A Cascade County judge has ordered an election redo for parts of a local irrigation district. The irrigation district admitted it made key mistakes during the election in spring 2023.

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries power everything from our phones and laptops to power tools and personal medical devices. But those discarded lithium batteries are also exploding in our landfills and starting fires. MTPR’s Edward O’Brien reports on Lewis and Clark County's efforts to address the problem.

Four people were fined $135 each by Montana game wardens for riding off-road vehicles across a closed stretch of the Big Hole river.

An oversight board of Montana attorneys has recommended that Attorney General Austin Knudsen be suspended from practicing law for 90 days. The decision came after Knudsen was charged with 41 counts of professional misconduct.

An oil company comes in, drills a hole and a well is born. But what if the well stops producing or the company in charge goes bankrupt, leaving behind holes that can be thousands of feet deep, spout toxic gasses and muck things up on the surface? These so-called 'orphan wells' are all over Montana.

The US Forest Service is cutting seasonal jobs to deal with an expected budget shortfall. MTPR’s John Hooks looked into potential impacts in Montana, he discussed those with All Things Considered host Elinor Smith.

Planners project Missoula has to build as many as 27,000 new homes by 2045 to meet affordable housing needs for a growing population. To do that, the city’s new land use plan proposes a significant boost to the number of dwelling units allowed on many types of residential property across the city.

Rolling waves of sweet smelling shrubs, often called the sagebrush sea, stretch on for miles across the Western U.S. But this important ecosystem is threatened by human alteration and invasive species. New federal investments aim to address these threats in Montana.

A disability rights watchdog group is suing Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, saying it violated a Montana State Hospital patient’s right to vote.

As wildfire seasons change, more people are exposed to more intense fires and more smoke. Public health researchers from across the West met last week to discuss how to prepare for a future with fire.

State officials Monday approved the purchase of a nearly 33,000-acre conservation easement about 45 miles southeast of Libby. And state wildlife officials have opened 40,000 more acres for upland bird hunting.

Montana weather forecasters are increasingly confident this winter could be cooler and wetter than recent years.

The two main candidates for governor spar over property taxes, housing costs, and abortion. And the two candidates for the western district congressional race tussle over the same issues in recent debates.

The Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday released a new plan that will expand the number of homes in Butte eligible to receive free cleanup of lead contamination.

State utility regulators have denied an eastern Montana utility’s request to temporarily charge customers more for gas. But long term gas costs will depend on a larger rate case.

Homeowners in Montana are facing challenges to find– and pay for– insurance due to rising wildfire risk.

More than 250 Montana health care providers have signed a letter in support of protecting abortion access in the upcoming election.

A new report shows that the population that uses public assistance programs is diverse.

A Montana fuel company will receive a billion dollar loan from the federal government to increase its production. Local communities hope these funds will enable the company to dispose of its waste differently.

The Democrat and Republican competing to be Montana’s governor debated for the first and only time Wednesday. The hour-long matchup was hosted by ABC/ Fox-affiliate NonStop Local.

Homeless people in Kalispell say they could freeze to death on the streets this winter after city officials closed a warming shelter. The shelter is suing the city to reopen before the snow flies.

Homeless people in Kalispell say they could freeze to death on the streets this winter after city officials closed a warming shelter. The shelter is suing the city to reopen before the snow flies.

Housing was a key issue during Saturday’s debate between Republican incumbent Ryan Zinke and Democratic challenger Monica Tranel.

Before absentee ballots were sent out, MTPR’s Shaylee Ragar took a road trip to talk with Montanans about their choices in candidates, what issues are top of mind and how they plan to vote. Here’s her dispatch from the road.

A train derailed along Highway 2 over the weekend near Glacier National Park.

Montana’s prolonged dry and warmer-than average conditions will end abruptly later this week.

The Farm Bill influences what kind of food is grown, how food is grown, and pays for the largest food assistance program in the country.

It took more than two months for city workers to comb every street in Missoula inspecting trees for damage caused by the late July windstorm that pummeled western Montana. Now, Missoula officials say they’re about to embark on the city’s largest-ever urban forestry project.

State Attorney General Austin Knudsen is making headlines — but not the kind you want when you're seeking reelection. Two state Supreme Court candidates are hoping to get voters' attention.

Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s disciplinary hearing for charges of professional misconduct concluded Thursday. A special counsel says Knudsen undermined the integrity of the judiciary through defiant language and rejection of a court order.

As Montana’s population ages, providers serving low-income seniors say more people aren’t getting the care they need as they wait to get on Medicaid. Montana lawmakers are considering creating a shortcut to that care.

The Montana Legislature has a new, interactive model to forecast impacts of a hypothetical sales tax in the state.

The Missoula Housing Impact Fund is on track to raising its initial target of $10 million. Modeled after a similar project in Gallatin County, the goal is to bolster the local supply of rental and single-family homes.

