branson played a lead role in a network that poached and trafficked hundreds of eagles each year from the Flathead since the late 1980s.
As grizzly bear populations spread to more areas in the state, so do human-grizzly conflicts. Wildlife managers this week were awarded several million dollars to bolster efforts to promote coexistence and non-lethal prevention tools.
A non-partisan initiative will observe the electoral process in 15 counties across the state this year.
Firefighters jump out of planes or dig miles of line to try and stop a fire’s spread. Some do this while pregnant. For women in firefighting, balancing careers with the demands of motherhood can often force them out of the jobs they love. But a new group of women in fire is trying to change that.
MTPR’s Austin Amestoy did some digging to find out how much the cost of living has changed over the last four years, how much influence politicians have over your pocketbook, and how voters can weigh these economic issues at the ballot box.
With roughly a month until the 2024 election, the front-runners in the U.S. Senate race met for a debate. The two diverged on issues like border security, health care and managing public lands.
The candidates competing for two open seats on the Montana Supreme Court met last week to talk about their views of the job. MTPR’s Shaylee Ragar joined Austin Amestoy to break down where they stand.
Planned power outages will effect communities west of Kalispell next week. Affordable housing polls as the top concern for young Montanans
River access sites across Montana are seeing more users. Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks recently formed a citizen River Recreation Advisory Council to find solutions.
A quickly corrected ballot error raises questions; A new ad questions Monica Tranel's stance on the border; Controversial North Dakota Governor Kristi Noem stumps for Tim Sheehy, who has no comment on evidence he plagiarized portions of his memoir.
Workers at a marijuana dispensary in Butte Wednesday voted to form the first unionized cannabis workplace in Montana.
Nearly 20,000 homes along the Montana-Idaho border lost power Wednesday night. Strong thunderstorms rolled through Libby and Sandpoint, knocking out power lines.
Hundreds of Missoula kids will be keeping equally occupied after their trip through the gym. The American Federation of Teachers stopped by Tuesday on its “get-out-the-vote” tour with 45,000 books to give away to families.
Access to child care is out of reach for many Montana families. Gov. Greg Gianforte on Tuesday toured a child care facility serving employees at a Helena hospital. The governor is encouraging private businesses to help with the state’s child care shortage.
State land managers asked lawmakers to allow housing development on state trust lands. Lawmakers didn't endorse the idea this week, but it could resurface during the upcoming legislative session.
The flagship campuses of the Montana University System report strong enrollment and retention rates.
A book written by the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Montana appears to contain passages lifted from outside sources without credit.
As the weather cools down, public health officials remind Montanans that now is the time to schedule their COVID and flu shots.
Montana wildlife managers this week launched a new site for tracking grizzly bear mortalities.
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time in over four years on September 18th.
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time in over four years on September 18th.
More than half of Montana households have members with health conditions requiring special diets, according to the Montana Food Bank Network. A growing nonprofit network is developing a "prescription produce program" to help Montanans use food as medicine.
Rob Chaney covered the outdoors for decades as a Missoulian reporter and editor. Last week he learned he had been laid off by the paper's owner, Lee Enterprises. MTPR’s Ellis Juhlin sat down with Chaney to reflect on his time covering environmental issues, and to look ahead to his future plans.
Voters will get one chance to see candidates for governor debate. Housing costs are in the spotlight. The NRA enters the fray in the U.S. Senate race.
Montana’s housing market is the least affordable in the country. That’s according to data analysis by the National Association of Realtors.
Abortion clinics will now be required to be licensed by the state. State health officials announced they are adopting the rules.
The front-running candidates for governor have agreed to one debate ahead of the November election.
Lawyers for U.S. environmental regulators have rejected claims that new pollution standards should be paused to help Montana’s Colstrip power plant.
Montana lawmakers this week offered a first look at plans to boost teacher pay and school funding.
Briefs: Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is set to appear before an oversight board to address 41 charges of professional misconduct; State lawmakers Tuesday finalized recommendations to ease overcrowding in the Montana State Prison; Food-conditioned grizzly killed near Libby.
The Flathead Valley will not have a homeless shelter this winter. The Kalispell City Council voted Monday to revoke a local shelter’s permit to operate.
The state’s only psychiatric hospital for adults won’t apply for federal recertification for at least another year. Construction at the Montana State Hospital is holding up the process.
A Montana newspaper refuses to comply with a state justice department demand to remove an internal document from a recent article. On August 16th the Daily Montanan published a redacted copy of a nearly 400-page survey. It detailed employees’ concerns about Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s management of the highway patrol as well distrust within upper levels of the agency.
Montana legislators are concluding a study of how the state can ensure the full cleanup of a former pulp mill just downstream of Missoula.
The Bureau of Land Management’s proposal would make over 31 million acres of federal public land available for solar development applications. It identifies areas where large, utility-scale, solar installations could be built. The lands span across 11 western states, including Montana.
Western Montana’s weather this month featured a little bit of everything: heat, powerful storms, some rain and even an early taste of late fall. In other words, experts say it was a normal August.
Students at a Flathead Valley school district are back in class. The district’s superintendent is also back in the building after he pleaded no contest to a corporal punishment charge involving a student.
Montana ranks in the top five states for increased employment and wage growth since the pandemic.
Two of the energy companies that own Colstrip want the US Supreme Court to intervene and pause new federal emissions standards passed earlier this year.
The Montana Democratic Party is suing the state to remove a Green Party U.S. Senate candidate from the ballot. Democrats argue the Green Party didn’t follow its own rules in appointing Barb, and that he’s actually a Republican.
A program delivering free, one-on-one tele-counseling to schools in rural Montana is set to more than double in size this year. It’s helping some school counselors lighten their load.
Property owners in Uptown Butte have agreed to chip-in money to make the neighborhood prettier, cleaner, and safer.
From grizzlies to wolves, hunting plays a controversial role in many Endangered Species Act stories. This time, an African animal on Texas ranchland shows how hunting does — and doesn’t — serve conservation.
A Helena hospital has agreed to pay the federal government nearly $11 million to settle allegations that it falsified billing paperwork for federal health programs.
Two federal agencies are appealing a recent court decision over how roads affect threatened species like grizzly bears.
The number of Montanans enrolled in federally subsidized health insurance plans over the past four years increased by about 50%, or about 22,000 people. The growth is attributed to enhanced subsidies during the pandemic. But those are set to expire at the end of next year. This fall’s election could impact whether they’re renewed.
The body of a missing Whitefish man who went missing a week ago has been recovered in Glacier National Park.
A state commission charged with rebuilding the state’s behavioral and mental health system has finalized its list of 22 recommendations. They will be sent to Gov. Greg Gianforte for approval.
High on the Butte Hill, officials have preserved a historic mine yard — waste and all. MTPR’s John Hooks takes us on a tour through the past and present of Butte’s mining legacy.
Nearly 7,000 Bitterroot Valley residents were without power Friday afternoon following a thunderstorm packing wind gusts unofficially estimated at close to 70 mph.
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester was joined by two prominent Montanans for a campaign fundraiser in Missoula on Wednesday. The Democrat is likely to face a razor-thin margin in his race for a fourth term.
Missoula County officials this week removed a local infrastructure mill levy request from November’s ballot. Commissioners based the decision on ongoing concerns about Montana’s property tax sticker shock.
Two measures that could change how Montanans elect their government leaders will appear on November’s ballot. The Montana Secretary of State certified the proposals Thursday.
Missoula’s Urban Forestry Division says it’s examined roughly a quarter of the city’s trees for damage following the storm. So far, it estimates a loss of 600 to 1,000 trees on city land alone. More than 450 have been marked for removal.
Montanans will vote on abortion access in November. The Secretary of State certified a measure Tuesday evening that would add protections for abortion to the state’s Constitution.
Local election officials in Butte Tuesday completed a full recount of June’s primary election. A district court judge ordered the county to review the count after it came to light that more than a thousand absentee ballots had accidentally been counted twice.
Federal officials say a 400-acre industrial site in Libby is clean and is no longer a threat to the community. The site was contaminated with asbestos.
Mosquito samples from Blaine, Dawson, Prairie and Wibaux counties recently tested positive for West Nile. According to the state health department that means the first human or horse cases of the year aren’t far behind.
Mosquito samples from Blaine, Dawson, Prairie and Wibaux counties recently tested positive for West Nile. According to the state health department that means the first human or horse cases of the year aren’t far behind.
Montanans are spending nearly $150 more a month on food compared to three years ago. That’s according to federal data. According to the non-profit Feeding America, about one in nine Montanans struggle with food insecurity. That’s up three percent from last year.
Governor Greg Gianforte and his Democratic challenger Thursday released competing proposals for property tax reform.
Gov. Greg Gianforte this week asked President Joe Biden to declare a major disaster in Missoula and Powell counties following July’s major wind storm.
State and federal officials are lifting fire restrictions in several northwest Montana counties.
A new survey released Thursday has found bipartisan support from Montana voters for new federal oil and gas leasing reforms.
A coalition of environmental groups plan to sue over an impending decision to list pygmy rabbits under the Endangered Species Act.
State wildlife officials Friday lifted fishing restrictions on a section of the Big Hole River.
Montanans will soon be able to find fentanyl testing strips and naloxone, an opioid reversal drug, in vending machines statewide.
Firefighters are breathing a cautious sigh of relief. August’s fire activity hasn’t yet lived up to last month’s dire expectations.
The federal education department says college students will have to wait to hear if they’re eligible for student loans for the second year running. At least one Montana university is still working through the backlog from this year’s application.
Iris the Osprey is a world-famous bird who’s nested along Missoula’s Clark Fork River for most of her long life. She’s also a longtime participant in research tracking mining pollution in the river. After more than a decade, the latest data on the health of the river is expected soon.
Libertarian Senate candidate Sid Daoud says he's not dropping out of the race. The statement comes after Former President Donald Trump made a cryptic statement about a possible upcoming "surprise" from Daoud.
The University of Montana broke ground this week on construction of its newest student residence hall; the first on the Missoula campus since 1994.
A gang of monkey-wrenching activists try a new approach in the fight to save threatened species and ecosystems: They put on suits and enter the courtroom. In doing so, they change conservation forever.
One of the state’s largest health networks plans to open a new health care facility next year in Missoula.
Montana’s high court reinforced protections for abortion Wednesday. The justices unanimously agreed that a law requiring parental consent for a minor seeking an abortion is unconstitutional.
This week we're looking at the most annoying aspect of any election year: political ads. A listener wants to know if there's any kind of fact checking done before these ads air.
The state will allocate nearly $629 million for high-speed internet projects. Gov. Greg Gianforte has approved about 60 projects that will provide internet to areas with no internet or slow speeds.
Conservation groups in the Flathead Valley are suing state water regulators over the permit process for new wells. Citizens for a Better Flathead and Water for Flatheads Future say the state is permitting new wells without proper analysis.
Harlowton is getting a new hospital. Federal officials and hospital staff broke ground at the new site in Central Montana Friday.The facility is scheduled for completion by the end of next year.
Missoula County Commissioners have approved a major subdivision near Frenchtown that is projected to bring over 400 housing units to the area over the next two decades.
The state is delaying plans to expand mental and behavioral health services through a federal program.
New polling from Emerson College shows the candidates in Montana’s U.S. Senate race are in a dead heat and the number of undecided voters is shrinking. However, the Republican candidate is gaining ground as the election nears.
Amid a tight re-election race, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester refrained from voting with other Montana Democratic delegates to make Vice President Kamala Harris the party's presidential nominee. At the same time, he's leaning into support from Republicans.
Seventy one wildland firefighters from Australia and New Zealand arrive in the United States this week to help fight wildfires. Mutual wildland fire assistance between the countries goes back several decades.
Montana child care providers say access is still a major issue in the state. According to state data from 2022, Montana has licensed enough providers to meet less than half the need for out-of-home child care. They spoke about possible legislative action at a summit this week.
A southeastern Montana Catholic boarding school for Native Americans says it found no evidence of unmarked graves on its grounds after a year-long investigation.
Last month, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks implemented “hoot owl” restrictions due to high water temperatures. It was the first time the agency limited fishing on that section of the river. Montana wildlife officials lifted fishing restrictions on the North Fork of the Flathead River Wednesday.
The Montana Board of Crime Control voted Wednesday to change how it funds organizations that help survivors of domestic violence. More of the money will now go where demand for services is highest.
Piles of tree debris still litter yards in almost every Missoula neighborhood. Hurricane force winds the evening of July 24th toppled power lines and flattened or damaged trees that stood for generations. The City of Missoula is now offering to pick up residential tree debris.
Montana will close the state’s waitlist for federal rental assistance this month. Officials say the action is in response to the federal government reducing how much money it gives Montana for rent help. Montanans can still apply for a place on the waitlist until August 15th.
A federal judge in Montana Tuesday ordered the US Fish and Wildlife Service to reevaluate the protected status of Arctic Grayling in the Big Hole River. But, the service is ordered not to consider landowner-led, voluntary conservation efforts.
The first great battle over the Endangered Species Act begins. Thanks to an eclectic group of activists, a tiny fish in Tennessee halts construction on a massive dam and ends up in front of the Supreme Court.
Butte’s Superfund cleanup entered a new phase Tuesday. Contractors for Atlantic Richfield officially started moving dirt to address historical mining contamination along Silver Bow Creek. It’s a small start, but one that officials say marks a new milestone in Butte’s cleanup.
Two grizzly bears were trucked from northwest Montana to the Yellowstone ecosystem this week. The transfer is part of a multi-state effort to remove grizzlies from the Endangered Species list.
Advocacy groups are asking a judge to order the federal government to draft a new assessment of the impact of relocating or killing grizzlies.
A new statue has joined a collection of other Montana political giants in the state capitol in Helena The state’s first woman elected governor now stands outside her former office.
Federal wildlife officials will delay an anticipated decision on the protected status of grizzly bears until next year.
Montana wildlife officials have ordered a full fishing closure on a portion of the Big Hole River, beginning Friday, August 2.
First reported by Montana Talks, Trump plans to stop in Bozeman next Friday to stump for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tim Sheehy.
The U.S. Senate this week advanced a pair of bills to protect minors online with a rare show of strong bipartisan support.
Montana’s largest energy utility company is planning on getting bigger. NorthWestern Energy announced Tuesday it intends to buy Energy West Montana, a methane gas utility based in Great Falls.
Delegates elected to represent Montana at the national Democratic convention say they support Vice President Kamala Harris as their presidential candidate.
August 5th marks the 75th anniversary of the Mann Gulch fire, which shifted the way fires are fought to this day. The Montana Discovery Foundation will host a series of events in remembrance.
The state’s largest energy utility lost a main source of power generation last week, during a multi-week heatwave. The Colstrip plant is back up and running, as temperatures are forecasted to rise again.
Nearly 1,000 Indigenous children died in boarding schools run by the U.S. government over a 150-year period.
The Montana University System is bracing for a possible downturn in the number of graduating high-school seniors in coming years.
Cleanup of last week’s windstorm in Missoula could take months. Missoula city and county officials say more than a thousand trees were downed.
Amid Montana’s recent heat wave health officials warned of its danger and the importance of staying cool. But now that temperatures are dropping, the impacts of the heat are unclear.
The Endangered Species Act helped bring the Yellowstone-area grizzly population back from the brink of extinction. It also sparked controversy over a question that looms over more species than just grizzly bears: How do we balance the needs of endangered wildlife with the needs of humans? Learn more now on episode 1 of The Wide Open.
The Attorney General’s office asked the court to take over the case after a district court judge ordered the Montana Secretary of State to count inactive voters as qualified electors.
A coalition of Republican Attorneys General have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block new federal regulations for air pollution from coal plants.
Montana policymakers are working to tackle the state’s affordable housing crisis. Researchers say they have a way to measure their progress.
A large source of energy generation for Montana’s biggest utility has gone offline while much of the state experiences extreme heat.
Wildlife officials this month imposed heat-related fishing restrictions on rivers across western Montana. For fishing guides and outfitters, restrictions force them to get creative to ensure clients can still get out on the water.
Puget Sound Energy has signed a 25 year contract to purchase energy from a wind farm being built in Central Montana.
Lawmakers are expected to make a decision soon about whether to propose changes to Montana’s compensation for those exonerated of a crime.
Missoula’s food bank and homeless shelter were forced to toss out thousands of pounds of food during this week’s storm that knocked out power to much of the area.
The Montana Secretary of State agreed in court to count inactive voter signatures for three proposed ballot issues. However, the office’s attorneys say that does not guarantee the measures will advance.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte declared disasters in Missoula and Mineral counties Friday.
Thousands of people in Missoula were still without power Friday afternoon after a powerful storm blasted through the area Wednesday night.NorthWestern Energy at noon Friday said they had more than 160 personnel and 34 line crews working to restore electricity as quickly as possible. The utility warned some outages might not be repaired until early next week.
Montana has been awarded funding from the federal government to reduce planet-warming emissions. It’s part of the country’s largest climate spending legislation to date.
Power to thousands of homes was knocked out Wednesday night as a severe thunderstorm swept through western Montana.
As wildfire season heats up across Montana, it can be hard know where to find reliable, up-to-date information. Here's a rundown of the kind of sources, tools and verification we use when covering wildfires — and you can use them too.
As summer heats up in Montana, so does wildfire season. This raises the question, does winter snowpack really correlate to the severity of the wildfire season? And what does a 'normal' fire season mean?
Montanans in Helena shared their thoughts about the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks killed a food-conditioned black bear after a conflict with campers in the Flathead Valley.
The Kalispell City Council is set to vote July 16th on whether to revoke a local homeless shelter’s permit.
Usually, millions of pounds of the fruit can be harvested each season, but this year, cherry growers in the Flathead Valley are lucky to be able to harvest thousands of pounds.
Some families of students with disabilities in Montana may be reimbursed by the state for private education expenses following a district court ruling this week.
More than two years after recreational marijuana sales began in Montana, state and local officials are exploring ways to halt the opening of new dispensaries.
Watery geysers erupt from huge metal flowers and dangling buckets douse kids running beneath at a splash park near the University of Montana. A few feet away under a shaded pavilion, dozens of elementary schoolers are preparing to brave the sun.
Montana’s Supreme Court this week heard oral arguments in the state’s appeal of a lower court ruling in the youth-led climate case Held v Montana. Sixteen young people are suing Montana for failing to act on climate change. They say that the state's fossil fuel friendly policies are violating their constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment.
Groups backing measures on abortion access and election reform sued Montana’s Secretary of State Wednesday. They claim the state is illegally rejecting some signatures on ballot petitions
Montana Senator Jon Tester says he’s taking a wait-and-see approach to President Joe Biden’s ability to serve another term.
Montana Senator Jon Tester says he’s taking a wait-and-see approach to President Joe Biden’s ability to serve another term.
It’s scorching in Montana right now, and the heatwave is expected to last for days. While many are flipping on those air conditioners, there may be other ways to keep your house cool or to use the air conditioner less.
MTPR's Ellis Juhlin sits down with the outgoing director of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.
When a siphon blew out on the St. Mary Canal last month the link between thousands of Montanans and an important water source was broken. Estimates from government officials and irrigators say there's enough water to get the Hi-line through the short term. But farmers fear an economic disaster for the region if a fix doesn't come next year .
A Montana tech hub is awarded $40 million in grant funding. FWP launches river recreation advisory council. A conservation nonprofit purchases 1,400 acres for land preservation.
A federal district court has found that agencies did not fully consider the impact roads have on wildlife when drafting management plans for the Flathead National Forest.
Areas around the northern Rocky Mountain Front are predicted to experience severe drought, while much of the rest of the state is predicted to see a moderate drought or abnormally dry conditions.
This time around, we’re unpacking an answer to a tricky education question: "Why is Montana ranked one of the last in the nation for teacher salary, and how might this be changing in the next legislative session?"
Fire experts are sticking to their predictions of a later-than-normal start and end to Montana’s summer wildfire season. Increased fire activity could be just around the corner.
Montana Republicans met in Billings over the weekend to update their party’s platform. Montana Public Radio’s Shaylee Ragar was at the event and joined host Austin Amestoy to talk about the Republicans' debate on election law, immigration, abortion and party loyalty.
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes joined six other tribes in defense of a new federal rule protecting their water rights in court.
Two Montana tribes will receive about $60,000 to bolster cybersecurity. These grants are the first time the federal government has helped tribes with cyber defenses.
State health officials say the number of Montanans on Medicaid is down roughly 5 percent compared to pre-pandemic levels. That’s according to the state’s final report on its Medicaid redetermination process.
The Supreme Court ruling on July 1st shielding presidents from prosecution for official acts eradicates part of the criminal case against former president Donald Trump.
Montana’s top environmental regulatory agency is under new leadership. The new director takes office amidst ongoing changes, legal challenges and preparations for the next legislative session.
A majority of Missoula City Council members signed a public letter reaffirming support for new restrictions on where unhoused people can live.
The U.S. Supreme Court overturned a ruling on Friday that prevented cities from fining or jailing unhoused people for sleeping in public if the city didn’t have another option for them.
The Montana VA has a new director. The appointment comes after the former director left the position over “operational concerns.”
Advocates for the Montana film industry say the state has seen an uptick in productions since it began awarding tax credits. Now, the industry is encouraging the legislature to expand the amount of credits on offer in the next lawmaking session.
One of Montana’s only residential homes for young families broke ground on a big expansion in Missoula Wednesday
Lee Montana first reported homeowners in Browning received unusually high appraisal values and property tax bills last fall – some four times the amount they paid last year. Now, state officials are working to get refunds to Browning residents who were overcharged on their property tax bills.
A Montana congressman introduced a bill to help fund efforts to help wildlife safely move across landscapes.
Thousands of runners and walkers will take to Missoula’s streets this weekend for the largest local event of the year.
Temperatures over the past two weeks have jumped 30-plus degrees in some areas of the state, putting people at risk of heat-related illness.
State wildlife managers are working to lease half a million acres of private land to conserve prairie habitat in eastern Montana. The program will create temporary land protections for threatened ecosystems.
The Biden administration says large tech companies will offer free and discounted cybersecurity services to small and rural hospitals.
Supporters of a constitutional initiative to protect abortion access in Montana say they’ve collected more than enough signatures to put the measure on the ballot in November.
State health and wildlife officials found sucker fish in areas of the Yellowstone River to contain elevated levels of petroleum hydrocarbons. The Fish Consumption Advisory board discourages children under the age of 6 and women who may come pregnant from eating any sucker fish caught in the Yellowstone River between the Highway 212 bridge in Laurel and the confluence with the Bighorn River.
The Flathead Biological Station is launching the state’s largest effort to monitor pesticides in streams and rivers. The station will provide the first data on levels of these toxic chemicals in our waterways.
Montana wildlife officials agreed to join a multi-state plan to manage grizzly bears around Yellowstone National Park. The deal will go into effect if grizzlies in the ecosystem are delisted from federal endangered species protections.
No one who regularly drives this busy stretch of Highway 93 south between Missoula and Florence needs a study to point out the obvious: traffic is intense. An open house will be held the week of June 24th to share ideas about possible improvements to a busy stretch of highway between Missoula and the Bitterroot Valley community of Florence.
The U.S. Interior and Agriculture departments are funding more work to prevent conflicts between Montana ranchers and grizzly bears.
More than 150 people gathered in Missoula on Wednesday, June 19th to celebrate Juneteenth. Montana was one of the last states to formally observe the holiday in 2017. However, it’s not one of the 28 states that recognize Juneteenth as a paid, legal holiday.
A group of 65 hospitals, health departments, advocacy groups and tribes are asking Gov. Greg Gianforte to invest in services that will help Montanans maintain Medicaid coverage.
New data from the state Department of Labor and Industry are spotlighting discrepancies in teacher pay across Montana. State lawmakers met the week of June 17th to discuss ways to improve teacher pay.
All of Montana’s congressional delegation issued letters to the VA asking it to reverse course on alleged staffing cuts.
State auditors found the Montana Board of Housing is out of step with best practices for funding low income developments. But the board defends its choice to spread money evenly around the state.
State lawmakers in 2021 directed Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality to change rules about nutrient pollution in waterways. Now, state environmental regulators have scrapped draft rules for new water quality standards.
Applications are open for federal jobs that address climate change. The Biden Administration’s Climate Corps is modeled after the country’s 1933 Civilian Conservation Corps. It hires young people in career fields associated with renewable energy, conservation and climate resilience.
In the third and final episode of our Big Why climate series, we travel across the state to meet Montanans banding together to combat climate change.
After Roe v Wade was overturned in June 2022, doctors said a wave of young people started showing up in their offices asking for permanent birth control - like tubal ligations or vasectomies.
Explore the places where we come together and fall apart. Nuanced reporting on under-covered environmental issues — with plenty of adventure, wildlife and rich sound along the way.
It’s wildfire season. Rural communities and those on the outskirts of urban centers face greater danger than others. New research urges homeowners and state officials to rethink how they mitigate risk for those areas.
A coalition of nonprofits and businesses are asking a court to order state utility regulators to respond to their petition to incorporate climate change into their decision-making.
A national survey finds that the pandemic has had lingering effects on both confidence in vaccines and staffing woes at public health departments.
An unusually dry winter fueled expectations of a long and active fire season throughout the Northern Rockies. Fire experts, however, say the reality may be more nuanced than that.
State and Federal wildlife officials are making plans to kill lake trout in the Swan Lake drainage. The agencies say core populations of native bull trout are at risk of extinction in coming decades due to competition and predation by nonnative lake trout.
In legislative races between hard-right GOP candidates and more moderate conservatives, each faction picked up wins and losses.
The White House says rural hospitals could soon get some help with cybersecurity. Federal officials struck a deal with Google and Microsoft to offer free and discounted services.
The backers of two constitutional initiatives to change Montana’s elections say they’ve collected enough signatures to get them on the November ballot.
This spring, thousands of people around the world tuned in to watch one of the world’s oldest known ospreys celebrate a long-awaited milestone in Missoula.
Candidates running to represent Montana in the U.S. Senate met for their first televised debate Sunday morning. The Democrat and Republican worked to contrast themselves as control of the Senate hangs in the balance.
The primary election had few surprises — but laid the groundwork for some bruising general election races. New ads in the Senate and gubernatorial races come out swinging. Campaign Beat will return in September.
The National Park Service Thursday released a final management plan for bison in Yellowstone National Park. The new plan would allow for bigger herds and emphasize transfer to tribal nations.
An independent candidate for the Public Service Commission’s northwestern district says she has gathered enough signatures to get herself on the ballot, pending verification by elections officials.
A state panel setting up a new system of “community choice schools” says it’s raising money to hire an executive director amid a legal battle.
The Missoula Fire Department is set to hire new firefighters for the first time in nearly two decades after voters approved a funding measure on the primary election ballot.
Four men were charged last week in Gallatin county for allegedly defrauding investors, farmers, and the State of Montana out of millions of dollars while operating a hemp extraction business.
Organizers in Uptown Butte are trying to convince property owners to chip-in money to clean up and advertise the neighborhood and local businesses
Montana’s primary elections — which take place later than those in all but a handful of states — are now officially in the rear-view mirror. That raises a good question: Why are Montana's primaries so late in the year? It's a question that stumped many historians. Here's what we found out.
Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio reporters spoke to people who cast their votes in Billings, Butte and Missoula. Listen to what these Montana voters had to say about the 2024 elections as they left the polls.
Here's what happened in Montana's 2024 Primary Election. Winners according to AP race calls.
More Montana teachers are out of a job as schools statewide struggle to balance their budgets. Missoula County Public Schools trustees voted on May 30th to terminate the contracts of 47 educators.
Earlier this year, a court ordered state environmental regulators to consider climate impacts when assessing proposed development projects. Now, a working group tasked with reviewing this state policy has come up with draft recommendations.
The head of the fisheries department at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks was placed on administrative leave in mid-May — one of several FWP administrators placed on leave in recent years. Missoula Current environmental reporter Laura Lundquist shared her reporting on the agency with MTPR’s Austin Amestoy.
Montana's Republican congressmen stick with Trump, despite his criminal conviction. Democrat Jon Tester is well ahead of his Republican opponent Tim Sheehy in fundraising. Dark money groups are also spending heavily in that Senate race. Tuesday's primary features intriguing contests in the eastern district Republican congressional race, and in the Republican race for Clerk of the Montana Supreme Court.
Montana’s Republican congressional delegates are decrying a New York City jury’s conviction of former President Donald Trump as unjust.
A four part story focused on Montanans and the things that matter to them. Our purpose is to ground our election coverage in the issues that are important to Montanans. Find out what we learned during our five day, 900 mile listening tour across the state.
Highway 93 is a major thoroughfare for the region that runs right through the heart of the Flathead Reservation. One section of the road is the deadliest strip of highway for grizzly bears anywhere in northwest Montana.
Montana Supreme Court schedules oral arguments in youth-led climate case Held v. Montana
Montana Supreme Court schedules oral arguments in youth-led climate case Held v. Montana
As Memorial Day brings another summer tourism season to Montana, residents remain broadly supportive of the industry. But long term data shows that support is waning, and anxiety about future tourism is growing.
The federal government is in the process of updating its policies regarding management of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Montana ranchers are worried the new rule could prohibit cattle grazing on refuge lands.
The federal government is in the process of updating its policies regarding management of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Montana ranchers are worried the new rule could prohibit cattle grazing on refuge lands.
As Memorial Day brings another summer tourism season to Montana, residents remain broadly supportive of the industry. But long term data shows that support is waning, and anxiety about future tourism is growing.
Voter outrage over high property taxes is a big campaign issue, but how will that translate at the polls? Gov. Gianforte's primary endorsements aren't sitting well with some Republicans. Jon Tester unveils a new hard-hitting ad against his opponent Tim Sheehy. Tim Sheehy has a new ad with a powerful message about his military service.
Montana has seen record levels of fundraising for Supreme Court candidates in recent years, parties seem to have their favorite candidates and outside special interest groups spend a lot of money to influence these races. On top of that, not everyone is familiar with the workings of the court. So, how can voters evaluate candidates for state Supreme Court?
Helena Public Schools trustees voted to lay off 52 non-tenured teachers during their May 14 meeting.
State attorney general spokesperson Chase Scheuer confirmed the investigation in an email to MTPR. Madison County police previously indicated students at Harrison School are possible victims of the teacher’s conduct.
State attorney general spokesperson Chase Scheuer confirmed the investigation in an email to MTPR. Madison County police previously indicated students at Harrison School are possible victims of the teacher’s conduct.
As part of MTPR’s primary election coverage, reporters are profiling every statewide office. Corin Cates-Carney spoke with John Hooks about the candidates for State Auditor.
As part of MTPR’s primary election coverage, reporters are profiling every statewide office. Corin Cates-Carney spoke with John Hooks about the candidates for State Auditor.
We’re bringing you coverage of all the major political races this year. MTPR’s Corin Cates-Carney sat down with reporter Austin Amestoy to break down the race for Superintendent of Public Instruction.
We’re bringing you coverage of all the major political races this year. MTPR’s Corin Cates-Carney sat down with reporter Austin Amestoy to break down the race for Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Republicans clamor over the arrival of a migrant family in the Flathead. Tester signs on to a Republican immigration bill. And calls for a special legislative session are racking up.
The Japanese government awarded $5 million to the University of Montana to permanently fund a professor of Japanese and Indo-Pacific affairs.
Tim Sheehy seemed to shy away from the spotlight when Don Jr. came to campaign. Congressional candidates who showed up to debate talk immigration, climate change and transplants; Schools superintendent candidate faces legal troubles.
The U.S. Post Office in Missoula plans to relocate some of its operations to Washington state.
Rural Americans are dying from preventable disease at a higher rate than their urban counterparts. That’s according to federal health officials.
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is suing the Biden Administration over its proposal to broaden protections against discrimination in education. State superintendent Elsie Arntzen is also pushing back.
Farm-to-table restaurants aren’t uncommon, but a locally-sourced restaurant owned and operated by the ranchers who raise the meat they serve is. It’s part of an ongoing effort among many ranchers to control more of the livestock supply chain.
More than a hundred people gathered on campus at the University of Montana Wednesday to protest the ongoing war in Gaza.
Half of the Republican candidates for Montana’s eastern congressional district met during a debate in Havre Tuesday night.
A panel of Republican lawmakers met on Monday to discuss their concerns over what they’ve called “troubling judicial rulings.” Democratic legislators declined to participate.
Judges on the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals honored new member Anthony Johnstone at a ceremony in Missoula last Friday.
State utility regulators have reopened public comment on a petition that would require them to consider the impacts of climate change as part of their decision-making.
Criminal justice reporter Samantha Michaels spent much time investigating the circumstances of Braven Glenn’s crash and death and the state of policing on tribal lands. She joined MTPR’s Austin Amestoy to share her reporting.
A Republican candidate's new ad stands out for its subtlety. Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy says times are bad and change is needed, while Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte argues times are good and he should get another term. A national group opposed to abortion is going door-to-door in Montana. Rep. Zinke votes no on more aid for Israel.
Everywhere you look in Montana, there are places to gamble. Odds are good you've seen machines in bars, liquor stores and of course, gas stations. How did Montana end up with so many "casinos," and what does it have to do with bingo? The only sure bet is that The Big Why team has the answers.
A state commission charged with rebuilding Montana’s mental and behavioral health system went over proposed recommendations this week.
The latest survey of Montanans views of public lands shows an increase in support for recreation and conservation but a sharp decline in Montanan’s reported quality of life.
Nearly two years after losing federal certification, the state’s adult psychiatric hospital in Warm Springs is facing leadership shakeups and turnover of medical providers and key staff.
The mystery of the lodged bullet continues. Is it fair for candidates to both criticize and shun the press? As expected, campaign fundraising is breaking records. Learn more now on Campaign Beat.
Pyramid Mountain Lumber's owners said a changing economy and a housing crunch made it impossible to stay in business. Now, mill workers and Seeley Lake residents are grasping for a future that may not include timber.
Listener support is what makes this podcast possible. Donate now to support the service you rely on for statewide news.
The Montana Department of Justice is blocking access to what it calls privileged documents showing its communication with a Canadian mining company. An environmental group is now suing to access the information.
A power company and federal regulators are distancing themselves from a recently unveiled proposal for a nuclear reactor in Butte. The developer made comments last week that indicated the project had federal backing, but it doesn’t.
Montanans that lease state land for agriculture asked the state Land Board Monday to weigh-in on an ongoing dispute over water rights.
A working group tasked with reviewing and updating Montana’s Environmental Policy Act is beginning to draft recommendations.
The number of Montana high school seniors submitting an application for federal student loans is down sharply from last year, according to national data.
Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Tim Sheehy faces scrutiny over a mysterious bullet wound and his company’s finances. New polling illustrates just how close and competitive that Senate race is. And at least one candidate in the crowded Eastern District House race turns his back on Trump.
A private nuclear power plant could come to Butte. The company behind the plan said it has backing from local government.
Montana legislators are urging Congress to help fund a program to extract rare earth minerals from the contaminated waters of Butte’s Berkeley Pit. The Environmental Quality Council is penning a letter asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to hold off on approving a clean-up plan for a superfund site in Columbia Falls.
The federal government is reviewing a plan to capture 150 million tons of carbon dioxide in Wyoming and store it underground in eastern Montana. The project, aimed at mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, is raising objections from local ranchers.
State utility regulators Monday heard public testimony on a petition asking them to consider climate change impacts as part of their decision-making.
A campaign for a constitutional abortion rights amendment in Montana may soon begin collecting signatures to put the measure before voters this fall. But that process has been pushed back by Republican officials challenging the initiative’s content and by legal rulings.
Montana Public Service Commissioner Randy Pinocci was arrested last week for failing to appear in court. The Montana State News bureau first reported he’s been charged with disorderly conduct.
Summers in the Northern Rockies have historically been fairly temperate and most housing here wasn’t built with extreme heat in mind. As climate change heats up Montana’s summers, more Montanans need air conditioning. It’s a new expense that’s especially hard for people in low-income housing.
Montana environmental officials are making close to a million dollars in grants available for water quality projects across the state. A new pool of federal funding is available for Montana farmers to fund projects working to mitigate and address climate change.
The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department and its partners have inspected over 88,000 watercraft this year for aquatic invasive species.
In recent weeks, hundreds of White Lives Matter stickers have been placed on street signs, local art installations and private property around Great Falls. Vandals have also sprayed graffiti with neo-nazi images.
A new challenge Montana farmers are joining in on aims to change that by having people bury cotton underwear to see how it decomposes. The “Soil Your Undies” campaign gives everyone a chance to see what’s happening underground.
A district court judge earlier this week partially stalled state lawmakers’ plans to set up a new system of charter schools in Montana. The decision does allow the newly formed commission in charge of charter schools to begin meeting.
Montana’s annual Labor Day report shows a record number of available jobs statewide and a persistent lack of people to fill them.
The Flathead National Forest is reopening more of the Hungry Horse Reservoir to the public as recent rains have helped firefighters contain wildfires in the area.
Montana Democrats are trying to defend the last statewide seat they hold. They're turning to grassroots organizers in deeply red places, hoping to win back rural votes with some outside help.
Health department officials are asking legislators to change criminal commitment laws amid a bottleneck at the Montana State Hospital.
In the charging document, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel argues Attorney General Austin Knudsen and his staff have “routinely and frequently undermined public confidence” in the state’s judicial system. The office governs attorneys' conduct in Montana and is supervised by the Montana Supreme Court.
Ming Cabrera, a retired pharmaceutical rep from Billings, is the latest Democrat to announce his candidacy for Montana's eastern district U.S. House seat.
The federal government said it will evaluate how climate change could inform future cleanup decisions at the Smurfit-Stone Superfund site near Missoula.
A Helena judge Wednesday temporarily blocked state education officials from approving new public charter schools in Montana.
Nearly $30 million in federal funding has been designated to support restoration and conservation projects on public lands across the west.
Projects to improve travel routes for Cutthroat Trout and Arctic grayling in southwest Montana and to stabilize streams along the Musselshell River get awarded state funding.
Montana environmental officials are moving forward with clean-up efforts at a public park in Deer Lodge.
State officials have moved forward with appointing a board to review applications for new public charter schools, although some hope a judge will block its work before it begins.
The Bitterroot National Forest seeks comment on four proposed fuel break projects. The Flathead National Forest is also seeking comment on a proposed logging project. A new report shows Yellowstone visitors, spending dropped by a third this year.
An adult male grizzly bear in the Tom Miner Basin was shot and killed by an angler in self-defense this week.
Federal officials have proposed a nationwide rule that will require nursing homes to meet specific staffing ratios.
The federal government has awarded a rural southeast Montana healthcare center almost $2 million to address regional opioid-related overdose risks.
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) have closed fishing access to the Mission Reservoir.
Community members in Butte are skeptical of a plan from federal environmental regulators to clean up Silver Bow Creek while leaving some contaminated dirt in place.
In this episode, we answer a question from a listener who wants to know what's really behind these wildly low water levels we're seeing in Montana this year.
Every three years Montana’s largest electric utility tells the public how it’s planning to meet energy demands, which is going on now. And it follows a major court ruling that found the state’s energy policy is contributing to climate change. MTPR’s Austin Amestoy sat down with reporter Ellis Juhlin to break down where NorthWestern’s plan fits into the new legal landscape.
Rural businesses and agriculture producers in Montana have been awarded $1.3 million in federal grants to become more energy efficient. A nonprofit organization said an anonymous tip led them to recover a missing piece of expensive monitoring equipment from the Big Hole river last week.
As K-12 classrooms fill up with students this fall, schools across Montana are reporting hundreds of vacant teaching and support staff positions.
Gov. Greg Gianforte in a statement Tuesday announced his appointments to the panel charged with approving new public charter schools in Montana.
Wildlife officials have a new draft plan that will guide fishery management throughout Montana for the next four years. FWP will hold discussions to present the plan and hear feedback from the public.
State fire managers Tuesday briefed Gov. Greg Gianforte that they have spent nearly $32 million on firefighting efforts so far and fire danger remains high.
Lawyers in the ongoing case over legislation banning drag performances appeared in district court Monday. Plaintiffs request a further block.
A nonprofit organization studying water quality along the Big Hole River said some of their monitoring equipment has gone missing.
The River Road East fire burned dozens of buildings near Paradise. The fire's activity was temporarily tampered down, but the incident is far from full containment.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has removed Libby from a list of cities that don’t meet national air quality standards.
Montana county governments are at odds with the state over who’s responsible for this year's property tax increases.
Montana’s head of public K-12 schools announced she’s seeking applicants for members to be on a seven-member panel to oversee the formation of public charter schools.
A Kalispell man convicted for threatening to kill Montana’s Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester has been sentenced.
State officials are warning homeowners applying for the state’s property tax rebates to watch out for suspicious activity.
Criminal charges filed against seven people involved in a demonstration at the state Capitol last spring have been dropped.
Montana’s utility regulators are gathering public input on the plans of the state’s largest energy supplier to meet customer demands.
This week’s rain and cool temperatures won't last long. More seasonally hot weather is just around the corner and the potential for new wildfires to start remains high.
Officials said cleanup on part of the Anaconda Smelter Superfund site is complete. Contamination at the site forced the relocation of a neighborhood in the 1980’s.
Montana wildlife officials have implemented a mandatory catch, kill and report regulation for smallmouth bass along the entire Bitterroot River.
Drought conditions over the past year have generally improved across much of Montana. The state’s northwestern corner, however, is proving to be a stubborn exception.
A federal judge has blocked what would have been a decade-long project logging nearly 4000 acres in northwest Montana.
Rain has slowed the spread of the River Road East Fire that has burned down structures and more than 16,000 acres near the town of Paradise.
Thousands are losing Medicaid coverage as the state redetermines Montanans’ eligibility. Federal officials say the state is trying to move through the process too fast, leading to procedural errors and confusion among enrollees.
The Flathead County Sheriff Friday afternoon issued a new mandatory evacuation order for the 3,000 acre East Fork Fire burning approximately 12 miles outside of Trego, MT. A new fire burning across the river from Paradise is being pushed by strong winds. Highway 200 is closed from Plains to Highway 135 due to the fire activity.