The Montana Supreme Court upheld a temporary block Wednesday on laws that would restrict access to abortion while a lawsuit continues to play out in district court.

A homeless shelter in Kalispell is taking the city to court after the city council revoked its permit to operate. The shelter’s lawyers expect this to be an important case nationally.

As reporters at Montana Public Radio talked with potential voters this year, "trust," or the lack of it, came up a lot. Some Montanans don’t feel like it’s worth casting a ballot. They don’t feel heard by the people campaigning to represent them in government.

Montana’s attorney general appeared before an oversight commission on Wednesday to face charges of professional misconduct. Attorney General Austin Knudsen was asked about several statements he or attorneys in his office made about the Montana Supreme Court in 2021.

"How's life? Are you liking life okay? Are you aware that you're living a really unusual life for a deer? I just got really curious because you can’t ask a deer how it’s feeling. So I thought I’d ask you guys and see if you had some insights."

From abortion access to getting timely care, health care reporter Aaron Bolton spoke with MTPR's Elinor Smith about the context behind some voters' concerns.

Abortion rights advocates are asking Montana voters to add protections for abortion access into the state Constitution.

People having trouble keeping up with student loan payments may soon face penalties for the first time since the pandemic.

Opioid overdose deaths are trending down nationwide and early data indicates the number of 911 calls for overdoses in Montana are also falling.

Most of the Missoula Rural Fire Department’s fire stations don’t meet industry standards to protect firefighters. A study is now underway to determine what it will take to update those facilities.

Climate groups and members of the public are calling on a consumer advocacy group led by the Legislature to oppose increases to their power bills.

Health care clinics are suing the state over new regulations for abortion providers.

Cascade County Commissioners agreed to pay thousands of dollars to settle a discrimination complaint brought against them by a former clerk and recorder.

Public land managers want to make it easier to develop and sell state trust lands for real estate. Lawmakers are divided on supporting it.

MTPR’s Austin Amestoy sat down with Montana Teacher of the Year Dawn Sievers to talk about the award and how teaching has changed in the nearly three decades since her career began.

Groups backing three constitutional initiatives in Montana this election cycle are far outraising their opponents. That’s according to data compiled by the research group Open Secrets.

State environmental regulators have proposed changes to how they assess pollutants that can kill aquatic species in rivers and streams. Environmental groups worry the methods aren’t scientifically sound.

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.

The former head of the Montana Highway Patrol is suing the state’s attorney general for wrongful discharge.

A growing number of schools in Montana have switched to four-day weeks since the pandemic. A new report from University of Montana researchers shows shorter weeks may hurt student performance and school budgets.

NorthWestern Energy customers will see lower electricity bills this month.

A state law went into effect Tuesday that gives Montanans more control over their online personal data.

Politicians have a lot to say about drug smuggling at the southern border and whether it’s tied to immigration. So we’re going to take a few minutes to hear how Montanans’ views are shaped by political rhetoric and whether they reflect what’s really happening.

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.

The Montana VA says it has exceeded its goal for housing homeless veterans this year.

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.

Cloud seeding could be used to boost winter snowpack in the Big Hole watershed. That’s according to researchers with the National Science Foundation.

A caterpillar crosses the road. It starts a conversation about the long view of conservation, across species and across generations.

Two University of Montana student athletes signed a name, image, and likeness deal to endorse Democratic Sen. Jon Tester. It's the first political endorsement of its kind after restrictions on the deals for college athletes were lifted in 2021.

Some Montana parents sending their students back to school this fall had new options to pick from. The state’s first batch of 17 public charter schools opened their doors less than a year after they first got the green light.

Three people survived a helicopter crash near Boulder on Sunday, according to local officials. Gov. Greg Gianforte issued executive orders declaring severe weather-related disasters in three Montana communities.

A sewage backup into a Montana State Prison unit lasted for several days last month.

The Montana Supreme Court hears a case over what documents qualify for executive privilege.

The state’s largest utility explained to lawmakers this week why it wants to expand ownership of the Colstrip power plant. NorthWestern Energy plans to own more than half of Colstrip by 2026.

Montana Democratic candidates are not anxious to ride Kamala Harris's coattails. Monica Tranel vows to make the border safer, while her opponent Ryan Zinke vows to protect girls sports from trans athletes. Tim Sheehy remains silent about insulting Montana's Crow Tribe. And Republicans accuse Jon Tester of bias against white farmers.

An audit of Montana’s Office of Public Instruction raises questions over how the agency spent more than $67 million in federal funding.

A constitutional measure to protect abortion has a spot on Montana’s ballot this fall. Candidates in the U.S. Senate and governor’s races are also highlighting the issue in their campaigns.

Briefs: National parks bring billion dollar boost; PSC has more time to respond to climate petition; Polls show Sheehy leading in the Senate race.

State lawmakers declined to support two bills that would fundamentally change how Montanans are committed to the state psychiatric hospital.

Montana wildlife managers have released their final analysis of the environmental impacts of state management of grizzly bears.

A scientist realizes if sea ice keeps melting, polar bears will go extinct. To help them, the Endangered Species Act takes on climate change — and in this battle, the law may have met its match.

Two proposals Montanans will vote on this year would change how the state runs its future elections. Supporters say they’ll combat political polarization and extremism. Opponents say they may muck up our elections.

The Kalispell City Council will vote on whether or not the Flathead Warming Center will be permitted to stay open.

Schools kept students inside for recess and athletics Monday as a thick blanket of smoke smothered western and central Montana. New research aims to better understand air quality inside schools.

Math scores are improving and reading scores are sliding among Montana’s elementary and middle schoolers. That’s according to test results released by the state department of education Tuesday.

Construction begins on a museum dedicated to the U.S. Forest Service and the American conservation movement; Road safety funding gets a green light; The Missoula Fire Department gets $7 million in federal funds toward expanding their mental health crisis team.

Federal prosecutors are asking a federal judge to sentence a Washington state man up to four years of jail time for poaching bald and golden eagles on the Flathead Reservation.

This summer was hot and water levels in many places were low. Those are ripe conditions for harmful algal blooms. But state environmental regulators say reports of blooms are lower than previous years.

New polling data shows Democrat Jon Tester trailing Republican challenger Tim Sheehy in the race that could determine control of the U.S Senate.

Tim Sheehy leads Jon Tester in a new Senate race poll. Audio of a racist comment from Sheehy surfaces. Campaign ads feature familiar themes. And, the two leading candidates for governor may soon square off to debate. Campaign Beat is back for the general election!

State lawmakers last week advanced a bill that would prevent new marijuana dispensaries from opening for two years.

Planned Parenthood of Montana says it discovered a data breach last week. The attackers may have already posted some info online.

A district court judge has denied Montana Democrats’ request to remove the Green Party candidate from the U.S. Senate race. Green Party candidate Robert Barb will appear on the November ballot under the court’s order. Barb will face Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, Republican Tim Sheehy and Libertarian Sid Daoud in the race.

The 2023 Legislature passed a bill criminalizing the use of three common ‘date rape’ drugs in response to college students’ concerns. Now that the school year is starting back up, legal officials in the state say the law hasn’t changed the legal landscape surrounding these crimes.

The laws allow duplexes and accessory dwelling units — things like converted garage or basement apartments — to be built on lots zoned for single-family homes.

A fish killing mystery that starts with the Endangered Species Act shows how state and federal wildlife law went from a weapon used against tribes, to a tool for tribes to reclaim what was stripped away.

Montana’s share of the $26 billion national opioid settlement with Johnson & Johnson and its distributors is starting to flow to communities. The first two grants approved will serve Lake County.

The City of Missoula’s Climate Action Team has been awarded over 130,000 dollars of federal funding to improve energy efficiency and meet the city’s climate goals.

Montanans on Medicare could see big savings on prescription drugs next year.

NorthWestern is the largest electric and gas utility in the state, and is asking to increase power bill rates by at least 8%.

Butte-Silver Bow’s election head Tuesday told state lawmakers human error led to a miscount in the county’s June primary election. Officials last month completed a full recount and confirmed the outcome of the races.

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.

Montana’s largest electric and gas utility wants to charge customers more. NorthWestern Energy says the cost to generate power is increasing and that means bills need to go up, too. The decision is up to state regulators who, for the second time this month have found major holes in the company’s request.

Gov. Greg Gianforte’s Housing Task Force has finalized policy proposals to increase Montana’s affordable housing stock. They recommend cutting regulations on where and how homes are built.

Gov. Greg Gianforte’s Housing Task Force has finalized policy proposals to increase Montana’s affordable housing stock. They recommend cutting regulations on where and how homes are built.

As Montana schools work to recruit and retain teachers, data suggest superintendent turnover in the state is among the highest in the nation.

Republicans on a special legislative committee will require people who testify to sign an oath to tell the truth. The committee will also start ordering elected officials to appear before it with subpoenas. Such rules aren’t used by any other legislative committee.

Wolves get trapped in the wild, loaded onto an airplane, and delivered to Montana and Idaho. When they scamper off into the wilderness, they test a question central to endangered species debates: What does it mean to recover a species?

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.

State wildlife officials have set regulations for the upcoming wolf hunting season.

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.

Wildlife managers have released their annual update on the state’s wolf populations.

Montana will spend up to a million dollars to study rental rates around the state.

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.

The Cascade County Commission has filled a vacant seat in the state legislature after the previous officer holder resigned earlier this summer.

Montana has been selected to receive competitive federal funding that will reduce planet warming emissions. The money will target priority industries, like agriculture.