The park will host a series of public meetings on its ticketed entry program pilot later this month. The ticketed entry system has received scrutiny from some of Montana’s congressional delegation for unnecessarily restricting locals’ access to the park.
Jesse James Mullen has filed campaign finance paperwork for the statewide seat in the 2024 election. Mullen is the owner of Mullen Newspaper Company and a former candidate for the state’s House of Representatives.
A second Missoula Starbucks elected to unionize Wednesday, joining hundreds of the coffee giant’s locations that have organized across the country.
Commissioners passed a statewide hunting and trapping quota of 313 wolves. That’s higher than what was originally proposed by Montana FWP, but lower than last year’s quota.
A group of state Republican lawmakers have signaled their support of U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale running for the U.S. Senate. The move is contrary to top Republican officials who handpicked candidate Tim Sheehy.
Multiple efforts are underway to study the historic population crash among trout in the Jefferson Basin. One non-profit is starting a private research effort at the Big Hole River that they hope will supplement work being done by the state.
The commission that oversees management of Montana’s fish and wildlife is meeting in Helena on Aug. 17. Commissioners will vote on hunting, fishing and trapping regulations in the meeting.
Record setting high temperatures and gusty winds created a dramatic increase in fire activity in western Montana Tuesday. However, much of the increased activity was inside containment lines of existing fires. High water temperatures prompted Montana wildlife officials to implement hoot-owl restrictions on the lower Madison River starting Aug. 16.
The Ringing Rocks is a roadside attraction people have been visiting for a long time. It's a big heap of boulders that give off a resonant bell-like ringing sound when struck with metal; at least theoretically. A listener wants to know what makes these rocks ring.
The Pacific Northwest is in the middle of a record breaking heatwave. People unaccustomed to 100 degree-plus temperatures are trying to stay cool and nervously watching tinder dry forests.
Extreme heat and critical fire conditions are forecast through Thursday. Meteorologists say records could be shattered this week.
A district court judge in Montana handed down a landmark decision Monday, ruling that the state violated its own Constitution by failing to consider fossil fuels’ contribution to climate change. Sixteen young people sued the state over its promotion of fossil fuel-based energy.
Public comment on new rules for Montana’s Indian Language Preservation Program closes August 18. One state lawmaker is taking issue with part of the proposal.
The EPA says the program is intended to strengthen sewage and stormwater collections against intense rainfall events, which can overwhelm water treatment facilities
The Montana Department of Labor and Industry is under new leadership. Gov. Greg Gianforte selected Sarah Swanson for the role of commissioner.
Two wildlife advocacy groups have formally notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of their intent to sue over recent changes made to Montana’s wolf trapping laws.
The federal agency that oversees Medicaid said it’s concerned with Montana’s ability to provide customers help over the phone due to long wait times and a high rate of dropped calls.
A Missoula County District judge ordered the closure of the Elbow Lake gravel pit mine while a lawsuit plays out.
The federal government said it will honor all veterans’ claims for new health care benefits if they met Wednesday’s deadline to do so.
The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office issued a pre-evacuation notice for some residents along Highway 2 from Martin City to West Glacier due to the Ridge Fire.
The U.S. Air Force has found cancer-causing chemicals at two missile launch facilities in Montana.
In Montana, lawmakers, public health officials and gun rights advocates are coming together on a gun 'safe storage' strategy to prevent suicides caused by firearms.
Cooler temperatures and scattered showers this weekend slowed western Montana’s recent fire activity, but officials say it’s only a temporary reprieve.
Montanans seeking help over the phone with Medicaid enrollment are waiting on hold longer than residents of almost any other state. That’s according to July data from the federal agency that oversees the program.
The 30th annual Montana Pride took place in Helena over the weekend. Drag performances and story hours were able to proceed after a recent ruling blocked a new drag ban from going into effect. MTPR's Ellis Juhlin has more on the weekend and the legislation that could have changed it.
Residents south of Highway 93 near Elmo are being told to evacuate due to a nearby wildfire. Several areas in Northwest Montana will move to Stage Two fire restrictions Saturday.
A district court judge has ruled several areas managed by the U.S. Forest Service in the Rockies have harmed grizzly bear populations and recovery efforts.
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines has reintroduced legislation to declassify Wilderness Study Areas totaling 100,000 acres in Montana. He has brought similar legislation that failed in 2017, and again in 2022.
Fishing restrictions and closures will be lifted this weekend on several southwest Montana streams.
Billings Clinic announced Thursday that it’s become the state’s first Level 1 trauma center. As a Level 1 trauma center, it will become the primary hospital that people with severe injuries are sent to in the region.
A federal judge in Missoula temporarily halted work Wednesday on a conservation plan for Arctic grayling in the Red Rock Lakes Wilderness Area in southwestern Montana. Meanwhile, Whitefish Lake water levels are dropping.
Blackfeet educator and leader Earl Barlow died last week at the age of 96. Barlow became known as the “Father of Indian Education” in Montana for his efforts to recognize the tribes during the state’s 1972 constitutional convention.
The 13,000 acre Middle Ridge Fire burning west of Ronan is listed at 25% containment. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ (CSKT) Division of Fire said crews continued mop up efforts Thursday. The almost 14,000 acre Niarada Fire west of Elmo continues actively burning in a mix of timber and brush.
Two of the state’s largest hospital systems announced Thursday they will officially merge in September.
Blackfeet educator and leader Earl Barlow died last week at the age of 96. Barlow became known as the “Father of Indian Education” in Montana for his efforts to recognize the tribes during the state’s 1972 constitutional convention.
Montana’s congressional delegates have mixed reactions to the latest indictment of former President Donald Trump.
The Yellowstone area got more snowfall this winter than any time in the past 23 years. Listeners want to know, how did the extreme winter affect animals like deer, elk and bison?
Two more candidates have announced campaigns to be the state’s top superintendent of public schools. There are now two Republicans and one Democrat in the race.
The hot and dry weather will continue for most of the northern Rockies through Thursday, but temporary relief is just around the corner.
Officials have issued an evacuation order for the community of Heinrude near Hungry Horse Reservoir due to wildfires burning in the area. Fire officials say that the Tub Gulch Fire burning in Libby’s “asbestos forest” is contained. Firefighters reached 19% containment on the Colt Fire northwest of Seeley Lake Wednesday morning.
The federal government has declared Flathead and Lincoln counties as primary natural disaster areas due to ongoing drought.
After a wet spring, Montana wheat farmers are beginning their summer harvest in persistent heat and uncertainties over the international grain market.
Logjam Presents on Monday announced the partnership with multi-billion dollar Live Nation Entertainment.
A national education policy group has reversed course on its initial criticism of the University of Montana's elementary reading education program.
Some of Kalispell's unsheltered population are banding together for safety after one man was beaten to death in late June.
As fire season heats up across Montana, officials say people living in areas prone to wildfires should be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice.
The Tub Gulch Fire is burning within Libby’s ‘asbestos forest’ near the defunct vermiculite mine. Forest Service crews began emergency fire prevention work this week in the area around Butte’s largest municipal water supply.The Flathead County Commission enacted an emergency declaration Tuesday.
Bone dry conditions, powerful winds and multiple new wildfire starts kept ground and air firefighting resources busy in recent days. Evacuation orders are in effect northwest of Polson due to the Nirada Fire.
Spreading misinformation can be as simple as hitting the share button when something grabs your attention on social media. It might be a post about river water making dogs sick. Or it can be related to an emergency like a wildfire – and make it harder for accurate lifesaving information to get through.
A federal district court judge Friday put a temporary block on a new state law banning drag performances where minors could be present.
Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is recommending construction resumes on a project updating the wastewater treatment facility at the Montana State Hospital. The state issued a stop work order earlier this month, after learning that 3 million gallons of partially treated wastewater had leaked into Warm Springs Creek.
Montana’s Republican Sen. Steve Daines said he’s confident in Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s leadership following his health scare Wednesday.
The U.S. Forest Service has determined that wildfire risk around Butte’s main water treatment facility is serious enough to warrant emergency action. Agency crews will begin mitigation work immediately.
Montana tribes are closer to gaining more authority in a state program designed to preserve Indigenous languages.
Fire officials announced Wednesday that Stage 1 fire restrictions will be implemented across most of northwest Montana this weekend. The move comes in advance of anticipated above-normal temperatures and deepening drought conditions.
A district court judge heard arguments Wednesday in Helena over a lawsuit challenging recently passed legislation banning drag performances.
Three million gallons of partially treated wastewater has leaked into Warm Springs Creek. The spill happened during upgrades to the water treatment plant at the Montana State Hospital.
State health officials announced Monday that they detected West Nile Virus in mosquitoes from Blaine County.
Glacier National Park officials killed a collared female grizzly bear July 20 after determining it became conditioned to eat human food.
The Colt Fire 15 miles northwest of Seeley Lake has grown to nearly 3,000 acres. The lightning-caused fire nearly doubled in size over the past two days and has prompted evacuation orders and warnings for some area residents.
The Montana Democratic Party convened over the weekend to elect new officers. Those who won say they’re focused on turning around the party’s losing streak.
An evacuation order is in effect due to the Colt Fire, burning 15 miles northwest of Seeley Lake. Evacuations are ordered along Highway 83 between mile-marker 27 and mile-marker 31, Rainy Lake to Summit Lake.
A state commission will spend the next year working to overhaul Montana’s behavioral health and disability services system.
The superintendent of Townsend School District has announced a campaign for the top job overseeing all public schools in Montana.
Singers from across the world are descending on Missoula this week for performances in the 12th Montana International Choral Festival.
State wildlife officials have euthanized a grizzly bear due to several conflicts with people and boaters on the Hungry Horse Reservoir.
Bitterroot National Forest raised its fire danger to high this week. Montana wildlife officials restrict afternoon fishing on three rivers in southwest Montana.
The organizers of Montana’s largest pride event have joined a lawsuit against a new state law banning drag story hours in public spaces.
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) are planning to build a local meat processing plant to expand services for local hunters and ranchers.
Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP) biologists recently confirmed the presence of a fungal disease deadly to bats in a Cascade County cave.
MT’s fire season got off to a slow start this year due to persistent rainfall. But fire officials told Gov. Gianforte that a drying and warming trend will change that.
Soon, Montana veterans will be able to receive mobile treatment for depression. It’s part of a first-of-its kind effort for the VA.
Montana’s largest union is backing Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s decision to block a ballot issue that would put a cap on annual increases to a property’s taxable value.
Regions across Montana are forecasted to experience declines in air quality this weekend as smoke from Canadian wildfires moves south. According to Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality, plumes will concentrate along the Rocky Mountain Front and regions east of the Continental Divide.
Federal water regulators Friday denied the governor's request to release more water from the Hungry Horse Reservoir.
Native American studies at the University of Montana are getting a $1 million boost. The gift will support Indigenous humanities programs.
Wildfire activity across the country is below normal this year. As the summer fire season starts to ramp up, experts ask the public to help prevent unnecessary fires.
The Montana Folk Festival kicks off in Butte this weekend. The thousands of expected attendees should bring a welcome economic boost to southwest Montana.
The Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Tribes of north-central Montana are closing in on a bipartisan deal to settle their water rights in Congress. The more than $1 billion policy comes after decades of negotiation and would close out a century of tribal water disputes in the state.
Montana will get more than $8 million from the federal government this year for additional work to prevent destructive wildfires.
Domestic violence shelters across western Montana said they are grappling with a severe volunteer shortage, which has led at least one shelter to reduce services.
The Northern Lights may be visible in parts of Montana this week. MTPR’s Victoria Traxler reports the lights may not be as not as intense as researchers predicted earlier this month.
The Missoula Food Bank is limiting customer visits to once-per-week. Dwindling pandemic-era funding and donations are behind the change.
An area in southeastern Montana, where grizzly bears haven’t been seen since the 1800s, had a grizzly sighting this week.
A request for a restraining order against Montana’s Senate president has been withdrawn a day after it became public.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has issued the state's first fishing restrictions of the year due to warm water and low flows.
Floating is a popular pastime in Montana, and one that used to be free of charge. The state’s newly expanded “conservation license” could change that for some recreationists.
Longtime Montana energy attorney and Democrat Monica Tranel on Monday announced she’ll challenge Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke for the state’s western congressional district next year.
Drivers now face fines and possible jail time for failing to move over for utility workers.
Montana’s Commissioner of Labor and Industry resigned Monday following her arrest for allegedly driving under the influence this weekend.
Sanders County Sheriff’s Office is searching for an escaped homicide suspect. According to the agency, 42-year-old Chadwick Shane Mobley escaped at the Town Pump in Plains while being transported from Lincoln County.
The Montana Nursing Association is speaking out against proposed changes to state rules that would eliminate required continuing education courses for nurses.
Kalispell residents are being asked to conserve water because demand has started to exceed supply. A bill to extend protected wilderness areas in western Montana is once again up for congressional consideration.
Several credible threats of violence prompted K-12 school lockdowns from Miles City to Missoula during the academic year that ended in June. School lockdowns can help prevent injuries and death in an emergency, but they can also leave significant emotional impacts on some students.
Senate Democrats are asking Montana’s governor to call a special legislative session to address rising property values. It’s not yet clear if rising home values will lead to a hike in property taxes.
A stretch of highway running through the center of the Blackfeet Nation has been renamed to honor the late Blackfeet Chief Earl Old Person. A dedication ceremony was held on Thursday.
Montana's speed limit has bounced between nonexistent (twice), 55 mph, 75 mph and now 80 mph. Why? Meanwhile, Montana has some of the highest traffic fatality rates in the country, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Montana wildlife officials will begin studies this year to get to the bottom of a historic trout population crash in the Jefferson Basin. Montana wildlife officials have also created a new web portal for residents to submit reports of dead and diseased fish.
Federal environmental regulators are extending the public comment period on a plan to clean up a defunct aluminum plant in Columbia Falls.
Montana officials are asking the federal government to release more water out of Hungry Horse Reservoir into Flathead Lake as flow levels reach historic lows.
The rate of Indigenous women that died during or shortly after pregnancy more than doubled in recent decades, according to a new study.
Gov. Greg Gianforte signed an executive order Thursday extending the state’s bipartisan housing task force. The Custer Gallatin National Forest released the final decision Thursday for a burning, logging, and thinning project covering nearly 300,000 acres in eastern Montana. Two separate lawsuits against Montana’s first-of-its-kind law banning TikTok in the state have been consolidated into one legal proceeding by a district court judge in Missoula.
Eligibility for a state funded child care scholarship will expand starting July 1. Parents and providers say changes will make the program more affordable and accessible.
The U.S. Supreme Court Thursday blocked colleges and universities from considering an applicant’s race in the admissions process. The decision isn’t expected to impact admissions at state schools.
A Kalispell teenager has been accused of beating to death a 60-year-old homeless man. Officials say this wasn’t an isolated incident and there’s been an increase in violent attacks recently.
A federal jury has found a Libby medical clinic guilty of falsifying medical records, allowing people to receive over $1 million in benefits for asbestos-related disease.
Two coal mining laws from the 2023 legislative session have been placed on hold by a judge pending federal review.
Two coal mining laws from the 2023 legislative session have been placed on hold by a judge pending federal review.
A lawsuit by Montana-based video creators on TikTok against the state’s recent first-of-its-kind law banning the app is being funded by the social media company. Montana wildlife officials are asking residents for feedback on the latest draft of the state’s new plan to manage elk.
The Blackfeet Nation released roughly two dozen free-roaming wild buffalo onto tribal lands bordering Glacier National Park Monday. Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks is asking for the public’s input on changes to the state’s plan for managing grizzly bears.
A Lewis and Clark County District Court has ordered the Gianforte Administration to release all records in an ongoing case under Montana’s “bad actor” mining law.
A Yellowstone County judge has sanctioned the state of Montana and struck down its restrictions on birth certificate amendments for transgender residents.
The EPA said it has reviewed allegations that agency officials in Butte improperly colluded with mining companies in attempts to discredit scientists studying health problems in the community.
Workers broke ground on a new hospice center in Missoula Tuesday. Organizers say the facility will help meet demand for end-of-life care in an aging Montana.
Montana’s estimated wolf population has decreased again following the 2022 hunting and trapping season. However, hunters didn’t kill all the wolves state regulators would have allowed.
A new report from a national education policy organization gave a handful of Montana colleges an “F” grade for how well they prepare future elementary school teachers in reading instruction. The University of Montana’s education program is pushing back against that assessment.
A federal judge halted a logging project in northwest Montana on Monday. The court says federal officials didn’t properly evaluate whether the project would harm threatened grizzly bears and Canada lynx.
A fourth Montana lawmaker received an anonymous letter containing an unknown white powder. It tested negative for harmful substances Monday.
Missoula’s bus service is getting $39 million from the federal government to create a new transportation facility. Mountain Line managers said it will also help create an all-electric fleet by 2035.
Property taxes are the primary way Montanans pay for local government services, including schools, law enforcement and fire departments. Here's how property taxes are calculated.
Authorities say a lot of work remains after train cars containing asphalt, molten sulfur and metal derailed in Stillwater County Saturday morning and fell into the Yellowstone River.
An annual monologue performance in Butte gives people with disabilities a platform to share their experiences and advocate for their needs.
In the year since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned federal protections for abortion, access to services has not changed in Montana. But that’s not for lack of trying by Republicans, as debate over the issue is far from over.
State environmental officials are seeking public comments on updates to the restoration plan for the Upper Clark Fork Basin.
The state health department has received a $24 million grant over the next three years from the federal government to aid in Montana’s lack of affordable child care.
Baristas at a Missoula Starbucks will be voting Friday on whether to unionize. The state’s first report of rabies has led to a countywide quarantine for some pets in southeastern Montana. Montana’s Department of Agriculture is asking residents along the Rocky Mountain Front to lookout for a newly detected noxious weed.
A draft of Montana’s new drought management plan is out and state officials are asking the public for feedback.
Montana lawmakers have left the majority of Gov. Greg Gianforte’s vetoes in place, including on a bill that aimed to help older Montanans access assisted living.
A lecture on the history of trans and Two-Spirit people in Montana went ahead at a private community venue in Butte earlier this week and was entangled in a new law banning drag story hours in public buildings.
Montana’s frontier days were stuffed with gold, greed and political corruption — and all three played a part in drawing the state’s western boundary with Idaho. A listener wants to know how that squiggly line came to be. How did Montana get its shape? Learn more in this episode of the Big Why.
An effort is underway to revive and expand a wide-reaching cap on property taxes that failed to reach voters in 2022. The latest proposal has been stalled by the attorney general.
More than 15,000 Montanans lost Medicaid coverage in April and that number will continue to grow as the state continues to reevaluate program eligibility.
Recent surveys have found the lowest trout populations on record in some of southwest Montana’s most iconic rivers, but the exact causes of the decline remain a mystery.
Serial bomber Ted Kaczynski died in a federal prison earlier this month. Known to the world as the Unabomber, but Jamie Gehring knew him first as just "Ted" or "Teddy," her neighbor.
Montana officials made their case today in the first-of-its-kind climate trial underway in Helena. The trial could end earlier than expected after the state pulled one of their key witnesses.
Montana’s entire congressional delegation is backing a new attempt to ratify water rights for the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Tribes on the Fort Belknap Reservation in northern Montana.
The country’s first constitutional climate trial, taking place in Helena, has reached its halfway point. Youth plaintiffs in Held v. Montana are suing the state over its energy policies, claiming they violate the kids’ state constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment by worsening global warming.
Advocates in Montana are celebrating the United States Supreme Court ruling to uphold the federal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).
A bill signed by Gov. Greg Gianforte this week paves the way for the creation of Montana’s largest school health insurance trust. Some of the state’s largest districts are cautiously optimistic the trust could help keep its health plan affordable.
Dozens of people marched this week on the Flathead Reservation for Mika Josephine Westwolf, who was hit and killed by a vehicle along Highway 93 earlier this year.
Federal officials are investigating allegations of sexual abuse on a Kalispell high school wrestling team.
A coalition of public education officials, teachers and parents is suing the state over a new law allowing for the creation of public charter schools in Montana.
Gov. Greg Gianforte has signed into law a budget outlining $14 billion in spending over the next two years, and a bill that will increase access to child care.
A federal appeals court has reversed a ruling that said the U.S. Forest Service violated the Endangered Species Act by harming grizzly bears. It’s not the last challenge to the agency’s policies for closing logging roads
A nonprofit that encourages civic engagement and voting among college students says it’s set to lose an estimated $50,000 in student fees next year. That information was first reported by the Daily Montanan.
Glacier National Park opened Going-to-the-Sun Road for vehicles up to Logan Pass Tuesday, the earliest the road has fully opened since 2005.
A public lecture on the history of Montana’s trans and Two-Spirit community that was canceled by local officials in Butte has been rescheduled and relocated.
Flathead National Forest Supervisor Kurt Steele is leaving his post after accepting a new role within the Forest Service. A grizzly bear in the Madison range southeast of Ennis was killed by a hunter last week.
Montana’s Fish and Wildlife Commissioners voted Thursday on several carnivore policies including implementing rule changes in preparation for the delisting of grizzly bears and setting higher mountain lion quotas to reduce the population.
A veto override effort for a bill aiming to reform Montana’s child welfare system failed by just a few votes.