A statewide effort to control health insurance costs for teachers is building steam. The new health insurance trust could form a year ahead of schedule.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is offering assistance to several central Montana counties after a severe winter storm and flooding swept through the area in early May.

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.

Two people drowned on July 6th in Glacier National Park.

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 Land Board expands agency oversight regarding water rights on state trust land

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.

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.

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 circus elephant briefly escaped onto a busy street in the middle of Butte.

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.

A constitutional amendment to protect abortion moves closer to getting on the ballot. The Republican fight with the judiciary keeps escalating. And the winner of the Republican eastern district congressional primary may boil down to who loves the Trump the most.

Montana State University broke ground Friday on a new nursing school in Missoula.

More than 30 business leaders and government officials met in Missoula Friday to discuss ways to keep western Montana’s wood products industry afloat after two sawmills announced closures.

Montana’s K-12 schools are making slow progress in their effort to recover from pandemic learning losses.

Republican lawmakers have ordered the Secretary of State to send a proposed ballot initiative to a legislative committee for review before signature-gathering begins. The request escalates tensions between the lawmakers and the state Supreme Court, which said this week such a review wasn’t required.

In the coming days, property owners in nearly all Montana counties will find increased property-tax bills in their mailboxes.

Drinking-related deaths spiked nationwide during the pandemic, particularly among women. That’s according to a report from federal health officials.

The Montana Supreme Court has rephrased a proposed ballot initiative after its supporters and the state Attorney General clashed over the language. The initiative about abortion access can now advance.

A group of public education advocates sued the state’s leader of K-12 schools to prevent what they say is “an additional layer of red tape” to the opening of new public charter schools.

Republican lawmakers aren't happy with the State Supreme Court's voting rights ruling. Abortion rights activists aren't happy with Attorney General Knudsen's changes to a proposed constitutional amendment. The Board of Public Education isn't happy with School Superintendent Elsie Arntzen's job performance. Cheer up! It's time for another episode of Campaign Beat.

Lawyers argued before the Montana Supreme Court Friday in a case that could determine the future of the proposed Black Butte Copper Mine in Central Montana.

Montana will need an extremely wet spring to avoid widespread drought once summer arrives. Scientists are skeptical that the needed moisture will arrive.

Missoula airport officials expect demand to nearly double over the next two decades. That forecast is part of an update to the airport’s long-term plan to meet projected passenger needs.

U.S. environmental regulators said containing toxic waste at a former aluminum smelter in Columbia Falls remains the best plan to protect the environment and human health.

More state officials are voicing frustration over what they say are misinterpretations of education laws from Montana’s leader of K-12 schools, Elsie Arntzen.

The federal government is giving out more than $4 billion to lower greenhouse gas emissions. State officials have written a grant proposal that includes funding for energy efficiency in schools. MTPR’s Ellis Juhlin visited one high school that's already done this kind of work.

In this special episode of The Big Why, A New Angle host, Justin Angle, joins Austin Amestoy to answer two questions.

A pandemic-era program that helped low-income people keep up with their water and sewer bills is running out of funding.

After years of tribes calling on the U.S. and Canada to do something about selenium pollution flowing into Montana, the two governments have struck a deal. An international body will make recommendations on how to settle the boundary-water dispute.

Abortion supporters face a tight deadline to get a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot. Senate hopeful Tim Sheehy talks up his ranching credentials, but an ad from his opponents calls him a rhinestone cowboy. Gov. Gianforte has a lot more money in the bank than challenger Ryan Busse.

Federal officials said they don’t have many resources to offer if they take over law enforcement on the Flathead Reservation. Those comments come as Lake County plans stop providing those services on the reservation.

A panel of Montana air quality experts met with federal environmental officials Thursday to discuss funding to reduce harm from wildfire smoke. The state is still waiting to receive those funds.

Federal officials released an assessment on reintroduction of grizzly bears to the Northern Cascade mountains Thursday. Bears in Montana could be sent to Washington state.

Federal rental assistance isn’t keeping up with Montana’s surging rental market. A study in the Helena area aims to correct that.

Montana’s first taste of spring weather will soon end. In some cases, it is already being replaced with chilly, damp conditions.

Nine candidates have been disqualified from Montana’s June primary ballot for failing to file required campaign finance documents.

A particleboard plant that’s operated in Missoula for over five decades announced Wednesday it will shutter by week’s end. The announcement is the second significant blow to the county’s rapidly dwindling wood products industry in less than a week.

Road-building in the Flathead National Forest is harming threatened grizzly bears and bull trout, according to a federal judge.

Three Republicans entered their party’s primary race the office of state auditor before the filing deadline earlier this week.

Officials with Butte’s lone active copper mine said it has a commercially-viable process to extract rare earth minerals from the contaminated waters of the Berkeley Pit.

The Montana Supreme Court overturned the state attorney general’s block of a proposal that could amend the state’s Constitution to protect abortion access.

Missoula County’s last traditional lumber mill is shutting down after 75 years in business. Pyramid Mountain Lumber’s owners said they can no longer weather the current economy.

Board members voted last month to hire former Billings Public Schools leader Greg Upham as Heart Butte's new interim superintendent to help stabilize the school. He spoke with Montana Public Radio's Austin Amestoy.

The Montana Democratic Party said it has launched a multi-million dollar campaign to turn out voters in 2024, with a heavy focus in Indian Country.

The Secretary of State complied with a court order to send lawmakers a veto override poll on a 2023 bill to redistribute marijuana tax revenue funding. Thirty-two Montana communities will share over a million dollars of state funding to design infrastructure projects. A longtime southwest Montana lawmaker has died.

Sen. Tester's position on the war in Gaza could cost him some young voters. State school superintendent and Republican congressional candidate Elsie Arntzen has angered some members of her party. Democrats hope to pick up a few more legislative seats this year.

A committee of state lawmakers has voted to rebuke Montana's superintendent of public schools.

Montana’s Missing Persons Task Force has not met since last summer despite the Legislature funding the group for the next decade.

The U.S. and Canada have struck a deal over pollution flowing from British Columbia coal mines into a lake and river system in Montana.

As spring approaches, wildlife officials are reminding visitors and Montana residents to take steps to avoid the spread of aquatic invasive species while boating and angling.

Montana lawmakers Tuesday criticized the state Office of Public Instruction (OPI) for failing to properly implement a slate of new education laws.

Democrats will compete in more legislative races this year than last election cycle. The party hopes that, along with new district maps, it could disrupt Republicans' supermajority.

The United States Postal Service penned a letter last week criticizing what it called “mistruths and false narratives” about its proposed plan for changes at its Missoula facility.

Montana Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester is walking a fine line as he seeks a fourth term. And this year could determine control of the Senate. Tester’s appeal-to-the-middle brand of politics faces another tough test in increasingly polarized times.

Matt Rosendale's roller coaster campaign decisions have everyone — including the Campaign Beat team — scratching their heads. Meanwhile, the Senate race is getting tighter.

Last month, Cascade County commissioners capped a tumultuous year of election discord when they hired a new nonpartisan election administrator. But according to new reporting from online publication The Electric, Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen emailed commissioners before they made their choice and advised them against hiring two of the four candidates for the job.

The Kalispell City Council appointed Sam Nunnally and Kari Gabriel back to the seats they vacated last month due to election administration errors.

Drought conditions are getting worse across much of Montana and it’s going to take above-normal springtime snow and rain to break out of the spiral.

A new poll from Emerson College gives insights into Montana voters’ views of candidates and issues heading into election season. Notably it shows a tight race for the U.S. Senate seat.

A state court has ordered Montana’s Governor and Secretary of State to let lawmakers vote on whether to override the veto on a 2023 bill to redistribute marijuana sales tax revenue.

Veterans exposed to toxins and burn pits can sign up for VA health care earlier than expected. The VA announced this week all veterans covered under the legislation can immediately sign up for care.

Montana’s latest snowpack report is out. There’s more moisture on the ground but it’s still below normal. Experts say there’s plenty of room for improvement and the clock is ticking.

Home and rental prices in Missoula have surged in recent years, driven by low supply and high demand. This year’s housing report from the Missoula Organization of Realtors shows a slight improvement in home affordability, but there's more to the story.

Glacier National Park officials are studying the return of free-roaming bison.

Gov. Greg Gianforte said the state will not take over law enforcement services on the Flathead Reservation. That comes after Lake County pulled out of an agreement to provide felony law enforcement oversight on the reservation. It's unclear who will take over the services.

Montana Fish and Wildlife commissioners recently approved 19 projects aimed at restoring and improving wild fish habitat around the state.

State environmental regulators have submitted a list of proposals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The list and its last minute changes were turned into the federal government late last week.

Two Democrats, John Repke and Jordan Ophus, have filed to run for the office of State Auditor.

Federal regulators last year criticized the Montana health department as “severely out of compliance” with rules that require applications for nutrition assistance to be processed in a timely manner, according to reporting from Montana Free Press.

Rosendale is in, but will that push others out of the race for his House seat? A new Democrat has entered that House race. Steve Daines is being courted to become the next leader of Senate Republicans.

The small town of Walkerville is a place where local government is indistinguishable from family tradition. But a dispute over the town’s boundaries and a looming vote over its future could determine where and if the town continues to exist.

Flathead County and multiple citizen groups are asking federal environmental regulators to reconsider proposed cleanup plans for an aluminum plant Superfund site.

Rep. Matt Rosendale is running for reelection to represent Montana’s eastern U.S. House seat. Rosendale made the announcement Wednesday after calling it quits on a campaign for the U.S. Senate just six days after it began.