State lawmakers this week voted to override vetoes of two bills aimed at improving care at the Montana State Hospital. A watchdog group says conditions at the hospital aren’t improving.
Sixteen young people who say the state isn’t doing enough to address climate change will get their day in court Monday. Their lawsuit argues that lack of action violates their right to “a clean and healthful environment” under Montana's Constitution.
A black bear injured a commercial rafting guide Wednesday morning near Glacier National Park.
The director of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) committed the full resources of the department in response to a historic population crash in some of southwest Montana’s most iconic trout fisheries.
Two groups filed lawsuits Wednesday against the governor and the secretary of state arguing that they are violating the Constitution by not allowing lawmakers to vote on whether to override the governor’s veto of a popular bill.
One of Montana's passenger rail systems has been out of commission for decades, but some residents want to restore it across the southern part of the state. A listener wants to know what's been happening with those efforts. Is more train travel in Montana's future? Learn more in this episode of the Big Why.
Outfitters, conservationists and citizens have been sounding the alarm about rapidly declining trout numbers in southwest Montana’s Upper Missouri Headwaters for years. But demands for the state to dedicate more resources to studying the problem largely fell on deaf ears.
Warmer than normal temperatures last month resulted in rapid snowmelt throughout much of the state. That has some experts hoping for a very wet June to help bolster projected streamflows as we head into the drier summer months.
Cross-border travel between Glacier National Park and Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park will reopen for the first time since 2019.
The state policymaking process is still ongoing about a month after the 68th Legislature adjourned. Montana’s attorney general has joined nine other states in suing the federal government over rate increases for national flood insurance.
Renowned documentarian Ken Burns is visiting Missoula this week to preview his upcoming film “The American Buffalo.” The documentary previews Thursday at the Wilma theater, followed by a panel discussion.
The Montana Supreme Court in a 6-1 decision Tuesday denied a request by the state Attorney General's office that would have delayed the trial in a climate lawsuit brought by youth plaintiffs.
Voters in Great Falls went to the polls Tuesday to decide whether to increase taxpayer funding for the Great Falls Public Library. The vote is a test of the new county clerk and recorder's ability to hold an error-free election.
Moderate to heavy rain showers could potentially lead to excessive runoff and flash flooding later this week in parts of western Montana.
Forecasts for this summer’s wildfire season predict much of the state will experience normal wildfire risk, but northwest Montana could experience higher than usual wildfire activity.
A mental health facility for helping those in crisis may reopen its doors in Lewis & Clark County. State funding is giving crisis services in the county a boost.
The state policymaking process is still ongoing about a month after the 68th Legislature adjourned. Legislators have more than a dozen of the governor’s vetoes to consider overriding, and there are still bills that have yet to be signed or vetoed. Democrats say the process is taking unnecessarily long.
Montana’s attorney general is again trying to avoid going to trial in a lawsuit that will determine whether the state’s contributions to climate change are violating young Montanans’ right to a clean environment.
State and federal officials are moving forward with a conservation plan designed to bolster one of Montana’s two remaining native arctic grayling populations.
Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Friday that Director Hank Worsech is retiring after 21 years with the agency, and more than two years at its helm. Worsech began medical leave in February due to health issues.
Montana’s two U.S. Senators split their votes Thursday night on a bipartisan deal to extend the debt ceiling for two more years.
Montana’s behavioral health system will get an infusion of $300 million with the signing of a bill passed last legislative session. Behavioral health providers are still waiting to find out if they’ll receive a long-awaited pay increase.
An event at the Butte Public Library discussing transgender history in Montana was canceled by local officials who feared it may conflict with a recent law banning minors from attending drag shows.
Nearly 8,000 Montanans may soon find themselves without health insurance because many who went through the first round of Medicaid redetermination haven’t submitted the necessary paperwork.
The U.S. Forest Service has approved a plan by a pair of mining exploration companies to continue preliminary surveys in the southern Bitterroot valley.
The Montana state health department said it’s opting out of a free pandemic-era program to provide nutrition assistance to kids this year, citing the administrative burden.
The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority (BSPRA) held a series of meetings last week to assess how restoring passenger rail service across southern Montana would affect communities.
The University of Montana (UM) has hired a new coordinator to lead efforts to return Indigenous remains held at the college back to tribal custody.
Four county residents filed a lawsuit May 26 alleging that Sandra Merchant mailed ballots for a May 2 irrigation district election after a legal deadline had passed and failed to provide signature and secrecy envelopes.
This week’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling limiting the federal government’s authority to police water pollution was greeted in Montana with a combination of relief and frustration.
A bill forcing groups to post a bond when requesting a judge temporarily block hunting or trapping regulations has been vetoed by Gov. Greg Gianforte. Much of the state Capitol complex will transfer hands from the executive branch to state lawmakers in July. Gov. Greg Gianforte allowed that policy to become law, but didn’t sign it.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte has removed $23 million in infrastructure projects passed by the state Legislature, claiming the projects weren’t thoroughly vetted.
A federal appeals court Thursday overturned a decision by federal wildlife managers that would have allowed them to kill grizzly bears over livestock conflicts in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming. Vehicle reservations will be required for nearly all west side entrances of Glacier National Park starting May 26.
Missoula police say there is a “significant health and safety concern” following the arrest of a man on charges of arson and assault of a peace officer early Thursday morning.
Lake County commissioners delayed a decision Thursday about whether to stop county law-enforcement work on the Flathead Reservation. The delay comes as the county waits for a court to weigh in.
Montana lost one of its most respected educational leaders and public servants this week. Dr. Sheila Stearns passed away Tuesday in Flagstaff, Arizona.
A state judge has temporarily blocked new restrictive abortion policies from going into effect while their constitutionality can be hashed out in court. Montana Public Radio’s Shaylee Ragar was in the courtroom and joined Austin Amestoy to break down what happened.
A wildfire burned through the small town of Denton, MT in December of 2021. It burned more than 10,000 acres and destroyed 25 homes. So how is the town of Denton rebuilding, and what does wildfire resilient construction look like?
Glacier National Park and Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks have started their annual grizzly bear monitoring program this week, which helps researchers better understand bear population trends and health.
A Cascade County judge has appointed a monitor for an upcoming local election, agreeing the county election office needs more oversight after allegations of recent errors.
Gov. Greg Gianforte has signed two bills that pave the way for public charter schools in Montana. Public school advocates have promised legal action against one of them.
Montana firefighters will join others from around the U.S. in helping Canadian fire crews battle 100 active fires in Alberta.
Democrats in the northeast corner of Montana have announced the formation of a central committee to expand their membership.
Gianforte signed a bill Wednesday that makes Montana the first state in the country to ban TikTok within its borders.
Smoke from more than a hundred active wildfires in Canada is spreading throughout Montana and affecting air quality across the state.
The Montana Secretary of State is moving forward with an appeal to the state’s high court, asking that four voting laws passed in 2021 be allowed to stand.
Gov. Greg Gianforte has vetoed a bill that would have created protections for trailer owners renting lots in mobile home parks.
Montana’s American Indian Caucus passed some of their top priorities during the 2023 legislative session. Caucus members say that work took a lot of explaining about the issues their communities face.
Gold Creek has two more school years to recruit at least one student and teacher so that it can reopen. If they can’t, state law mandates they will close down for good
Republican lawmakers say they delivered for Montanans. Democrats say they kept a lot of bad things off the books. The Regier family reigned over much of the action. And this session marked a political turning point — but in what direction?
A Lewis and Clark County District Court judge has granted a temporary block on a 24 week abortion ban signed into law by the governor Wednesday.
Unofficial results show voters in western Montana’s largest cities approved a wide range of school funding requests in Tuesday’s elections.
Lawmakers passed a $14 billion budget and considered the most bills in one session since 1973. Montana Public Radio’s reporters in the statehouse Shaylee Ragar and Ellis Juhlin spoke with Corin Cates-Carney to break down what passed, what didn’t and how politics influenced it all.
The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Anthony Johnstone to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Conservation groups are challenging a logging project near Yellowstone National Park. The groups say the project will harm threatened grizzly bears.
Flathead National Forests' initial proposal to not review potential environmental impacts is raising questions about how forest managers decide which projects deserve a closer study.
The National Weather Service in Missoula has issued a flood warning for the Clark Fork River in the Missoula area from late Tuesday until further notice.
The 68th Montana Legislature adjourned Tuesday, immediately after passing a budget and killing some proposals that were still in play.
Despite threats of a veto, a bill to redistribute marijuana tax revenue has passed a final vote and will be heading to the governor’s desk.
Firefighters are taking advantage of Montana’s unusually warm weather to ignite some controlled burns to reduce forest fuels. The goal is to prevent or minimize the impact of more destructive fires later in the summer.
Republicans ban a trans lawmaker from the House floor, putting Montana in the national news spotlight. Meanwhile, much work remains on the budget as the end of the session approaches.
The Montana Constitution says "The state and each person shall maintain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations." How did that get included, and what does it mean for Montana? Learn more now on The Big Why
Police in riot gear forcibly removed and arrested several protesters who chanted “Let her speak” in the Montana House of Representatives Monday after Rep. Zooey Zephyr, a Missoula Democrat, was blocked from speaking on a bill. Zephyr, the first transgender woman elected to office, was first blocked from speaking last week after she told supporters of a bill to ban gender-affirming care for minors to “see the blood on their hands.”
Republicans try to silence transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr. Anti-trans bills are on their way to becoming law. Lawmakers table a bill to create a one-time "jungle primary" in next year's Senate race. The defeat of that bill may have political fallout for Senator Steve Daines.
Missoula Rep. Zooey Zephyr, one of Montana’s first transgender lawmakers, is blocked from speaking on the House floor after she condemned Republicans for advancing anti LGBTQ legislation.
An annual report from a national environmental organization lists the Clark Fork River as one of the most endangered rivers in the country.
Republican lawmakers have drawn new lines for the state’s utility oversight board. Democrats say the lines will give undue advantage to the GOP.
Montana lawmakers have amended a bill to define sex as binary in state law with language proposed by Gov. Greg Gianforte for a separate bill.
Montana lawmakers held a hearing on a bill that could prevent state regulators from considering greenhouse gas emissions when issuing permits.
Federal wildlife managers have outlined a plan to reassess management of grizzly bears in southwest Montana and central Idaho. The plan follows a court order last month.
Montana’s GOP-controlled Legislature put $764 million into tax rebates refunding residents’ income and property taxes. Here’s what you need to do to make sure you get your share.
Abortion in Montana could be severely limited if a slew of bills headed to the governor's desk become law. Montana's attorney general intervenes in a lawsuit to ban an abortion pill. Another bill seeks to answer the question of whether religious freedom protects bigoted speech. And lawmakers hope more money will help fix problems at the Warm Springs state hospital.
Three bills moving through the state Legislature would give lawmakers broader authority to oversee both the judicial and executive branches.
Montana’s Legislature has passed a joint resolution recognizing the history of American Indian boarding schools and calling on the U.S. government to create a national day of remembrance. A proposal aiming to eliminate legal protection for abortion is headed to the governor.
A group of Cascade County residents, including a former county commissioner, announced the formation of an ad-hoc committee to monitor upcoming special elections. The committee formed after the Cascade County elections administrator last month said her office would face difficulty administering five upcoming special elections.
A group of Cascade County residents, including a former county commissioner, announced the formation of an ad-hoc committee to monitor upcoming special elections. The committee formed after the Cascade County elections administrator last month said her office would face difficulty administering five upcoming special elections.
A former state legislator and Speaker of the Montana House died this week. Bob Marks passed away Monday at his home in Clancy.
The state will no longer publish COVID-19 data on its online dashboard starting in early May.
A group of bills that would change cities’ zoning regulations in order to increase housing supply are progressing through the state Legislature. The three bills draw on solutions proposed by the state’s housing task force created by Governor Greg Gianforte last summer.
How do Montana lawmakers govern themselves when governing the state is a part time job? What kinds of ethics rules do lawmakers have to follow? Find out now on The Big Why.
Employees at Lee Enterprises news organization say they’re seeing layoffs at papers across the state. Lee Enterprises owns five newspapers in Montana.
Mountain Home Montana said it bought a new residential facility that will more than double its capacity to provide support to young families.
Planned Parenthood of Montana is suing the state to stop a bill that would ban the most common abortion procedure used after 15 weeks of pregnancy. If signed, it has an immediate effective date.
Consistent and mostly above normal precipitation and snowpack means the statewide water supply outlook is either maintaining or improving across most of the state.
The first of nearly a dozen anti-abortion bills have passed the Montana Legislature and are headed for the governor’s desk. Reproductive rights advocates rallied in Helena on the same day.
Rosendale attends Trump's post-arraignment event. Republican leaders want to change election rules — but only in one race. Many Cascade County residents are not happy with how their top election officer is doing her job. And several proposed amendments to the state Constitution may not make it to the ballot after all.
An internet service provider says it will use tens of millions of dollars in federal funding to expand high-speed internet access in western Montana. Officials with Montana’s national forests say prescribed burning is set to begin and run through the spring season. The Missoula Police Department says three female juveniles were taken into custody Wednesday regarding alleged threats made against Hellgate High School.
A bill that would prohibit local governments from putting a cap on the cost of rent passed the House of Representatives on a vote of 66-27 Thursday.
Jon Tester and Frank Kendall visited Malmstrom Air Force Base to learn the latest about cancers found in missileers and the flyover of a Chinese surveillance balloon.
Two bills that passed in the Montana Senate this week could make it more difficult for groups that want to sue the state.
The Missoula Police Department says three female juveniles were taken into custody Wednesday regarding alleged threats made against Hellgate High School. No violence occurred and no one was injured.
State funding to replace aging water infrastructure is getting a boost this year due to the recent federal bipartisan infrastructure bill. Lincoln County plans to move forward with local school board elections after its entire election department resigned last month, according to a county commissioner.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court reversed federal protections for abortions, medical providers in conservative-led states have been fighting legal and political battles — as well as escalating threats from the anti-abortion movement.
A California couple is appealing an order to demolish the home they’re building inside Glacier National Park.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has announced a rule change that will waive copays for Native American veterans.
The sauce is processed in Ronan and more than 150 school districts across the state have placed orders so far. The program was paid for with a USDA grant and leftover pandemic-era money.
Senate Bill 566 would create a primary system in which the top two candidates who win the most votes advance to the general election, regardless of party. Right now, each party has separate primaries and advances a winner.
The Senate has advanced a plan to use marijuana tax revenue to pay for habitat purchases and restoration. It will likely need to be reconciled with a House bill that has other plans for the money.
A Blackfeet activist is among eight women who will be inducted later this year into the National Women's Hall of Fame.
Workers Monday continued efforts to clean up train cars that derailed and crashed into the Clark Fork River near Paradise over the weekend.
Republicans in the Montana Legislature have advanced several proposed constitutional amendments. But without unanimous caucus support, it’s unclear if they’ll make it to the finish line.
Congressional opponents of a ban on assault weapons, including Montana Sen. Jon Tester, aren't swayed by another school shooting. Neither are many state legislators, who want to expand, not limit, gun rights in Montana. A reference to Satanism prompts a walkout in a Senate committee hearing. And wilderness schools for troubled teens are once again in the legislative spotlight
The entire Lincoln County elections office recently resigned. That’s raising questions about whether upcoming school board elections will move forward.
A group of Montanans filled the Capitol rotunda to rally against legislation targeting LGBTQ people. Those bills are advancing and could cost the state billions.
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes say nearly $2 million in federal funding it recently received will expand services at a newly built medical clinic and pharmacy in Ronan.
A Republican backed constitutional amendment would prohibit the use of political data to draw election maps, and give lawmakers more say over a process that is largely out of their control.
Montana health officials are set to begin a nearly yearlong process of reviewing the eligibility of every Medicaid recipient in the state. As a result, some may lose their coverage. Here's what current Medicaid recipients should know about redetermination of who is eligible for Medicaid coverage.
Republican lawmakers are sending a bill to ban gender-affirming care for trangender youth in Montana to the governor for consideration.
The Milk River basin’s snowpack in north-central Montana sits at 250% of normal. That’s a major shot in the arm for local farmers and ranchers who have endured years of devastating drought.
The Montana House endorsed a bill that would extend a moratorium on licenses for new recreational cannabis businesses and clarify regulatory oversight.
Elk populations across much of the state are growing, and above ideal thresholds set by wildlife managers. In recent years landowners, hunters and outfitters have disagreed about how to update policy to match the trend. But that could change during the current session of the Montana Legislature.
This week, we’re tackling more of a “big where” than a why. A listener wants to know, where does our recycling go in Montana?
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More than $9 million of infrastructure funding has been earmarked for wildfire mitigation in Montana. The largest amount will be used for fuel reduction projects in Lincoln County.
A mine exploration company says they may have found a significant deposit of rare earth minerals in the southern Bitterroot Valley.
State environmental officials have released a new strategic plan that will guide cleanup efforts on the Clark Fork River for the next 15 years.
A trio of bills to remove federal protections for wolves and grizzlies debuted Thursday before Congress.
President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have announced a forthcoming deal to “reduce and mitigate” the impact of pollution flowing into Montana and Idaho from Canadian coal mines.
A bill that would allow hunters and anglers to donate to the rural communities they often pass through is making its way through the state’s House of Representative.
A proposal to expand low-income families’ eligibility for child care scholarships has advanced in the Montana House of Representatives.
The former Chairman of the Blackfeet Nation has resigned from his post on the tribal council following his arrest last week.
More than a dozen Cascade County residents said they were concerned and confused by the county election administrator’s handling of upcoming special elections at a public meeting Tuesday.
Democratic lawmakers walked out of committee in protest on Tuesday during debate over proposed restrictions on abortion access.
There aren't many Democratic fingerprints on the budget passed by the House. Montana's Legislature is just one of several targeting transgender issues. And state Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen gets an earful on a statewide tour. Is she aiming for higher office?
Montana lawmakers are considering proposals allowing public charter school options and tax credits for parents who send special needs students to private schools.
Montana lawmakers spent about seven hours on the House Floor Wednesday debating the state’s two-year spending plan before passing a proposed budget along party lines. Here's a breakdown of where money is and isn’t going.
After the Cascade County clerk and recorder called into question the feasibility of upcoming elections last week, the administrator now says the elections will be held on their scheduled dates.
State health officials have removed two top leaders at the Montana State Hospital (MHS), according to a watchdog group. A new interim administrator is overseeing the facility.
Montana’s days of partisan balance in interim committees could soon come to an end. While the GOP wants more power between legislative sessions, there was wide support to leave one committee, the liaison between the state and tribal nations, unchanged.
Republican Senate Bill 99, which would criminalize gender-affirming care for transgender minors in Montana, has advanced along party lines in the House despite hours of opposition testimony.
A bill creating a highway memorial for the country’s longest-serving elected tribal leader has reached the desk of Montana’s governor.
The Montana House of Representatives has advanced a bill to limit Medicaid coverage of abortions for low-income patients.
State lawmakers are once again debating raising a cap on tax incentives for film productions in Montana.
Wildlife officials say that once a snail population is established, they are hard, if not impossible to eradicate.
The Cascade County election administrator recently alerted the Great Falls Public Library and local school districts that her office faces obstacles to holding upcoming special elections as planned. It’s not clear when, if, or how upcoming school board and mill levy elections will proceed. Founder and reporter for online publication The Electric's Jenn Rowell has been tracking the story and shared her reporting with Montana Public Radio’s Austin Amestoy.
Butte’s annual St. Patrick’s Day celebrations on Friday saw crowds not seen since the start of the pandemic. MTPR’s John Hooks filed this report from the parade this afternoon.
Montana's A.G. threatens to sue Walgreens over the abortion pill. The 2024 ballot could include a slew of proposed constitutional changes. Gov. Gianforte celebrates a major legislative win. And some Republican lawmakers propose a definition of sex.
People who fly the drones over wildland fires could soon face criminal penalties under a bill gaining traction at the Legislature.
Scientists, federal administrators and Missoula County residents met Thursday to discuss taking a closer look at a contaminated Superfund site along the Clark Fork River.
Preparations for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade are getting underway in uptown Butte. The Butte celebrations are expected to be the biggest in years.
A proposal to give more power to lawmakers in Montana’s majority party — in this case, Republicans — received its first hearing in the House this week. The bill has already passed the Senate.
A federal judge in Missoula Tuesday ordered wildlife officials to reevaluate their efforts to establish a grizzly bear population in Southwest Montana and central Idaho.
Montana officials are looking at different ways to address a staffing shortage and tight capacity at the state prison, including pay raises and expanding a contract with a private prison.
The Montana Senate has endorsed a proposal to eliminate legal recognition of intersex, transgender and nonbinary Montanans.
A freight train partially derailed after striking a snow bank near Dillon early Wednesday morning. The Missoula County Public Schools Board of Trustees intends to offer the district’s top job to the current Kalispell Public Schools Superintendent.
A flag's primary purpose is to be recognized from a distance. That means few colors, no lettering and a clear distinction from other flags. Ideally, it should be simple enough for a child to draw it from memory. So, how did Montana end up with such a complicated flag? Learn more in this episode of The Big Why.