Montana met its forest management goals for the third consecutive year. State officials say they increased the amount of thinning, timber harvests, prescribed burns and restoration projects on forests by 16% over 2022 levels.

More than 40 interest groups and Montana businesses are petitioning the state’s utility regulators to consider climate change when making decisions. They filed the request Wednesday.

This is the second in our series about how Montana is responding to climate change. The state doesn't have a climate action plan, but that doesn't mean nothing is happening on the ground. Here's what cities and tribes in Montana are doing to adapt to and mitigate climate change.

Two Kalispell City Council members stepped down last week following a court order that nullified their elections. This is the result of incorrect ballots being sent out to voters.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra recently spoke with Montana Public Radio's Aaron Bolton to talk about Montanans losing Medicaid and mental health services.

Environmental regulators said a new $40 million boost of federal dollars is enough to get a Superfund cleanup project in East Helena across the finish line.

A Washington man charged with eagle poaching on the Flathead Reservation reached a plea deal this week. Charging documents allege the man and accomplices killed over 3,000 birds on and around the reservation between 2015 and 2021.

A new Missoula clinic aims to streamline the process for veterans to receive disability benefits. It’s the first of its kind in the state.

Will he, or won't he? Questions abound about Rep. Matt Rosendale's political future. A former congressman wants Rosendale's House seat. Democrat Ryan Busse picks a well-known Helena attorney as his running mate in the governor's race.

MTPR’s Austin Amestoy sat down with the filmmakers behind “Tomorrow’s Town Today,” which explores life in the coal-centric town of Colstrip, Montana, through the eyes of some of its youngest residents.

MTPR’s Austin Amestoy sat down with the filmmakers behind “Bring Them Home / Aiskótáhkapiyaaya,” which chronicles decades-long effort by a group of Blackfeet people to restore a herd of free-ranging bison to their ancestral lands.

Federal and state environmental officials said another piece of the Libby asbestos Superfund complex is cleaned up.

Montana political candidates can now file for office under a new political party. It’s unclear if anyone will take that opportunity.

Montana has more counselors per student than most other states in the country. That’s according to a new national report.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ryan Busse tapped attorney Raph Graybill to be his running mate as lieutenant governor.

Commissioners unanimously selected former Great Falls Association of Realtors CEO Terry Thompson to manage Cascade County’s elections.

State environmental regulators are writing up a statewide Climate Action Plan. Once completed, it will make Montana eligible to apply for millions in federal funding to address climate pollution.

Influenza deaths are rising in Montana. Health experts say it’s not too late to get the flu vaccine, which can lower the chances of severe complications from infection.

The owner of a Montana ski area that has closed for the remainder of the season said it was a heartbreaking, but necessary decision. There’s just not enough snow.

The state of Montana has filed its appeal to the Supreme Court over a youth-led climate case.

Montana has one of the highest rates of people experiencing Long-COVID symptoms. That’s according to a federal health survey.

A Montana district court judge struck down a proposed subdivision in Broadwater County because there wasn’t enough water to support the development.

Gov. Greg Gianforte has directed the Montana National Guard to find ways to help Texas with security at its southern border.

State officials are negotiating a contract to run job-training services for low-income Montanans with a Virginia-based company.

Missoula County Public Schools trustees voted Tuesday to approve steep reductions as the district faces an $8 million shortfall. Districts statewide are contending with budgets gutted by the end of COVID-19 relief dollars, declining enrollments and rising costs.

A task force directed to curb rising property taxes in Montana met for the first time Wednesday.

A first-of-its kind guide to help Montana schools develop artificial intelligence policies released Tuesday.

Montana’s Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen has officially entered the race for the state’s eastern congressional district.

Most nursing home staff and residents in Montana aren’t up-to-date on their COVID vaccines, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation report.

The federal government has over $4 billion to give states, tribes and cities, to fight climate change. Montana’s plan is available for public comment, but is incomplete.

Both Montana’s U.S. Senators oppose a proposal that could result in Missoula’s outgoing mail processing center being moved out of state.

A local government review is designed to evaluate how a city or county government operates right now, and also explore ways that the government can improve. This spring, voters have an opportunity change the structure of their local government for the next 10 years.

Republicans see Montana as one of their best chances to flip a senate seat and regain control of the chamber. But first they'll have to choose between a political newcomer or a far-right lawmaker.

January’s weather did little to improve Montana’s record low snowpack. It’s going to take a major change in the weather to improve conditions.

Federal regulators last week said the Salish Kootenai Dam didn’t draw too much water out of Flathead Lake last summer. Some residents blamed the dam operator for the lake's historically low water levels.

Matt Rosendale joins the U.S. Senate race. A familiar name in Montana politics may run for Rosendale's House seat. And both Democrats and Republicans target China in their campaign ads.

Insurance company State Farm will pay a $2 million fine to settle complaints that it underpaid drivers’ insurance claims.

Many Montana workers enjoyed bigger paychecks last year. That’s according to a new national report that placed the state at number one in the nation for 2023 wage gains.

Federal officials have denied petitions to restore endangered species protections to gray wolves in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. Conservation groups are threatening to sue over the decision.

Democrat Monica Tranel's race for Congress is drawing national attention and resources. Montana Republicans are getting chippy with each other over who should be their nominee for Senate. And former Gov. Marc Racicot thinks Donald Trump should not be allowed to run again for president.

Four million dollars in state funding could soon help mental health providers resurrect services for those in crisis, but providers worry about keeping that care available long-term.

The federal government expands incentives for schools to electrify their bus fleets as questions regarding whether electric vehicles can hold up in Montana’s cold winters arise.

Former Montana governor Mark Racicot has joined an effort to stop Donald Trump from appearing on Colorado’s ballot as a presidential candidate.

Cascade County’s new commission chair said he’s concerned that a top election official position remains unfilled as election season approaches.

A new type of synthetic opioid more potent than fentanyl is cropping up across the country. State health officials and law enforcement are on the lookout.

A new type of synthetic opioid more potent than fentanyl is cropping up across the country. State health officials and law enforcement are on the lookout.

Syphilis cases are on the rise around the country, but the rate of cases in Montana hasn’t been this high since 1959.

When it comes to winter driving, everyone wants their route clear and dry, and they want it done quickly. Why don't the plows come sooner or more often? Why don't they drop more salt or deicer? Why not get more drivers on the road? Tag along as a Montana snowplow driver prepares for a big winter storm and find out more about the logistical, environmental and technical challenges that come with keeping the roads clear of snow.

High interest rates and a dip in out-of-state tourism are pumping the brakes on what has been red-hot economic growth in Montana. That’s according to a University of Montana research group.

The Environmental Protection Agency announced it will do additional cleanup of residential yards in East Helena that have been contaminated by lead.

The annual effort to estimate the country’s homeless population got underway Thursday. The Flathead Valley is trying to expand its efforts to get an accurate count.

Four-hundred nuclear missiles stored in central Montana are scheduled for replacement. Air Force officials visited the region this week to explain the project and answer questions. "Project Sentinel" is expected to hire up to 3,000 people as missiles installed across the West during the 1960s are replaced.

Montana wildlife officials intend to sue the federal government over the decision to protect wolverines under the Endangered Species Act.

The Democratic candidate for governor thinks Montanans are ready to reject Republicans. Rep. Matt Rosendale is having a very public feud with one of his Republican Senate colleagues. And former Gov. Steve Bullock stars in a new documentary about a potential civil war.

Montana is forecast to be the hot spot in the United States for grasshoppers this summer. Officials forecast swarms of grasshoppers to hatch east of the Continental Divide.

Montana environmental officials may cut ties with a bankrupt mine operator near Helena and seek out a new company to operate the site.

Montana saw a record number of residents sign up for health care plans through the federal marketplace.

A new study finds that Montana has one of the highest rates of hearing loss nationwide as rural Americans experience higher rates of hearing loss.

A lawsuit is challenging a new Montana law that directs public school funding to special needs students outside of the public school system.

A state working group tasked with recommending changes to Montana’s environmental regulations held its first meeting Friday.

The state is testing a new reporting system for violence against health care workers.

Actress Lily Gladstone is among the nominees at this year’s Academy Awards.

Montana will soon launch a program to better protect residents from wildfire smoke.

Millions of dollars have flowed into Montana over the last year to help combat the opioid crisis, but the vast majority remains unspent. That's according to a new report from KFF Health News.

The commission that regulates utilities in Montana has a new executive director. The Public Service Commission selected David Sanders for the role.

A state education panel Friday approved Montana’s first public charter schools.

Montana State University will soon help communities and tribes in six states obtain environmental and energy related grants.

Montana's western district congressional race is déjà vu all over again. Gov. Gianforte quietly announces he's running again, while his Democratic opponent hopes to make a loud splash. Republican Senatorial candidate Tim Sheehy goes full MAGA. Attorney General Austin Knudsen tries to keep an abortion initiative off the ballot.

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed an emergency executive order Friday suspending certain regulations for commercial drivers carrying fuel.

Tribal leaders and state education officials are trying to figure out how to stabilize a school on the Blackfeet Reservation after auditors uncovered more than a million dollars in debt linked to financial mismanagement.

Montana’s top attorney has blocked a proposed ballot initiative that would enshrine protections for abortion access in the state Constitution.

The president of Montana’s utility oversight board has announced a campaign for state auditor.

State environmental regulators must consider climate change as part of their permitting decisions for now.

The federal government announced Wednesday it’s planning how it will restore a breeding population of grizzlies to the Bitterroot and it wants the public to weigh in.

The long holiday weekend’s cold snap not only smashed several temperature records, but also broke a record for energy demand across Montana.