The Montana Legislature has passed a bill that would put almost $61,000 of the state’s money toward training community-led teams to respond as quickly as possible to missing persons cases. The bill cleared a final vote in the House 91-to-1 on Tuesday.
State Republican lawmakers are again lining up in support of a change to Montana’s Constitution that could expand existing protections for hunting and fishing and make it more difficult to regulate trapping.
Walgreens pharmacies will not distribute medication abortion pills in Montana, although the procedure remains legal here.
The Capitol Talk team remembers a dear colleague. Rep. Rosendale keeps hanging out with some bad guys. The Legislature buckles down on budget work. And Sen. Steve Daines may back an unknown Bozeman businessman to challenge Jon Tester for his Senate seat.
Contractors broke ground this winter on a Highway 93 construction project that will reconfigure the road’s route through the town of Ronan in western Montana.
Proponents of a bill moving through the Senate that would define what the terms male and female mean in Montana law say it would have no financial impact on the state. But, opponents of the bill at a hearing on Friday say the potential impact is too large to quantify.
Several tribal leaders from Montana presented their priorities for the next federal budget. They spoke in front of a congressional budget committee this week.
As wildfires in the American West grow more destructive of homes and forests, a new study shows that changing the way fires burn could help forests recover.
Above-normal precipitation last month boosted snowpack levels across most of the state. The current snowpack gives experts some early insight into what the spring snowmelt might look like.
This year’s legislative session resumes Thursday. After a few days off following the halfway point, Montana lawmakers are reconvening in Helena.
Two of Montana’s largest hospital systems recently announced they intend to merge. Both Kalispell-based Logan Health and Billings Clinic say the merger will save money by keeping more patients in the state. But some experts worry the deal could increase health care costs for employers and workers.
A proposed federal rule change would tighten requirements for packers to label their meat and poultry “Product of USA.” Some Montana ranchers are praising the move.
The Montana School for the Deaf and Blind was recently selected as the state winner in a national Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) competition.
Emails show the Flathead National Forest Service worked closely with a resort company proposing a large expansion of Holland Lake Lodge in the Swan Valley ahead of the proposal’s public unveiling last fall.
Bills seeking changes to election policy in Montana have advanced in the state Legislature.
Montana health officials have released a report outlining ways the state could improve its mental health crisis system. The state is following through on some of the larger recommendations.
The man known as the dean of Montana journalism died over the weekend. Chuck Johnson spent more than 40 years covering state government. During that time he became an encyclopedia of Montana politics and a mentor to many reporters.
The Governor celebrates a major win midway through the legislative session. Democrats hope to fend off attempts to weaken the judiciary. And speculation grows over who will challenge Jon Tester for his Senate seat.
Friday is the official halfway point of Montana’s 68th legislative session. Lawmakers have pulled several marathon floor sessions this week to pass bills through the House or the Senate before a procedural deadline.
Ahead of a deadline for general policy bills to advance, Montana lawmakers have voted down four different proposals that would have made judicial elections partisan. But efforts to alter how judges reach the bench aren’t over.
A Kalispell mental health clinic closed its doors in February due to alleged Medicaid fraud. Roughly 200 patients are now without mental health care.
Former Gov. Marc Racicot sat down for an interview with MTPR’s Shaylee Ragar to talk about Montana’s political landscape, where he fits in and his thoughts about what democracies need to survive.
Montana Republican lawmakers say parents should have more control over their children’s experience in public schools. One of their proposals passed and one failed, approaching Friday’s deadline for general policy to advance.
Several bills targeting zoning reforms to address the state’s current and future housing needs have advanced with bipartisan support.
Montana lawmakers are showing their appetite for a bill aimed at helping food pantries buy goods from local farmers and ranchers. The program could provide a windfall for small producers in search of new markets.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife service has released a draft proposal for conservation efforts on a population of arctic grayling at a wildlife refuge near Yellowstone.
The number of children in Butte who have elevated blood lead levels has dropped more than 25% in the last 20 years, according to a study that was presented to the community last week.
Expanding access to guns is again a top priority for Montana Republican lawmakers. During marathon floor sessions Wednesday, both the House and Senate advanced pro-firearm policies ahead of a looming deadline.
Why are there so many "Bald" mountains in Montana? Why are there different spellings for Chouteau County and the town of Choteau? Why is Gardiner spelled with an 'i', and the Gardner River without? What's the impact of elevating Native names? Find out now, on The Big Why.
We’re taking some time to hear from the state’s congressional delegation. We recently aired conversations with Montana’s U.S. Senators. Today, we’re catching up with Republican Rep. Matt Rosendale.
Two bipartisan bills regulating the use of facial recognition technology in Montana have advanced to floor votes. The bills would limit the technology’s use by government agencies, law enforcement, and public schools.
A bill introduced to the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday would raise the penalties for fentanyl distribution in Montana to anywhere from two to 40 years in prison, and a $50,000 fine or both.
A Lewis and Clark County District Court judge has struck down a decade-old law to require parental consent for minors under 16-years-old to obtain an abortion. And the Montana Indian Child Welfare Act has passed in the state’s House of Representatives with bipartisan support.
Roughly a billion dollars in spending contained in a package of bills is close to the finish line in the Montana Legislature. It accounts for more than a third of the state’s budget surplus.
The governor’s proposed child tax credit for middle- to low-income Montana families has stalled in committee.
Glacier National Park announced Monday the re-opening of Avalanche Campground in Spring 2023. The campground which is located off of the Going to the Sun Road has been closed since 2020.
A bill introduced into the Senate Business Labor and Economic Affairs Committee Monday would prohibit internet service providers or any other company from allowing anyone within Montana’s borders access to the app TikTok under the threat of a $10,000 fine per incident compounded daily until people are no longer able to access the app.
A bill that would ban some foreign countries from buying, leasing or renting farmland and other critical infrastructure in Montana is advancing through the state Senate.
Democrats cheer Senator Tester's re-election bid. Republicans excommunicate former governor Marc Racicot. Moderates celebrate a couple of tough legislative victories. And everyone is scrambling to meet the deadline to transfer bills from one chamber to the next. Learn more now on Capitol Talk.
Patient injuries, abuse, and neglect have continued at the Montana State Hospital since the state-run psychiatric facility lost its federal certification due to preventable patient deaths. But state officials won’t release details, citing laws making those reports confidential.
Lawmakers give initial OK for $2 million in funding to defend constitutional challenges to state laws. A bill would ban minors from drag shows and performances that could excite lustful thoughts.
A 1995 state Supreme Court decision found that the state must cover abortions for Medicaid patients when “medically necessary.” Republican Rep. Jane Gillette from Bozeman is bringing a bill to require those patients and doctors to submit extensive paperwork to show an abortion is medically necessary in order to get prior authorization.
Republican Senator Steve Daines serves on the U.S. Senate Committees on Finance, Energy and Natural Resources, Banking, and Indian Affairs. MTPR's Edward O’Brien caught up with Daines for a few minutes last week in between votes on the floor of the U.S. Senate.
A legislative effort to make Montana a so-called “Right to Work” state failed in committee. Lawmakers hear a bill requiring power suppliers to stockpile energy.
Montana lawmakers are continuing to urge change to how the state’s judiciary operates. One bill to require judicial elections to become partisan has advanced.
A bill to create a state-level Indian Child Welfare Act has passed out of committee with bipartisan support and will next be heard by Montana’s House of Representatives.
Montana’s only statewide elected Democrat will seek reelection to the U.S. Senate. Jon Tester’s campaign launch gives a boost to Democrats’ 2024 hopes of holding on to their slim majority in the upper chamber.
Democratic Senator Jon Tester is now serving his second term as chair of the influential Veterans Affairs Committee. MTPR's Edward O’Brien reached out to members of the state’s delegation to discuss their ambitions this session.
One of the largest mental health providers in Montana is suspending operation of 31 of its crisis beds — two thirds of its total number of beds. The mental health providers say they can’t make enough money to break even.
A Great Falls teenager sustained life-threatening injuries and was in stable condition Tuesday afternoon following a morning shooting that took place within blocks of Great Falls High School.
A bill introduced in the Montana State Senate would cap insulin copay costs to prevent further price hikes of the medication.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte has signed his first batch of bills sent to his desk by the 68th Montana Legislature.
Montana lawmakers have voted down two bills that would have solidified protections for abortion in Montana as Republican lawmakers look to restrict access.
The Chairman of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes joined Montana’s federal delegation at the Capitol to address the state’s Legislature and his goals for the future.
Montana’s congressional delegates visited the state Capitol Monday to speak about their individual work in Congress and the work they’d like to see in the statehouse.
There's rare bipartisan agreement over what to do about wayward balloons. Abortion remains a dominant legislative issue. Montana's former secretary of state wants to now be a country singer. And lawmakers argue over whether Columbus was a good guy or bad guy.
Lawmakers in charge of outlining state spending for public safety on Friday declined to fully fund a request for more public defenders.
Montana environmental officials are extending the public comment period for an $18.5 million settlement with former Libby vermiculite mine operator W.R. Grace.
Dozens of union leaders and workers flooded the Capitol on Friday to voice their opposition to a so-called “Right to Work” bill.
A policy that would change unlawful discrimination practices to exclude students’ misgendering or calling a classmate by their legal name, has passed through its final hearing in Montana’s House of Representatives.
Under a bill moving through the Montana Senate, landlords and property owners would have to pay back rental application fees to applicants who don’t end up leasing the property.
A big change in the weather is expected throughout the northern Rockies starting this weekend and lasting through next week.
Montana lawmakers have advanced budget recommendations to increase pay for providers of Medicaid services. The proposal falls short of what providers had hoped for.
Drag performances could be banned from public property or any location that receives funding from the state, under a policy that’s passed out of committee and is heading to the Montana House of Representatives.
House Bill 356 would prohibit state entities from contracting with companies that have adopted policies that limit dealings with the firearms industry.
The grant comes after state lawmakers voted down a bill that would have offered the program to all middle and high schools and provide additional case management services for kids identified during screening.
Across Montana there are hundreds of nuclear missile silos and launch facilities hidden in plain sight. If you didn't know what you were looking for, you probably wouldn't know what they were. So, why are there so many nuclear missile sites in Montana?
A bill that would ban the teaching of scientific theories like gravity and evolution, was tabled in committee Monday. The Senate Education and Cultural Resources Committee voted unanimously to table the bill, meaning it likely won't move forward.
State health officials are promoting interactive maps to help Montanans find cancer screening and treatment services across the state.
Federal environmental officials this week announced that over $18 million from last year’s infrastructure bill will help small Montana communities test for water contaminants.
A bill to restrict judges’ power to block policies, laws or projects during litigation has passed both chambers of the state Legislature and is headed for the governor’s desk.
Montana educators told a committee in the Legislature Monday that a bill proposing a statewide mentorship program would help support and retain new teachers.
A final cleanup deal for a century of toxic smelting waste in the community of Anaconda goes into effect this week. Residents spoke about what a post-cleanup future might look like.
Montana’s commission in charge of drawing new political districts has adopted final maps that will be in place for the next decade. Democrats’ map won on a tie-breaking vote.
Lawmakers in the House Monday once again voted down a bill that would fund an ongoing pilot program that screens middle and high schoolers for suicide risk. Lawmakers last week revived the bill after it failed on a nearly split vote.
An agreement to finalize the cleanup of a century of toxic smelting pollution in Anaconda goes into effect this week. The deal will finish remediation within the next four years, at a cost of over $100 million.
Bills affecting transgender Montanans draw emotional debate. Scientific theories are targeted for elimination from public education. And Senator Daines battles Twitter and "San Francisco elites."
New research led by a University of Montana professor shows wildfires in the West are destroying more homes per square mile burned than in previous years. Fire ecologist Philip Higuera is the lead author on the publication and spoke with Montana Public Radio’s Austin Amestoy.
A bill seeking to make it easier for food pantries to buy from local producers glided out of a committee in the Montana Legislature Tuesday.
A bill establishing a grant program to fund training for missing persons response teams has passed the state Senate and is headed to the governor’s desk.
Montana Veterans Affairs (VA) officials say all veterans with and without benefits can now get free emergency mental health care at any medical facility, including non-VA facilities. They can also receive residential and outpatient crisis services. The new rule aims to reduce suicide among Montana veterans.
Gov. Greg Gianforte’s proposal to create a child tax credit for families with children under the age of 6 is advancing in the state Legislature.
The Montana House of Representatives has advanced legislation that would allow health care workers and insurance companies to refrain from participating in cases they morally object to.
A bill in the state Legislature seeking to regulate science curriculum in public schools got its first hearing Monday. The legislation’s sponsor says by banning scientific theories, the policy aims to prevent kids from being taught things that aren’t true.
A bill that would require private insurance companies to cover a 12-month supply of prescription birth control has advanced in the Montana Legislature.
Montana lawmakers Monday narrowly voted down a bill that would have funded suicide screening for middle and high school students.
A bill that would give power to the state’s top political figures to appoint members of a disciplinary board overseeing the judiciary has advanced in the Montana Legislature.
Montana political leaders want some answers about a Chinese spy balloon floating in the Big Sky. Senator Steve Daines is moving up the party leadership ladder. The Republican plan for allocating a billion dollars is headed to the Senate. And prominent Montanans lead a rally to support the state Constitution
Gov. Gianforte created the Red Tape Relief Task Force his second day in office back in 2020. Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras has led the group in poring over the state’s 15,000 regulations on the books looking for places to cut.
Scientists and community members say they’re excited to work with the Environmental Protection Agency to outline a new round of sampling for toxins at a Superfund site near Missoula.
Sitting on a $2.5 billion surplus, Montana Republicans this week advanced a first round of their plan for tax cuts. That included part of the governor’s agenda, which he says was built for Montana families. Montana Public Radio’s Shaylee Ragar spoke with one Montana family about how the policies could impact their lives.
The House Business and Labor Committee heard testimony Thursday on a bill that would raise the Montana minimum wage to $11.39 an hour.
A bill to establish a state-level Indian Child Welfare Act in Montana was introduced this week This bill would build on a federal version of the policy.
State health officials could soon have more oversight of alternative therapeutic youth residential programs. Several of the facilities have been accused of abusing children in recent years.
If you recently received a nutrition assistance card from the state health department you didn’t apply for, you may not want to throw it out. The cards come from a delayed program to help feed students during the summer.
A team of nonprofits announced this week it’s raised enough funds to build Montana’s first indoor butterfly garden.
Roughly $1 billion dollars in spending passed an initial vote in the Montana House of Representatives Wednesday, largely along party lines. The Republican package would provide for tax rebates, pay down the state’s debt and outline cash for infrastructure projects.
A listener wants to know how many cattle die due to extreme cold each year in Montana. And what's the story behind "The Great Die-Up" of 1887?
The Montana Department of Livestock recommends the cancellation of all equine events in Flathead County. State livestock officials are making the recommendation following multiple confirmed cases of equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy, or EHM in Flathead County
Montana public school advocates say health insurance costs have burdened districts and weighed down employee salaries for years. That could change with a bipartisan proposal heard in the state Legislature on Monday.
Lawmakers are considering new regulations for the state’s judicial branch. Tensions have been rising between Republican lawmakers and the judiciary since last legislative session.
A bill that would remove exemptions for public school employees to show material considered obscene to minors advanced out of committee in the state Legislature.
Montana lawmakers are considering changes to how the state spends millions of dollars generated by marijuana sales on mental health and addiction treatments.
A bill introduced in the Montana Legislature would allow employees for health care facilities and insurance companies to abstain from participating in cases they morally object to. Opponents worry it will lead to discrimination.
Conservation groups filed a lawsuit against federal wildlife officials over the protection status of Montana’s Arctic Grayling population.
Vehicle reservations for Glacier National Park will be available online starting Wednesday.
Landlords could have an easier time canceling some contracts with renters under a proposal in the state Legislature. The policy is designed to speed up the eviction of tenants who refuse to let a landlord access property.
Montana lawmakers are advancing a plan aimed at proving that the state is ready to manage grizzly bears if they are delisted from federal protections.
A policy to restrict health care for transgender youth has been revived in the Montana Legislature after failing to pass two years ago. More than 100 people testified on the merits of the bill during a marathon hearing Friday.
Avalanche forecasters across western Montana have issued avalanche warnings as a winter storm is forecasted to drop several inches of snow.
In his State of the State Address, Gov. Gianforte said Montana's economy is coming up roses, but Democrats found plenty of dandelions. And Flathead County commissioners have drawn widespread criticism for their views of the county's homeless population. Learn more now on Capitol Talk.
Roughly 53,000 Montanans are enrolled in a marketplace health insurance plan, up slightly over last year’s figures.
The 340 current influenza cases in Montana are trending down, but are a far cry from mid-December when reported cases nearly reached the highest level in a decade. Health officials are cautioning Montanans to not let their guards down.
A bill aimed at removing protections for abortion access in Montana has advanced through the state Senate.
A joint resolution to recognize the history and trauma of American Indian boarding schools and ask for a federal day of remembrance was heard in the state Legislature Wednesday.
Groups suing the state over restrictions barring birth certificate amendments are asking a district court to hold the state health department in civil contempt.
A bill seeking to help food banks buy produce from local farmers and ranchers drew universal acclaim at its first hearing in the Montana Legislature Tuesday.
January’s weather has been generally uneventful following December’s heavy snow and record-shattering cold. That’s about to change.
How toxic are the grounds of a former pulp mill along the Clark Fork River? It’s a question with an answer more than a decade in the making, and one that will determine how the site’s hundreds of acres of unlined waste ponds are cleaned up.
Gov. Greg Gianforte delivered his second State of the State Address Wednesday night in front of a joint session of the Montana Legislature. Montana Public Radio’s Shaylee Ragar, Ellis Juhlin and Corin Cates-Carney broke down the Governor’s remarks and Democrats' response.
Montana’s congressional delegation is starting to get a better idea of which committees they’ll serve on during the 118th Congress.
Yellowstone County commissioners have appointed Rep. Naarah Hastings to represent House District 50 in central Billings.
Republican lawmakers are continuing to question the constitutionality of the proposed maps for the state's political boundaries. They’ve advanced amendments that they want to see in the final drawing
The House Business and Labor Committee heard testimony on a bill Tuesday that would shorten the training required to serve alcohol to lessen the burden for trainers and trainees.
Montana Democrats are proposing an immediate infusion of $20 million into the state’s behavioral health system, saying it's on the brink of collapse.
Flathead County commissioners have penned an open letter asking city councils in the area to reject the empowerment of "the homeless lifestyle," and to deny permits to build or expand homeless shelters. Advocates for homeless people are pushing back.
Food pantry operators have long said it’s a challenge to keep shelves stocked with fresh, nutritious produce. Now, a proposal in the Montana Legislature seeks to make that easier.
Former Billings Rep. Mallerie Stromswold resigned two weeks into the 68th Montana Legislature citing logistical challenges and backlash from the Republican party when she voted apart from the majority. In a conversation with Montana Public Radio’s Shaylee Ragar, Stromswold recounts her experience in Montana’s statehouse, why she left and what she hopes for future lawmakers.
Republican Rep. Mike Hopkins, R-Missoula, is the sponsor of House Bill 8, the bill that would authorize state loans for local projects and use the coal-severance tax, or taxes collected on coal mined in Montana, to back those loans.
A lawmaker's resignation highlights the downside of Montana’s part-time legislature. The governor’s tax relief proposals face some bipartisan opposition. And another effort to make abortion illegal is likely headed to the courts.
Republican Congressman Matt Rosendale spoke at a kickoff event in the state Capitol introducing Montana’s newly formed Freedom Caucus. Rosendale reached out to Montana lawmakers last year to help found this local group modeled after the hard-line conservative U.S. House Freedom Caucus.
According to a new report, tourists inspired to visit the home state of the fictional Dutton family spent an estimated $730 million in 2021 and helped generate more than 10,000 jobs across industries like food, hospitality and entertainment.
Both of Montana’s U.S. senators signed onto a bipartisan letter Friday asking the federal government to reconsider a plan to implement minimum staffing ratios for nursing homes.
Three conservation advocacy groups have filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Missoula challenging the federal government's policies for killing and moving grizzly bears.
A grassroots group that is opposed to the expansion of a lakeside lodge in the Swan Valley is asking the Forest Service for more transparency as it reviews future expansion proposals.
State agencies have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars defending laws passed by the 2021 Legislature in court. Gov. Greg Gianforte wants an additional $2.6 million to bolster the Montana Department of Justice’s legal defense.
Gov. Greg Gianforte Thursday tapped a longtime attorney to lead the Commissioner of Political Practices office.
Montana lawmakers and state officials are debating the best way to regulate sober living homes in the state.
Gov. Greg Gianforte is again asking state lawmakers to cut taxes this legislative session, largely building off work he started in 2021. Some lawmakers are also pushing for more relief for low-income Montanans.
A long line of Republican lawmakers have voiced dismay with proposed maps outlining Montana’s new legislative districts. Lawmakers can offer feedback but can’t change the maps.
The House Judiciary Committee heard testimony Wednesday on a bill that would renew Montana’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Task Force for another two years and add members from the Office of Public Instruction.
A recent agreement allowing farmers to repair their own high-tech John Deere agricultural equipment gets mixed reviews from Montana producers. Even the deal’s skeptics say it represents an important milestone for the growing ‘right-to-repair’ movement.
State wildlife officials say that the first documented cases of avian flu infections in grizzly bears have been detected in Montana.
The Montana Emergency Rental Assistance program is coming to an end. The Department of Commerce says that they will stop accepting new applications after Jan. 20th due to diminishing federal funding.
Our question comes from a Missoula resident curious about a handful of defunct mines north of Butte that have high concentrations of the radioactive gas radon. Watson says her grandmother used to go to these mines with her friends in the '50s and '60s to relieve their arthritis pain. Although the EPA and W.H.O. attribute radon as the second leading cause of lung cancer, the mines are still popular today.
A Republican lawmaker is seeking to add a caveat to the state’s constitutional right to privacy. The language would say that the right does not protect access to abortion.
TikTok’s presence within the Montana University System has all but vanished on Tuesday. That’s when the Commissioner of Higher Education, Clay Christian, issued a directive barring the immensely popular video sharing app from any university-owned devices or networks.
More Montana middle and high school students could be screened for anxiety, depression and suicide risk starting next year. A bill that would make this available to districts statewide was introduced at the Legislature this week.
A bill that would increase independent oversight of the Montana State Hospital passed the Senate on Tuesday.
A young Republican lawmaker has resigned two weeks into the 2023 Montana legislative session, citing logistical challenges and “significant backlash” for sometimes voting independently of her party.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte has directed wildlife officials to develop a new wolf management plan. The plan will guide every aspect of state decisions on the species.
More than 200 Montanans filled the Capitol rotunda on Friday for the annual March for Life in support of restricting access to abortion. Two of the state’s top officials addressed the crowd and promised that they’ll push for change to Montana’s current abortion laws.
Rep. Rosendale refuses a call from Trump. State Sen. Regier withdraws a resolution Native Americans found insulting. Rep. Zinke warns of threats to cowboys. And more Montanans may lose Medicaid funding
Caregivers for the elderly and people with disabilities in Montana are pleading with state lawmakers to fully fund a recommended increase in the Medicaid provider rates.
More than two dozen health care providers, mental health advocates and Medicaid patients are arguing against a proposed state rule that would further restrict state coverage of abortion. One organization spoke in support of the rule during a public hearing on Thursday.
The most recent data from 2019 indicates that Montana is experiencing an educator shortage.
A report commissioned by the MacArthur Foundation explores justice system inequities that cause Native Americans to be incarcerated at much higher rates than the general population. State data showed that Native people make up about 7% of Montana’s population but are at least 20% of the state prison population.
The state health department says it will reinstate a rule that bars transgender Montanans from updating the gender markers on their birth certificates. The Montana Supreme Court is now involved in the latest step in a murky legal fight over the policy.
Two bills addressing the issue of missing persons in Montana passed out of the House floor Wednesday, and will now move on to the Senate.
Montana lawmakers are considering a package of bills to change the state’s response to a decade of growth in child abuse and neglect cases. Montana saw the fastest increase of children in foster care of any state in the nation between 2010 and 2019, according to the Annie. E. Casey Foundation.
There were nearly 2,000 reports of missing persons in Montana last year. Two bills aimed at addressing this issue are nearing passage in the House.
The state Legislature created a special committee to comb through the maps outlining Montana’s 150 legislative districts.
Indigenous people are incarcerated at a rate 38% higher than the national average, and are over-represented in the prison population of 19 states. They're also given harsher sentences than other racial groups, a new report says.
Lawmakers in Helena are considering a bill that would prohibit rent caps, or limits on how much landlords can charge for rent.
According to the U.S. Agriculture Department’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Bozeman, Montana’s snowpack conditions are ‘ideal’ following two months of near constant precipitation.
Republican legislators in Montana appear as divided as their counterparts in Congress. Rep. Matt Rosendale gets the spotlight in the fight for a new House speaker. Montana lawmakers must decide how to spend $2 billion. A draft resolution blows a loud dog whistle over Native American rights. Learn more now on Capitol Talk.
Montana’s marijuana industry includes 432 dispensaries, employs more than 4,000 people and contributes millions of dollars of tax revenue
Former Missoula Republican state lawmaker Brad Tschida will lead Montana’s utility regulatory commission as its executive director starting later this month.
The number of flu cases and hospitalizations is already approaching the typical average for an entire season.
Forest Service investigators say the man admitted he’d been setting fires for four to five years, primarily by lighting trash on fire and tossing it out the window of the vehicle he was driving.
Montana public school students whose families receive Medicaid benefits will be automatically enrolled in free and reduced-price meal programs during the next school year.
State health officials Thursday updated lawmakers on their plan to improve care at the Montana State Hospital and to apply for federal recertification in roughly 18 months. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services pulled certification following patient deaths, blocking Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements from flowing to the state hospital.
Hard-line Montana House and Senate conservatives have formed a new caucus in the Legislature modeled after the U.S. House Freedom Caucus. Montana’s Freedom Caucus was created through collaboration with state legislators and Rep. Matt Rosendale, who is a member of the similarly named national group.
The Montana House of Representatives on Wednesday approved rules to govern the chamber’s work for the 2023 session, but many Republicans in the supermajority are not happy with the result.
Lake County agreed in the 1960s to provide law enforcement services on behalf of the state across the Flathead Reservation. But county commissioners say taxpayers can’t afford to pay for those services, estimated at $4 million annually.
The current owner of Holland Lake Lodge has been seeking to sell the property for years, saying it is in bad shape and in need of updates. Many locals were outraged after they learned of a plan to buy and triple the capacity of the lodge.
The commission responsible for drawing Montana’s new legislative districts is close to finishing its once-a-decade duty after advancing a map on Wednesday.
In Montana we have a unique law that says anybody can fish or recreate on the state's streams and rivers below the high-water mark — regardless of who owns the land beneath them. How did Montana end up with this exceptional level of stream access, and what does the law's future look like? Find out now on The Big Why.
Two local Montana governments missed out on a previous round of federal pandemic aid due to a technicality. Sen. Jon Tester recently introduced a bill to bring the money into southwest Montana.
Glacier National Park’s vehicle registration entry program is expanding next year. So, visitors will now need to book in advance to drive into all the park’s main entrances.
Montana is now the latest state to push back against the extremely popular short-form video-sharing app, TikTok. On Friday, Gov. Greg Gianforte prohibited its use on state equipment.
A years-long, undercover investigation dismantled a Butte drug trafficking organization with ties to the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico. The investigation led to the conviction of 18 Montana residents.
Gov. Greg Gianforte Wednesday approved more than $300 million in grants for telecom companies to bring broadband to Montana’s underserved areas. Montana Free Press deputy editor Eric Dietrich has been following the commission’s work and joined MTPR’s Austin Amestoy to break down the latest developments
The University of Montana launched a new initiative this week designed to fully cover the cost of tuition and fees for qualifying in-state students.
A special committee of Montana lawmakers released a draft report Thursday detailing concerns that members of the judicial branch deleted public records and fell short of ethics rules.
The Montana Board of Environmental Review is asking federal regulators to invalidate a water quality standard aimed at reducing pollution flowing into Montana from Canadian coal mines.
President Joe Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law on Tuesday, which received mixed support from Montana’s congressional delegation. The law codifies that same-sex and interracial marriages are recognized as legal unions.
After widespread snowfall in Montana this week, forecasters expect an Arctic cold front to envelop the nation, bringing cold that hasn’t been felt in Montana in several years. The coldest temperatures of the season are expected in the northern Rockies on Monday — single digit daytime highs are likely as are sub-zero overnight lows.
The state’s only psychiatric hospital for adults has been discharging patients to homeless shelters with no plan for care and sometimes without medications, according to a report from a designated watchdog group.
Lake County commissioners Monday proposed an ordinance to withdraw from an agreement to provide law enforcement services on the Flathead Reservation.
An early spike in influenza cases is emerging in Montana. That’s in stark contrast to recent years when zero to few cases were reported at this time of the year.
The share of Montana households financially burdened by rent fell slightly over the last five years. That’s according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau released last week.
Funding to implement a veterans health program is now at stake as Congress approaches a government funding deadline. The PACT Act expands health care benefits to millions of veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.
There were 47 grizzly bear mortalities in northwest Montana this year, which is just below the record-breaking numbers from the recent past. Experts say some of those bears appeared to have a brain disease which has not been seen in this population.
A Bozeman-based nonprofit announced Wednesday that it has transferred dozens of bison to tribal herds in Montana and Washington State.
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is warning residents of a rise in scam calls from people posing as police. The Attorney General’s office says the scam callers are disguising their numbers so they appear to be from a real law enforcement agency.
Montana’s early season snowpack is currently above normal throughout the state and farmers who’ve been struggling with historic drought conditions are thrilled.
Food banks and pantries across Montana are experiencing unprecedented demand for their services while they are receiving fewer donations. That leaves food banks struggling to maintain services.
Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks is asking the public to weigh in on a proposed plan to manage grizzly bears statewide.
The state constitution says the right of privacy is essential to the well being of a free society. Privacy affects many issues, from electronic data to abortion, and has been applied in decisions by the state Supreme Court. So how and why did Montana end up with such strong privacy protections?
Montanans now have two additional years to update their driver’s license for federal certification.
The publisher of a neo-Nazi website that called on his followers to harass the Jewish community in the Flathead Valley has been allowed back on Twitter, after being banned for nearly a decade.
Montana’s two U.S. senators are throwing their support behind a bipartisan effort to push new federal marijuana laws through Congress before the end of the current term.
A committee of the Montana Legislature announced that it’s seeking applicants for a new Commissioner of Political Practices
The Montana Commission is drawing the state’s new legislative districts, and has advanced a map proposed by Democrats for public input.
In-person visitation remains on pause at the Montana State Prison at Deer Lodge. Prison officials implemented the suspension late last month, with limited exceptions over the holidays.
The center says heavy accumulating snow may create slabs one to two feet thick that could slide both naturally and be triggered by human activity.
Conservationists are suing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the lack of a nationwide recovery plan for endangered wolves.
Sen. Jon Tester Wednesday announced the introduction of a bill that aims to provide more support for homeless Native veterans.
National Weather Service meteorologists anticipate a ‘moderate to heavy snow event’ as the storm moves from the northwest to the southeast Wednesday into Thursday.
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen sent letters on Tuesday to the heads of UPS and FedEx asking the companies to clarify their policies on shipping and tracking guns and gun parts.
The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests will soon enact restrictions on two popular hot springs along the western Montana border with Idaho. Officials say the regulations are the result of mounting public health, safety and natural resource damage concerns.
Democrats and Republicans on the state’s commission charged with drawing new legislative districts are hoping to find common ground by the end of the week.
There are dangerous avalanche conditions in the mountains between West Yellowstone and Bozeman.
With a snowy start to November, skiers and snowmobilers have been heading to the backcountry and above-average snowpack levels across much of western Montana have some mountain resorts opening early. While most avalanche centers aren’t yet rating the current risk, experts say backcountry recreationists shouldn’t be complacent.
On Tuesday, The Flathead National Forest proposed a nearly 5,000-acre timber sale near Hungry Horse.
An incoming weather system is expected to drop light snow and possibly create slick roads for Thanksgiving travelers this week.
The Montana Board of Housing Monday announced more than $31 million in competitive federal tax credits for affordable housing projects across the state.
Glacier National Park officials are considering whether to expand a ticket reservation system for entry to new areas of the park.
A state senator from Helena is resigning his seat with plans of going on a motorcycle tour.
Montana lawmakers have taken an initial step in building the state’s budget for the next biennium.
Funding from the infrastructure bill passed by Congress and signed by President Biden earlier this year is expected to connect 1,700 homes on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation to high speed internet.
Senator Jon Tester says he has not yet made up his mind on running again in 2024. The three-term Democrat says he needs to talk it over with his wife, Sharla, first.
U.S. National Forest Service Chief Randy Moore spoke in Missoula Thursday and said $10 billion will soon help fund work in forests around the country.
Montana VA officials say a “shooting incident” at the Fort Harrison Medical Center, near Helena, Thursday morning is believed to be a death by suicide.
The Montana Supreme Court Wednesday sent a legal challenge to a law banning vaccine mandates back to a lower court on a technicality. The decision is part of an ongoing legal battle over House Bill 702, which bans workplace vaccine requirements and discrimination based on vaccination status.
Western Montana experienced unusually high tectonic activity Wednesday. The U.S. Geological Survey reports a 3.7 magnitude earthquake occurred at 6:47 a.m. just a few miles southwest of St. Ignatius.
Conservation group Trout Unlimited is getting $40 million from the federal government to fund watershed restoration efforts in national forests across the country, including here in Montana.
Montana Republican lawmakers have elected new legislative leaders for the House of Representatives and state Senate ahead of the 2023 session.
Conservation groups announced the purchase of over 3,500 acres of land in the Big Hole Watershed. The land will be used for habitat preservation and public recreation.
Montana’s influenza season is ramping up. Federal health officials say this year’s flu season is hitting the U.S. harder and earlier than in years past.
According to the American Lung Association, only five percent of eligible Montana residents have been screened for the disease. Experts say screening is key to early diagnosis, which saves lives.
Montana lawmakers will elect party leaders on Wednesday ahead of the 2023 legislative session slated to begin in January.
The Montana health department says it’s developing a new way to apply for the state food assistance program online that doesn’t require an email address.
Attorneys for a former University of Montana student charged with two counts of rape have subpoenaed the university for a complete list of attendees at a fraternity party. The Montana Kaimin first reported the subpoena, which MTPR verified through Missoula County District Court filings.
Millions of dollars from a national settlement with opioid distributors are expected to flow into the state soon. The funds will go toward treatment services, prevention and other efforts to combat the opioid pandemic.
Federal agencies announced their plans to reintroduce grizzly bears into the northern Cascade Mountains in Washington that could come from northwest Montana.
Gov. Greg Gianforte on Thursday gave a preview of a proposed budget he’ll unveil in full this week, saying it would provide historic tax cuts and investments in services for Montana.
How Tranel lost and how Rosendale won. A snarky victory speech and emotional concession speech. A defeat for opponents of legal abortion, a legislative trouncing and Montana Democrats left with some soul-searching to do.
If you've ever seen or experienced a pickup pull alongside or in front of you and then belch out a huge cloud of black or gray exhaust — well, you've just been coal-rolled. But why?
If you've ever seen or experienced a pickup pull alongside or in front of you and then belch out a huge cloud of black or gray exhaust — well, you've just been coal-rolled. But why?
In Montana and across the nation, homeless shelters are reporting that people older than 60 are a growing proportion of their populations.
In Montana and across the nation, homeless shelters are reporting that people older than 60 are a growing proportion of their populations.
If current vote tallies hold, Montana legislative Republicans are claiming supermajority status after the midterm election. According to unofficial results, they’ll pick up at least three seats in the state Senate and further solidify their stronghold in the House of Representatives ahead of the 2023 legislative session.
If current vote tallies hold, Montana legislative Republicans are claiming supermajority status after the midterm election. According to unofficial results, they’ll pick up at least three seats in the state Senate and further solidify their stronghold in the House of Representatives ahead of the 2023 legislative session.
Montanans hoping for election results went to bed disappointed Tuesday night. Ballot tabulation is a complicated process even under the best of circumstances and experts say it’s getting more challenging.
Montanans hoping for election results went to bed disappointed Tuesday night. Ballot tabulation is a complicated process even under the best of circumstances and experts say it’s getting more challenging.
Just over half of registered absentee voters in Montana have returned their ballots for the midterm election as of noon Monday.
Just over half of registered absentee voters in Montana have returned their ballots for the midterm election as of noon Monday.
A combination of intense snowfall, gusty wind and rapidly plunging temperatures led to dangerous driving conditions throughout western Montana Monday.
A combination of intense snowfall, gusty wind and rapidly plunging temperatures led to dangerous driving conditions throughout western Montana Monday.
This election could come down to local versus national issues. Early voting numbers show a low turnout so far. Republicans hope Tuesday's results give them a supermajority in the Legislature, and what surprises could Election Day have in store?
This election could come down to local versus national issues. Early voting numbers show a low turnout so far. Republicans hope Tuesday's results give them a supermajority in the Legislature, and what surprises could Election Day have in store?
Three Montanans are asking a judge to strike down a new state law that allows insurance companies to consider marital and gender status when setting rates.They say they’re paying higher prices because they’re not married.
Three Montanans are asking a judge to strike down a new state law that allows insurance companies to consider marital and gender status when setting rates.They say they’re paying higher prices because they’re not married.
Montana will expand its air quality monitoring system in the upcoming years. The state received a federal grant to install new monitoring stations in rural communities across the state.
Montana will expand its air quality monitoring system in the upcoming years. The state received a federal grant to install new monitoring stations in rural communities across the state.
Blackfeet tribal traditionalists and conservation groups appealed a federal court decision on Wednesday that reinstated a controversial oil lease in the Badger-Two Medicine area.
Blackfeet tribal traditionalists and conservation groups appealed a federal court decision on Wednesday that reinstated a controversial oil lease in the Badger-Two Medicine area.
A cold front is ushering in widespread brisk winds, chilly temperatures and some scattered snow to Montana. Forecasters say true wintery conditions are just around the corner.
A cold front is ushering in widespread brisk winds, chilly temperatures and some scattered snow to Montana. Forecasters say true wintery conditions are just around the corner.
It’s now too late to mail in absentee ballots for the Nov. 8 midterm election. To ensure ballots get counted on time, voters should drop them off at their local county elections office.
Montana Republicans are two seats away from holding supermajorities in both chambers of the state Legislature. That could have big implications for the 2023 legislative session.
Federal environmental officials and the Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO) this week will update the public on the cleanup progress of the Anaconda Smelter Superfund.
Open enrollment for the public health insurance marketplace opens Tuesday. Plans for both individuals and families may be cheaper than in years past.
Wildlife conservation groups have created an app for citizen scientists to help data collection efforts on animal movements across Montana. One of the goals of the program is to prevent wildlife collisions on roads and train tracks.
Conservation groups filed a lawsuit on Thursday alleging that Montana’s wolf hunting and trapping policies violate state and federal laws.
High winds with gusts up to 70 mph are expected this weekend along the Rocky Mountain Front.
A recent poll raises as many questions as answers about the mid-term election. Tranel's snake keeps slithering. Libertarians deny they're conspiring with Democrats. And conventional wisdom about voter turnout may not be so wise in this election.
Montana’s top political watchdog has dismissed three complaints filed by Montana’s Secretary of State alleging campaign practice violations.
The Montana Libertarian Party says it did not coordinate on mailers attacking Republican congressional candidate Ryan Zinke and supporting Libertarian John Lamb.
Our question this week comes from a listener in Helena named Bob Flipovich, who wants to know who owns the most water rights in Montana. Water rights determine who can take water out of our lakes and streams, and how much they can take.
The Montana health department is sending nearly $3 million to local detention centers for addiction and recovery treatment. These grants are a part of the state’s new funding program to address behavioral health services.
The election contest between sitting justice Ingrid Gustafson and Republican utility regulator James Brown for a seat on Montana’s highest court is the most expensive Supreme Court race in state history. MTPR’s Shaylee Ragar brings us a look at the candidates and how they plan to approach the job.
Polls and pundits suggest Montana's western district congressional race is tightening. New ads emphasize a mining ban and an "anti-business" bent. And, your voter information pamphlet has some bad information.
A rare white buffalo currently mounted at the Montana Historical Society will be returned to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
Missoula police say one person is in custody after a Sentinel High School student was detained with a weapon in their possession outside the high school Tuesday.
Starting October 31st, all in-person visitation to the State Prison will be suspended until further notice.
The Montana Secretary of State’s Voter Information Pamphlet may have already landed in your mailbox, but it includes inaccurate information about when people can register to vote and what IDs are acceptable at the polls.
Syphilis cases in Montana have so far more than doubled this year over last. The sexually transmitted infection is easy to cure in its early stages, but left untreated can lead to serious complications.
A record number of people are registered to vote in Montana, and thousands have already cast their ballot.
Montana voters will see two statewide issues on the ballot this fall, including one that seeks to boost legal protections for electronic data.
MTPR’s Shaylee Ragar introduces us to Libertarian John Lamb, who says he can cut through political polarization and be a voice for everyday Montanans.
Wildlife advocates Tuesday called for the U.S. Forest Service to implement rules they say will mitigate conflict between predators and livestock grazing in national forests.
A nonprofit organization made up of past and current U.S. Forest Service employees is suing the agency. The complaint filed by Forest Service Employees For Environmental Ethics accuses the federal agency of violating the Clean Water Act by dumping fire retardant into water bodies.
Marijuana dispensary owners in Great Falls have won a lawsuit against the city. The decision determined a city where sales are legal can’t ban marijuana businesses without holding an election.
Nearly a dozen homeless shelters, health care, housing and faith-based groups announced Wednesday they are forming a coalition to lobby for more support for homeless services.
The Montana State Land Board approved the acquisition of almost 6,000 acres in the Big Snowy Mountains on Monday. The land will now become the state’s newest wildlife management area.
MTPR’s Shaylee Ragar takes us on the campaign trail with Democrat Monica Tranel, whose pitch in the western district congressional race is to be an independent voice in Congress.
Abortion is on the November ballot — sort of. A Democratic candidate gets a couple of prominent Republican endorsements. And a local snake is getting lots of screen time this campaign season.
MTPR’s Shaylee Ragar takes us on the campaign trail with the Republican western district U.S. House candidate Ryan Zinke. Zinke's pitch is to champion core conservative issues in Congress.
"I've heard so many different stories about how it got here and who's responsible, and I've never really heard the legitimate reason, and I thought that's a good question for you guys."
Two years after Montana voters statewide legalized recreational marijuana some communities are still fighting over the issue. Recreational sales are once again on the ballot this November.
The proposed deal will finish remediation that has been ongoing since the 1990s, replacing contaminated yards in Anaconda and Opportunity, and closing off remaining slag piles.
The proposed deal will finish remediation that has been ongoing since the 1990s, replacing contaminated yards in Anaconda and Opportunity, and closing off remaining slag piles.
A Yellowstone County District Court judge has struck down three laws regulating Montana elections, saying they “severely” burden the right to vote, especially for Native Americans, students, the elderly and voters with disabilities.
A Yellowstone County District Court judge has struck down three laws regulating Montana elections, saying they “severely” burden the right to vote, especially for Native Americans, students, the elderly and voters with disabilities.
The western district House candidates drew clear distinctions over abortion in this week's forum in Butte. Tranel hammed Zinke over ethics investigations. Could the Libertarian candidate John Lamb hurt Zinke at the polls? Listen now on Campaign Beat.
The western district House candidates drew clear distinctions over abortion in this week's forum in Butte. Tranel hammed Zinke over ethics investigations. Could the Libertarian candidate John Lamb hurt Zinke at the polls? Listen now on Campaign Beat.
Montana and many other states in the northern U.S. have not updated their policies to keep young athletes safe from heatstroke amid rising temperatures.
Montana and many other states in the northern U.S. have not updated their policies to keep young athletes safe from heatstroke amid rising temperatures.
COVID-19 cases around the U.S. and in Montana are far below where they peaked earlier this year. However, the virus is still present and health care workers say they face harassment from patients and family members over restrictions meant to prevent spread of the illness.
COVID-19 cases around the U.S. and in Montana are far below where they peaked earlier this year. However, the virus is still present and health care workers say they face harassment from patients and family members over restrictions meant to prevent spread of the illness.
For this episode of The Big Why, we’re talking about salmon. They can travel hundreds of miles from the Pacific Ocean up the Columbia River to spawning grounds in Washington, Oregon and Idaho, but did they ever make it to Montana? That’s what fly fisherman and Anaconda resident Rob Murray wants to know.
For this episode of The Big Why, we’re talking about salmon. They can travel hundreds of miles from the Pacific Ocean up the Columbia River to spawning grounds in Washington, Oregon and Idaho, but did they ever make it to Montana? That’s what fly fisherman and Anaconda resident Rob Murray wants to know.
Great Falls police said they arrested a student on Monday for sending a violent threat to students and staff.
Great Falls police said they arrested a student on Monday for sending a violent threat to students and staff.
Millions of dollars of grant funding are flowing into Montana to help health officials and tribes expand treatment for those addicted to opioids and stimulants.
Millions of dollars of grant funding are flowing into Montana to help health officials and tribes expand treatment for those addicted to opioids and stimulants.
Rep. Rosendale and Sen. Daines tell President Biden they don't want him to do something he isn't doing. The Montana Supreme Court nixes — for now — new voting restriction laws, while the bill for litigation tops one million dollars. And congressional candidate Ryan Zinke goes after his opponent Monica Tranel in a new ad also critical of the president.
Rep. Rosendale and Sen. Daines tell President Biden they don't want him to do something he isn't doing. The Montana Supreme Court nixes — for now — new voting restriction laws, while the bill for litigation tops one million dollars. And congressional candidate Ryan Zinke goes after his opponent Monica Tranel in a new ad also critical of the president.
Facial recognition technology has been put into at least one school district in Montana. The surveillance, characterized as a safety tool, is in use as policy makers in Montana debate how to regulate that kind of technology.
Facial recognition technology has been put into at least one school district in Montana. The surveillance, characterized as a safety tool, is in use as policy makers in Montana debate how to regulate that kind of technology.
Montana’s high court has reinstated a block on two laws regulating elections originally passed in 2021 that eliminated same-day voter registration and restricted acceptable forms of voter ID.
Montana’s high court has reinstated a block on two laws regulating elections originally passed in 2021 that eliminated same-day voter registration and restricted acceptable forms of voter ID.
While the national suicide rate among veterans is declining, a recent study found that the suicide rate in eight states, including Montana, may be more than double what the VA is reporting.
While the national suicide rate among veterans is declining, a recent study found that the suicide rate in eight states, including Montana, may be more than double what the VA is reporting.
The state health department says it intends to comply with a court order requiring the agency to reinstate a process that allows transgender Montanans to amend their birth certificates. The state previously defied the order. Judge Michael Moses released a written order Monday calling the state’s reasoning for its previous noncompliance “demonstrably ridiculous.”
The state health department says it intends to comply with a court order requiring the agency to reinstate a process that allows transgender Montanans to amend their birth certificates. The state previously defied the order. Judge Michael Moses released a written order Monday calling the state’s reasoning for its previous noncompliance “demonstrably ridiculous.”
A Gallatin County District Court Judge last week ruled that the state cannot enforce three laws on college campuses passed during the 2021 legislative session. The laws ban transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports; prohibit groups from registering voters in dorms or dining halls; and craft new guidelines for harassment and free speech policies on college campuses.
A Gallatin County District Court Judge last week ruled that the state cannot enforce three laws on college campuses passed during the 2021 legislative session. The laws ban transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports; prohibit groups from registering voters in dorms or dining halls; and craft new guidelines for harassment and free speech policies on college campuses.
Montana’s top health official says he’s concerned about the process for how Medicaid recipients receive coverage for abortions.
Montana’s top health official says he’s concerned about the process for how Medicaid recipients receive coverage for abortions.
The Gianforte administration picks another fight with the judiciary. Abortion and immigration are two national issues influencing state elections. A Republican candidate dons body armor. And a former Republican leader says she's voting to send a Democrat to Congress.
The Gianforte administration picks another fight with the judiciary. Abortion and immigration are two national issues influencing state elections. A Republican candidate dons body armor. And a former Republican leader says she's voting to send a Democrat to Congress.
A district court judge has ordered the state health department to rescind a rule that bars transgender residents from amending the gender marker their birth certificates. The health department is defying that order.
A district court judge has ordered the state health department to rescind a rule that bars transgender residents from amending the gender marker their birth certificates. The health department is defying that order.
Republican Sen. Steve Daines is listed as one of two co-sponsors of South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham’s proposal to impose nationwide restrictions on abortion now that Roe v. Wade is overturned.
Republican Sen. Steve Daines is listed as one of two co-sponsors of South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham’s proposal to impose nationwide restrictions on abortion now that Roe v. Wade is overturned.
The new account portal on Montana’s website now requires users to enter and verify an email address in order to access their information. Before, applicants did not need to possess a verifiable email to apply for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
The new account portal on Montana’s website now requires users to enter and verify an email address in order to access their information. Before, applicants did not need to possess a verifiable email to apply for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
For this episode, we're trying to answer a question with potentially cosmic implications: Flying saucers. Lights in the sky. Montana is a hotspot for UFO sightings. Today, Montana Public Radio reporter Edward O'Brien is tackling the question: Why are reports of UFOs so common in Montana?
For this episode, we're trying to answer a question with potentially cosmic implications: Flying saucers. Lights in the sky. Montana is a hotspot for UFO sightings. Today, Montana Public Radio reporter Edward O'Brien is tackling the question: Why are reports of UFOs so common in Montana?
Missoula City Council member Jordan Hess has been appointed the city’s next mayor. Hess succeeds longtime mayor John Engen who died last month from pancreatic cancer.
Missoula City Council member Jordan Hess has been appointed the city’s next mayor. Hess succeeds longtime mayor John Engen who died last month from pancreatic cancer.
The commission charged with redrawing Montana into 150 legislative districts is touring the state to gather public comment on maps drawn by Republicans and Democrats. During a stop in Pablo, some residents pushed back against proposals they say will dilute the Native vote.
The commission charged with redrawing Montana into 150 legislative districts is touring the state to gather public comment on maps drawn by Republicans and Democrats. During a stop in Pablo, some residents pushed back against proposals they say will dilute the Native vote.
The lease for oil and gas development is on undeveloped land considered the cultural homeland of the Blackfeet Nation. The federal government canceled the lease six years ago saying it was issued illegally.
The lease for oil and gas development is on undeveloped land considered the cultural homeland of the Blackfeet Nation. The federal government canceled the lease six years ago saying it was issued illegally.
Montana’s smaller, more rural school districts are having a hard time finding and retaining teachers. About one-fifth of schools in the state have moved to four-day work weeks to recruit and retain educators.
Montana has six mobile crisis teams, and there are three more teams due to come online soon. However, most are based in counties with urban centers that can afford them.
The future of three new Montana election laws are in the hands of a state judge. Attorneys recently concluded nine days of arguing over the laws' possible benefits and harms. A Yellowstone County judge plans to issue a decision on whether they meet constitutional muster “as soon as possible.”
Montana’s highest ranking Republican officials gathered Friday to talk about the fentanyl crisis in the state and their plans to address it. Their focus is on boosting law enforcement and pushing to restrict immigration.
Montana broke multiple daily temperature records this summer, according to National Weather Service Meteorologist Marty Whitmore. He says many parts of the state are seeing more days over 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit every year due to climate change. MSU professor and lead author of the Montana Climate Assessment Cathy Whitlock says Montanans, especially those in rural areas, may not be prepared for these temperatures because most have historically lived without air conditioning.
Montana's population is among the oldest in the country. While inflation levels near a 40-year high, cost of living adjustments for things like Social Security and food assistance aren't keeping pace, leaving some older adults struggling.
Welcome to The Big Why, a series driven by your curiosity about Montana. We'll answer your questions, large or small, about anything under the Big Sky. This is our inaugural episode and we're answering a question that has to do with this show's name: Why is Montana known as the "Big Sky state"?
A wildfire that started Tuesday afternoon is burning about 100 acres 10 miles west of Polson.
The first case of Monkeypox in Montana was confirmed in a Flathead County in early August, followed by another in Gallatin County. State health officials say they have received vaccines and are working with local public health departments to track the virus.
A trial is underway in Yellowstone County over three new Montana election laws. Plaintiffs focused their first arguments on barriers to voting in Indian Country.
Missoula’s longest serving mayor died Monday. John Engen was elected in 2005 and served from 2006 until his death. According to the Montana Historical Society, that likely makes him one of Montana’s longest-serving mayors.
Montana Republican Rep. Matt Rosendale Friday voted against the Biden Administration’s sweeping climate and health care measure as it passed out of the U.S House. The Inflation Reduction Act is now on its way to President Joe Biden’s desk.
The Montana Supreme Court has affirmed a block on a referendum that would have asked voters to elect supreme court justices in districts instead of statewide.
Extreme heat and bone-dry conditions are prompting officials to raise the fire danger and implement burning restrictions in parts of western Montana.
The post-election audit consisted of 40 counties recounting several competitive races in a few precincts each to check the accuracy of the results produced by ballot tabulators on Election Day.
The Big Hole Watershed Committee warned the public a week ago such measures were likely possible. Sections of the river from headwaters to North Fork Big Hole River and from Tony Schoonen Fishing Access Site to the river mouth have dropped below acceptable flow levels.
The high court on Tuesday ruled that Yellowstone County District Court correctly blocked the abortion laws passed in 2021 while litigation continues in the lower court. The laws ban abortion at 20 weeks, require providers to offer an ultrasound to patients and restrict access to medication abortions.
The three candidates for Montana’s new western congressional district squared off for the first time Monday in a public forum hosted in Missoula. Tensions were high between Republican Ryan Zinke and Democrat Monica Tranel.
The measure includes the largest-ever federal spending package on climate change, caps out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors on Medicare, and extends expiring subsidies that help millions of people afford health insurance.
Planned Parenthood of Montana has reversed course on its decision to stop offering medication abortions to patients living in states that have banned abortion.
The Matt Staff Fire burning east of Helena has burned over 1,500 acres and is still active but suppressed, according to the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff.
A group of parents known as Stand Up Montana brought two cases in Gallatin and Missoula counties where mask rules were implemented in districts last school year in order to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Many families in the Jocko Valley commute to work, and gas prices in Montana have been falling more slowly than in other states. Add to that rising rent and food prices, and the Arlee pantry found itself in the center of a perfect storm.
State health officials Friday announced the first confirmed case of monkeypox in Montana. The case was found in Flathead County.
The Big Hole Watershed Committee said Monday that a section of the river from the headwaters to the North Fork Big Hole River and another from the Tony Schoonen Fishing Access Site to the river mouth are nearing flows low enough to trigger the voluntary conservation measures.
The two Republicans and two Democrats on the districting and apportionment commission each presented their ideas for what the 100 state House of Representative and 50 state Senate districts should look like based on new population data.
The Elmo Fire near the western shore of Flathead Lake grew to over 18,000 acres at last report. About 150 homes are now in the mandatory evacuation area. Officials on Wednesday said the fire has burned four homes and four outbuildings and has a high potential for reaching Flathead Lake by this evening.
Montana Democrats amended their platform last weekend to make clear their priorities for the next legislative session. MTPR's Shaylee Ragar and YPR's Ellis Juhlin explain what’s top of mind for Democrats ahead of the November election.
The Elmo Fire near the western shores of Flathead Lake quickly grew to over 12,000 acres over the weekend and is 0 percent contained, as of Monday morning. The blaze spurred the evacuation of over three dozen homes and could threaten more. Pre-evacuation warnings remain in place for residents south of Lake Mary Ronan Road west of Highway 93. Evacuation orders were lifted for Chief Cliff Estates, according to the incident management team.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte says his administration has surpassed a major goal for economic growth during his first year in office: adding 10,000 jobs that pay $50,000 a year. At the same time, rising inflation is cutting into Montanans' earnings.
Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks says Big Horn, Musselshell and Treasure Counties join Yellowstone County in passing Stage-1 restrictions, which apply to building fires and smoking outside.
State livestock officials announced this week they have confirmed cases of the avian flu in Flathead County. The highly contagious virus was found in a backyard poultry flock.
Dangerously hot conditions with daytime temperatures 95 to 105 are expected at low elevations through Sunday. Overnight temperatures will be in the 60s.
American Prairie (formerly known as American Prairie Reserve) has obtained a permit from the federal Bureau of Land Management to graze bison on more than 63,000 acres in Phillips County.
Montana Senator Steve Daines previously supported the bill but joined 41 other Republicans Wednesday to block the burn pit legislation over concerns of excess federal spending.
According to data from the state labor department, in 2021 Montana added nearly 13,000 new jobs that pay above the state’s median wage. That exceeded the governor’s goal to add a net of 10,000 new jobs that pay more than $50,000.
A Billings district judge Wednesday struck down a state law barring some young voters from accessing a ballot before they turn 18, even if they’d be of legal age on Election Day.
A 79-year-old Florida man died Monday morning while attempting to ascend a steep off-trail slope in southeastern Glacier National Park.
Cook Political Report has rated the western district as slightly more competitive than the eastern race, but projects that both will go to Republicans.
Forecasters predict daytime highs approaching 100 degrees heading into the weekend. The National Weather Service urges Montanans to take precautions to avoid heat stress injuries or even death.
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has joined 21 other states in suing the Biden Administration over new guidance that could withhold funds from states that are found to discriminate against LGBTQ youth.
The U.S. Supreme Court last month issued a decision that allows states to prosecute non-Indians who commit crimes against Native Americans in Indian country. MTPR’s Freddy Monares spoke with Indian law attorneys to break down the ruling.
Montana Republicans are zeroed in on the races for two state Supreme Court seats this election cycle which could decide the future of access to abortion in Montana.
There are low levels of phosphorus compared to nitrogen in Flathead Lake relative to other bodies of water, researchers found.
A longtime educator and former Montana Lt. Governor, Angela McLean, will temporarily take the helm at Bitterroot College as it prepares for the start of autumn semester.
Two climbers from the Flathead Valley died while attempting to summit Dusty Star Mountain in Glacier National Park, according to park officials.
According to the report, Indigenous people accounted for nearly a third of all 2021 missing person reports in Montana, despite only making up roughly 7% of the state’s total population.
Two climbers from the Flathead Valley died while attempting to summit Dusty Star Mountain in Glacier National Park, according to park officials.
Continued hot, dry conditions prompted the Bitterroot National Forest Monday to bump the fire danger up a notch to “Very High.”
A Flathead Valley nonprofit is helping refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine settle in northwest Montana. Two families have already settled in the Flathead and more will arrive soon.
The Biden administration is urging Montana’s governor to encourage more residents to sign up for a federal program offering assistance for broadband service.
The Black Sandy Fire burning in the hills north of Helena prompted about 30 households to evacuate this afternoon.
"You can get an effective room air cleaner that you can make yourself for between $35 and $45," says Mechanical Engineer Tom Javins.
The task force made up of state and local government officials, business professionals, economists and low-income advocates are developing actionable proposals to make housing more affordable.
Montana’s top forester, Sonya Germann, will become the next Bureau of Land Management director for Montana and the Dakotas next month.
Around 30 Montana teens with disabilities from all over the state are in Helena this week for the Montana Youth Leadership Forum. The students practiced becoming the state’s next leaders during a mock legislative session.
Preliminary reports from the Montana Secretary of State’s office show voters won’t see any citizen-sponsored initiatives on the ballot this November. All four qualified measures failed to garner the signatures needed to make an appearance.
Hardline conservatives and moderate Republicans continued their longstanding clash at the Montana GOP convention in Billings over the weekend. Yellowstone Public Radio’s Ellis Juhlin and Montana Public Radio’s Shaylee Ragar break down who holds power and what the GOP’s priorities are ahead of the 2023 legislative session.
With the launch of the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline number in Montana last week, the Veterans Crisis Line has also merged with the new number. Veterans and their loved ones can now dial 988 and then press 1 to speak with responders specially trained in de-escalation techniques.
Missoula officials on Monday, July 18, raised the fire danger in the county to ‘high’ due to increasing temperatures and drying vegetation.
A state lawmaker has conceded the race for a seat on the state’s utility oversight board after requesting a recount. Annie Bukacek, a Flathead area doctor, is the presumptive winner of the Republican primary race by a razor thin margin.
A climate and culture survey of workers at the Montana State Hospital published last week found that toxic management is among the top reasons people intend to leave their jobs.
As of today, Montana is one of only eight states left without a reported case of monkeypox. Missoula public health officials suspect it’s only a matter of time before that changes.
Wildlife officials today implemented fishing restrictions on parts of the Smith and Sun rivers. Low water flows and high temperatures will prohibit fishing from 2 p.m. to midnight.
After first voting against it, Rep. Rosendale has signed on to an amended bill expanding benefits to millions of veterans exposed to toxins passed the U.S. House on July 14.
Gov. Greg Gianforte announced a task force on housing Thursday with the goal of providing recommendations to bring down housing costs in Montana.
The state commerce department announced Thursday, July 4, that Montana homeowners who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic now have access to financial assistance.
As activity picks up on rivers and creeks around western Montana, floaters are being urged to prepare for potentially dangerous debris in the water. Boaters are finding more debris and log jams in western Montana rivers than in a typical year, state Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials say.
Gas prices in Montana are falling like in other parts of the country, but a gallon of gas and diesel are both more than 20 cents higher than the national average. Tourists in the state are part of the reason gas prices remain at historic highs.
With the next legislative session still six months away, Montana Democrats are eyeing a surplus in the state budget of more than a billion dollars. They’re proposing investments in affordable housing, child care, mental health and property tax relief.
Some Canadian parents are making the trek into Montana to get their young children vaccinated against COVID-19.
The Montana Supreme Court has ruled that the state Legislature does not have the authority to legislate gun rules on college campuses. The justices struck down part of a new law that would have expanded concealed carry rights on campuses.
The state Legislative Audit Division concluded that at least $50,000 of inmate welfare funds went to inappropriate uses
Regional flooding has impacted where visitors can travel in Glacier. The popular Avalanche Lake Trail remains closed due to flood damage. Officials are working to determine an opening date for Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Attorney General Austin Knudsen argues Montana’s abortion access is “inextricably linked” to the now overturned Roe v. Wade precedent. He first asked the Montana Supreme Court to overturn the state’s 1999 Armstrong precedent earlier this year.
A wildfire that burned in the Helena Valley is fully contained after it forced several residents to evacuate from their homes Monday afternoon.
"It's one thing to say that we support unborn children and support mothers, but we aren't just pro-birth, we're pro-life," Montana Catholic Conference Executive Director Matthew Brower says.
Under the “moderate” danger, officials say fires can start from most accidental causes. Fire Prevention Specialist Anna Bateson says recreators should be sure to thoroughly douse any campfires with water and avoid parking campers and trailers on dry grasses.
After news broke that the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the national right to an abortion, our reporters went out to ask Montanans their views on the ruling.
About two-thirds of Montana counties are seeing medium to high impacts on healthcare facilities as a result of rising COVID-19 cases.
Montana’s U.S. Senators split their votes on a gun violence bill that passed the Senate late Thursday night. The legislation follows two mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas.
Montana politicians today lined up on party lines to praise and condemn the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn federal protection of abortion access.
In a recent news release, the National Park Service estimates that hundreds of millions of dollars make their way into gateway communities surrounding Montana’s national parks.
A bill to expand benefits to millions of veterans exposed to toxic burn pits is suddenly hung up on a procedural snag in Congress.
The Fort Belknap Indian Community is training its young people to collect native grass seeds and restore their lands into the future.
The Republican members of Montana’s congressional delegation praised today’s U.S Supreme Court decision, which expanded gun rights.
Yellowstone National Park’s northern entrances remain closed after major flooding swallowed roads, bridges and homes. State and federal public land agencies are now anticipating visitors to look for other outdoor recreation opportunities, bringing crowds and tourism dollars to other areas.
Montana’s cool, wet spring has improved the state’s drought conditions. The state is expected to release a snapshot of drought conditions Thursday.
The Kootenai National Forest finalized a contentious logging project on Tuesday after a court-ordered evaluation found that the Black Ram project won’t severely impact grizzly bears and other threatened species. But environmental groups are pushing back against that finding.
The Biden administration made good on a promised, but long-delayed pay raise for federal firefighters on Tuesday. The first of those temporary payments should be delivered next month.
Governor Greg Gianforte toured Flathead County on Monday to get an update on flooding in the area. Conditions on the ground, evacuation notices and orders keep shifting along with river levels.
This week, Montanans celebrated the 50th anniversary of the state’s constitution in Helena. The two-day celebration came with a warning: the document’s legacy is not guaranteed.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration greenlighted both Moderna and Pfizer’s shots for young children today and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to follow suit this weekend.
William Daly Harrington, a former East Helena police chief, was sentenced in federal court to serve more than 5 years in prison for distributing child pornography.
A bill expanding benefits to millions of military veterans exposed to toxins is now one step away from President Joe Biden’s desk.
President Joe Biden has declared the catastrophic flooding in Montana a major disaster following requests from the state’s governor and congressional delegation. Governor Greg Gianforte has been traveling since late last week and is scheduled to return to Montana Thursday night.
Flathead County commissioners declared a state of emergency Wednesday due to flooding from recent heavy rains. The move will give county agencies access to emergency funding.
President Joe Biden has declared the catastrophic flooding in Montana a major disaster following requests from the state’s governor and congressional delegation. Governor Greg Gianforte has been traveling since late last week and is scheduled to return to Montana Thursday night.
An independent candidate for Montana’s eastern U.S. House district has qualified for the general election ballot.
A disputed rule that sets an acceptable level of selenium pollution in a northwest Montana lake will stay in place after environmental officials agreed it complies with state law.
The Montana Constitution turned 50-years-old this June. The people who wrote it, have studied it and created policy based on it are celebrating in Helena this week.
Heavy rain and high flows on the Flathead River are putting a damper on the early summer season for rafting and fishing guides near Glacier National Park. Some business owners are finding alternatives.
In a news release, Gianforte’s office said the governor’s personal trip out of the country has been long-planned with First Lady Susan Gianforte, and they left late last week. It's unclear where the governor is and when he will return.
Montana Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras is the acting executive of the state while Gov. Greg Gianforte is out of the country. The governor’s office did not say where Gianforte is traveling.
Almost all visitors have been evacuated from Yellowstone National Park due to historic flooding, but superintendent Cam Sholly said in a press conference this afternoon that the park is considering how it can reopen later this season.
The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office is asking residents in low-lying areas of the county to evacuate as a precautionary measure due to risk of flooding. The middle fork of the Flathead River has swelled in recent days to over 16 feet.
All Livingston HealthCare patients and staff are safe after rising flood waters Monday prompted the evacuation of the hospital.
The Montana Veterans Affairs Health Care System launched a new check-in tool for patients across its 17 facilities around the state.
Weather forecasters are calling for another wet week west of the Continental Divide that could keep rivers running high.
Why was the Zinke- Olszewski race so close? Why was Monica Tranel's win over Cora Neumann so big? Will Democratic voters show up for the general election?
Two Missoula primary races for Republican precinct heads were omitted from the election ballot.
Former Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke has won the GOP primary for Montana’s western U.S House district.
April brought the most precipitation of any month of the year to Montana. The cool, wet spring improved snowpack and delayed the spring runoff, but this encouraging outlook comes with a caveat.
Unofficial election results for the District 5 Public Service Commission seat show Republican candidates Annie Bukacek and Derek Skees both won 31% of 35,500 votes cast. Bukacek has a lead of 74 votes.
The park’s public information officer, Gina Kerzman, says rangers will adjust by moving most park activities outdoors. The decision was made Wednesday after Glacier County, one of two counties adjacent to the park, crossed into a high community level of COVID-19
Monica Tranel beat out Cora Neumann and Tom Winter in the Democratic primary for Montana's western district U.S. House seat. Tranel will now advance to the general election.
This is the state’s biggest election to have in-person voting since polling places were closed during the pandemic. Despite claims to the contrary, delays in results are normal.
Monday marked the 50th anniversary of the ratification of Montana’s constitution. Former delegates and governors will highlight a celebration of the state’s bill of rights at the Capitol next week.
Federal and state land managers in Montana are not yet fully staffed with their usual number of seasonal firefighters. During its hiring process, the U.S. Forest Service has faced the same workforce shortage pressures affecting the private sector.
It is too late to register to vote, but voters can still turn in their ballots to election offices before 8 p.m. Tuesday. A new law requires voters to show photo identification when they cast a ballot.
Super PACs may be following the law but are they playing fair? Ryan Zinke's new ad wants to reassure voters he doesn't live in California. Democrats may have to reckon with a deceased candidate winning the eastern congressional district primary. And the contested western congressional district could boost voter turnout in this mid-term election. Listen now on Campaign Beat.
Montana state health department spokesperson Jon Ebelt says the state is ordering vaccines in anticipation of the approval, but didn’t say how many. He says providers could receive the vaccines by June 21, which is the earliest they could be administered following approval.
A large data center could be built near Polson in the coming years, according to a proposal pitched by entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary during a technology summit in Bozeman this week. O’Leary’s investment firm is working on the potential project with the Bitcoin mining company Bit Zero and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
Potential for significant wildland fire is anticipated to be normal this June, according to the latest forecast from the National Interagency Fire Center. However, that could change later this summer, especially in areas east of the Continental Divide.
Later this year, Montana tribes will receive the first round of funding for water and sewer projects on tribal land from Congress’ bipartisan infrastructure bill. On Thursday, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and Lake County announced that the two governments will work to jointly fund road and infrastructure projects.
In the Bitterroot Valley, as in most of Montana, there’s a housing crisis and increasing need for shelter beds. A recent survey found over 100 people without homes, nearly three times numbers a decade ago. Until recently, there was no winter shelter in the valley, but the death of one man led to change.
Conservation groups are suing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over its assessment of the Flathead National Forest’s road-building policy in grizzly bear and bull trout habitat.
Before some Montanans have a chance at finding housing, they first need a cell phone. Programs in Missoula have worked with homeless clients to make that happen. But the money and the phones are running out.
United Property Owners of Montana has argued that elk are overgrazing on ranch lands, leading to grass shortages for cattle. The group wants private landowners to have more say in how Montana FWP manages elk herds. The "Keep Elk Public" coalition says this would give landowners too much power.
A $25,000 donation to Montana’s only statewide food bank will be used to help mitigate the rising cost of delivering food to pantries statewide. The donation comes amid growing demand for food donations.
Federal environmental regulators will hold a meeting in Libby Wednesday evening to discuss the future cleanup of the nearby defunct vermiculite mine. Asbestos from the mine led to a public health emergency in Libby.
The Columbia Falls Police Department says it has arrested a 14-year-old boy for allegedly making threats to the local middle school. Police say this was an isolated incident and there is no ongoing threat to the school.
Lead contamination and exposure in Montana go back several decades. But the data do not. Without more information, state and local health departments have no way of knowing how many people have been affected and the extent of the impact.
For one Montana family, lead contamination in their home brought on what one parent describes as the “biggest trial we’ve ever been through.”
In Montana, there’s a new state requirement to test all K-12 schools for lead in water fixtures. Outdated and deteriorating plumbing infrastructure is a primary source of lead exposure, and young children under six years of age are particularly vulnerable.
Another round of thoughts and prayers from political leaders. The Supreme Court race turns explicitly partisan. The commissioner of political practices says state leaders need to join the fight against election disinformation. And the health department issues an emergency rule to keep trans Montanans from changing their birth certificates.
Clara McRae was a senior in high school when she and her classmates formed the Helena Youth Against Gun Violence group in 2018. In the wake of the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, she speaks again with MTPR's Corin Cates-Carney.
Fair housing laws protect many Montanans from discrimination when they’re looking for a place to rent or buy. People with criminal records, though, struggle to secure housing long after their sentences end. Some Montana organizations are working to change that.
The Blackfeet Nation hasn’t had a shelter available as temporary housing for almost a decade. That changed late last year when the Medicine Bear Lodge in Browning re-opened as the Blackfeet Medicine Bear Shelter.
The Nk̓͏ʷusm Salish Language School in Arlee is celebrating its 20th year of teaching kids about their culture. Nk̓͏ʷusm in Salish translates to family.
State troopers starting this weekend will increase their presence on Montana roads and highways, cracking down on unsafe drivers. Excessive speed and impaired driving are among the most common factors leading to fatal crashes.
Montana’s top political watchdog made an impassioned plea on Wednesday for state officials to combat election misinformation and hostility.
Congressional bargainers are celebrating a deal they say could pave the way for passage of legislation that would help millions of veterans exposed to toxins from burn pits during their time in the military. The deal could help roughly two-thirds of Montana veterans.
A U.S. District Court judge put a hold on the project Wednesday on the basis that the Forest Service did not properly evaluate the project’s impact on the small threatened grizzly bear population in the bordering Cabinet-Yaak ecosystem.
Poor housing conditions create additional challenges for an already difficult job – wildland firefighting. Firefighters and their families are trying to resolve these issues through legislation.
Sen. Steve Daines wants to protect kids from gay TV characters, and compares women to sea turtles and eagles. Ryan Zinke touts his record as former Interior Secretary in a new ad, despite being fired from that job. And Democrats Cora Neumann and Monica Tranel get testy over a super PAC attack ad.
Health department Director Adam Meier announced the plan Friday after previously telling lawmakers the agency would not renew the program.
Voters will receive ballots for each of the qualified political parties, but can only submit one party’s ballot. The winning nominees of each party will go head-to-head in the general election this fall.
Under what’s known as Good Neighbor Authority, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation can carry out logging, thinning and other projects on U.S. Forest Service Land.
Mary Todd is a pastor and small business owner from Kalispell. In the Republican primary, she faces four opponents. Todd sat down with MTPR's Shaylee Ragar.
All three primary candidates – Monica Tranel, Tom Winter and Cora Neumann – fielded questions about their plans to address Montana’s affordable housing crisis, climate change and competing against a Republican opponent in the general election. A Democrat has not held a Montana U.S. House seat since 1997.
Republicans have two main options if they move to ban abortion in Montana – they can enact a law that will most likely be challenged in the courts, or they can push for a constitutional referendum to change the state’s bill of rights, which would then have to go before voters.
The U.S. Department of the Interior Wednesday released a report that for the first time lists former federal Indian boarding schools in the country. The investigation found 18 sites in Montana.
Al Olszewski is a Republican running for Montana's House District 01. Listen to his interview with MTPR's Shaylee Ragar here.
According to AAA, the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas in Montana reached a record $4.22. Diesel fuel jumped to an average of $5.46, exceeding its previous record by more than a quarter.
Western Montana’s only native turtle species is the painted turtle, which have a bright orange underside and generally don’t grow more than a foot long. Snapping turtles can get much bigger, and they have longer tails and a large head with a distinctive hooked upper beak.
Democratic candidates vying for their party’s nomination in the race for Montana’s U.S. House western district debated Friday. Issues like access to health care, child care and transparency in cattle pricing revealed differences in opinion.
Cora Neumann is a public health expert who has worked for nonprofits most of her career. In the Democratic primary for U.S. House District 01 representing western Montana, she faces Tom Winter and Monica Tranel. Listen to Neumann's interview with MTPR’s Shaylee Ragar.
Mark Sweeney was 62. He was born in Miles City and later made Philipsburg home. A statement from Sweeney’s family described him as a beloved father, husband and public servant.
Monica Tranel is running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House District 01, representing western Montana. Tranel is a longtime attorney and a former Olympian. Listen to her interview with MTPR's Shaylee Rager.
Dozens of people Thursday walked across Browning to commemorate a national day of awareness for missing and murdered indigenous persons. The walk comes as the local college is launching a database that aims to help resolve unsolved cases.
More water is expected to flow through Montana’s rivers than previously forecast. April’s precipitation provided a badly needed boost to the state’s snowpack.
A Supreme Court leak adds more drama to the 2022 midterm election in Montana and elsewhere. Overturning Roe will also drive a spate of new anti-abortion bills in the next Legislature. New campaign ads from both parties try to define who's a "real Montanan."
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes recently reclaimed management of the land that made up the National Bison Range in northwest Montana. As the tribes resume their care of the land, they’re correcting inaccuracies at the Bison Range’s visitor center to better reflect their language and history in bison conservation.
Missoula County’s new protocol, put in place in mid April, changes the way first responders and law enforcement respond to strangulation and prioritize the cases for prosecution.
Six to 10 inches of snow could fall Thursday night through Friday night in mountain passes in Cascade, Judith Basin, Jefferson, Meagher, and Lewis and Clark counties. Nearby counties along the Rocky Mountain Front and in Beaverhead, Madison and Gallatin counties could also see several inches of snow, mostly in areas above 5,000 feet.
A Lewis and Clark County district judge has ruled that Montana’s Attorney General and Secretary of State did their due diligence in vetting a proposed constitutional initiative that if passed would cap property taxes.
The survey asks participants to rate their communities based on access to public transportation, social events and long-term care facilities, among myriad other topics. Results are expected to come out in October.
Highlands College of Montana Tech will use the $1 million of federal funding given to the Butte-Silver Bow county as pandemic aid to provide workforce development, education and training.
The Salish Kootenai College launched a program this fall that aims to train the next generation of fire, wildlife and forest managers in the Columbia River Basin in Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon. It's the first master’s program at the Pablo-based four-year school on the Flathead Indian Reservation.
Democrats compete over the working class vote. Ryan Zinke opts out of a Republican debate. Not every Republican congressional candidate believes the presidential election was stolen. Another law passed by the last Legislature hits a legal snag.
The new law requires transgender Montanans undergo and provide proof of gender-affirming surgery in court in order to amend a birth certificate.
The Montana State Hospital’s top administrator Kyle Fouts will no longer oversee operations starting May 9. The change comes after federal officials pulled funding at the Warm Springs facility due to patient safety issues.
“Montana businesses are supportive of comprehensive tax reform. CI-121 is neither comprehensive, nor is it even reform. It is a clumsy bludgeon, similar to a bull in a china closet,” the Montana Chamber of Commerce executive director said.
A small coalition of hardline conservatives submitted the request last month, saying there’s “widespread belief” among Montanans that irregularities have sown doubt in its election integrity. Their request did not cite evidence of irregularities, nor polling to indicate it’s a common belief.
Nurses at Barrett Hospital and HealthCare voted 18 to 8 in favor of forming a union. The state nurses association says the move is part of a growing trend of organized health care labor.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks says the three- to four-year-old bear killed four calves. A different grizzly was recently reported in the Augusta area, and state wildlife officials urge residents to continue to exercise caution.
Four of the five Republican candidates for Montana’s western U.S. House seat squared off Tuesday in a primary election debate in Kalispell. Mitch Heuer, Matt Jette, Albert Olszewski and Mary Todd attended the debate hosted by the Flathead County Republican Central Committee. Ryan Zinke declined the invitation to the debate, according to the central committee.
People whose jobs depend on tourist spending are hoping Montana’s allure will remain strong enough to keep visitors coming, in spite of higher gas prices forecast for this summer. The more than $3 billion they spend every year keeps a lot of businesses afloat.
Filming in Montana of the hit cable show "Yellowstone" has added considerably to the state’s economy, according to a University of Montana study. The study found the state has collected more than $10 million in tax revenue, added 527 jobs and saw more than $15 million spent on Montana-based products and services during filming.
A mill levy request mailed out to Ravalli County voters Friday would fund the state’s first independent community college in over five decades. Supporters call it an economic development opportunity. Opponents say residents are already struggling to make ends meet and can’t afford another tax.
The Montana Supreme Court heard oral arguments Friday over whether law enforcement agencies can be held liable when an on-duty officer commits sexual assault.
Gov. Gianforte touts his success working with political opponents. Two Democratic congressional candidates debut their first TV ads. The Board of Public Education is sued over lack of public input on a recent decision over the word "equity." And Sen. Daines sees firsthand the horror of the war in Ukraine.
Federal officials are expected later this year to end a pandemic-era safety net for recipients of subsidized health coverage through Medicaid. Advocates worry some people will lose their coverage unnecessarily. MTPR’s Shaylee Ragar talks with the Montana State News Bureau’s Holly Michels about what’s changing and how recipients can prepare.
A special committee of Montana lawmakers investigating the state’s judicial branch focused on the retention of public records during a meeting Wednesday. Lawmakers say public records problems exist across the state government.
State health officials say they have signed a contract with a Helena-based consulting firm to address patient safety issues at the Montana State Hospital. The federal government pulled funding for the hospital this week citing safety problems that resulted in patient deaths.
The plaintiffs allege the board didn’t give proper public notice before it voted against an update to the Montana teacher code of ethics developed by an education advisory council that would have included “equity” as part of the code.
A report from the Montana Healthcare Foundation found that enrollees in Montana’s Medicaid expansion program needed less emergency care after having health coverage.
Some Montana emergency responders, like those in the Madison Valley, are trying something new. Instead of only responding to 911 calls, they are working with patients in their homes to prevent unnecessary medical emergencies.
Many of Montana's voting laws have changed over the last year, including ID requirements, registration deadlines and limits to ballot drop-offs. Some are being challenged in court. Confused? What questions do you have about voting in Montana? Ask them here and we'll try to answer them.
Opponents said it would lead to traffic issues and impact current neighborhoods, while advocates say the city desperately needs more housing.
Nancy Erickson, a renowned Montana artist of international standing died in Missoula this week.
The numbers of active COVID-19 cases statewide Tuesday were roughly half of what they were just a week ago, falling from a little over 17,000 to roughly 8,000 active cases.
The easement would protect public access and recreation on private timberlands around the Thompson Chain of Lakes in Flathead, Lincoln and Sanders counties.
Montana is accessing federal funds for a program aimed at preventing kids from ever getting separated from their families.
During the 2021 legislative session, the bill was amended at the last minute to restrict political activity on college campuses and judges’ ability to rule on cases involving political donors.
Montana officials are looking to distribute $266 million in federal stimulus funds to expand access to broadband internet. Applications for proposed projects are now open.
“All major river basins have a below-normal snowpack, except for the Lower Clark Fork, Kootenai and St. Mary’s River basins," says Eric Larson, a snow survey hydrologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service in Bozeman.
For the first time in 30 years, Montanans will be voting to send two representatives to the U.S. House, one from the Eastern District and one from the West. MTPR's Sally Mauk, Lee Newspapers State News Bureau Chief Holly Michels and University of Montana Political Science Professor and Mansfield Center fellow Rob Saldin talk about the fundraising race, name recognition and why the conventional wisdom about voter turnout may not apply anymore.
A University of Montana economist estimates $35 million has been spent in the state caring for preventable COVID-19 hospitalizations among the unvaccinated.
The Gianforte administration’s initiative to get Montanans back to work amid the pandemic went mostly unanswered. Here are the findings from the state labor department’s return-to-work bonus program.
Montana’s influenza cases have nearly doubled since mid-January. The surge comes as COVID-19 hospitalizations are spiking.
The highest avalanche danger exists at the middle and upper elevations for the Whitefish and Flathead ranges, and Glacier National Park. Avalanche danger in the Swan Range is moderate.
The Angel Initiative requires law enforcement to change how they do business: If a person self-reports their substance abuse and turns over their drugs, police won’t press charges. Instead, they’ll help the person find treatment.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte has appointed a director to the state Department of Agriculture.
The days of Missoula-area veterans seeking VA health care services in a cramped, undersized clinic are over. The new 60,000 square foot David J. Thatcher VA Clinic just east of Missoula International Airport opens Feb. 1.
Earlier this month Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte announced the state had ordered 650,000 rapid COVID-19 tests. Those test kits are now rolling in, and counties like Missoula are starting to announce distribution locations and times.
According to Manhattan School District officials, John Sillitti, a high-school counselor and coach, resigned on Jan. 5 amid an allegation he had an inappropriate relationship with a high-school student roughly 15 years ago.
The COVID-19 Omicron variant is forcing changes to contract tracing in the state. It's also amplifying staff shortages at hospitals.