Workers in state-run medical facilities will soon get a raise. This comes as the state struggles to hire permanent medical workers, but state health officials have a plan to recruit and retain more staff.

A Montana judge has ruled on a months-long debate over whether or not lawmakers can vote to overrule the governor’s veto of a bipartisan conservation bill.

A Helena man pleaded guilty this week to possessing homemade bombs and an unregistered firearm silencer.

Montana’s Republican governor and his lieutenant announced their re-election campaign Tuesday. Gov. Greg Gianforte and Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras said they’d use a second term to continue the work they’ve prioritized over the last three years.

The Ninepipe wetlands cover thousands of acres across the Mission Valley. Nearly 15,000 acres are protected by federal, state and tribal agencies, and many more are on private lands. It’s a sprawling complex of wetlands and grasslands tucked at the base of the Mission Mountains. A listener wants to know how the wetlands there formed and if climate change poses a threat.

The number of suicides in Montana last year was the lowest in roughly a decade, that’s according to preliminary state data.

Many parts of western Montana are in store for bitterly cold, potentially record breaking temperatures tonight. The winter storm hitting Montana has also created considerable avalanche danger across much of the state.

Montanans have grown more tolerant of wolves over the last decade, according to new survey results.

If Gov. Gianforte runs for re-election, as expected, he'll face a political newcomer with an old message: the ultra-rich don't care about everyday Montanans. But are voters even paying attention to this race?

State Health Department Director Charlie Brereton said his office plans to apply for recertification of the state hospital with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) by the end of the year.

Medicaid expansion will be on the table for Montana lawmakers to consider during the next legislative session. Officials are studying the policy’s impact ahead of that debate.

A powerful Arctic winter storm is expected to dump significant snow across parts of northwest and west central Montana through Friday. Extreme cold then swoops in this weekend.

The Heart Butte School District terminated 31 staff members and accepted five resignations Tuesday.

A lawsuit over alleged gender discrimination at the University of Montana ended in a settlement this week. The university agreed to pay $350,000 and improve its anti-discrimination practices.

Marijuana dispensaries in Montana will not have to pay higher licensing fees after the state and business owners agreed to a legal settlement.

A three-term Republican state senator and Marine Corp veteran from Miles City has launched a campaign for Montana’s eastern U.S. Congressional district.

The incumbent seeking his 4th term faces a political newcomer — and maybe a previous foe — in Montana's U.S. Senate race. And lots of Republicans — and a couple of Democrats — are interested in Montana's eastern district congressional seat. Campaign Beat returns with news and analysis of the 2024 elections.

Enrollment for Montana’s health insurance marketplace is open until January 15. Insurance providers are seeing a surge in enrollment after more than 100,000 Montanans were removed from Medicaid this year. And the feds urge action after an 18% drop in Medicaid coverage of kids in the state.

Property tax sticker shock swept through Montana this fall, with many homeowners opening bills to find a spike of 20% or more.Since then, a blame game has erupted between lawmakers, counties and the governor over who — or what — is responsible for the surge.

It’s the 124th year of a bird surveying effort, happening across Montana, and the world. From December 14 to January 5, birders across the Americas spend a day counting all the birds they can see and hear.

The Cascade County Commission has unanimously appointed a new interim elections administrator after stripping the duties from the county’s clerk and recorder in December.

Two new laws aimed at increasing Montana's housing supply have been blocked from taking effect. A group of homeowners argue the laws are unconstitutional.

Montana workers earning minimum wage will see a raise above $10 an hour starting January 1, and will keep more of their earnings starting next year.

Montana’s updated Drought Management Plan is now complete. Three years in the making, its ambitious goal is to build drought resilience across this semi-arid state. The plan’s authors describe it as a new way to proactively think about, respond and adapt to drought.

After a year of taking questions from our adult listeners across Montana, The Big Why team thought it would be fun to see what kids are curious about. They wanted to know 'why was the first dinosaur found in Montana?'

A conservation group said it sent 107 bison to tribes in Montana, South Dakota and Washington.

State environmental officials are investigating after a BNSF locomotive leaked diesel fuel along a more than 60-mile stretch of track across northern Montana.

Environmental advocates this week filed a lawsuit against a proposed logging project southwest of West Yellowstone.

Montana’s Fish and Wildlife Commission passed several changes to wolf and grizzly management in their recent end of year meeting.

The state has announced its first plans for spending a $300 million pool of money created to boost Montana's ailing mental health and disability care systems.

Public schools across the state are experimenting with ways to combat a growing crisis of teacher recruitment and retention. One possible solution is rapidly catching on: four-day school weeks.

The University of Montana football team is headed to its first FCS national title game in over a decade. The Griz defeated the North Dakota State Bison in double overtime Saturday.

The director of the Montana Department of Commerce has resigned after an audit found he misused state dollars.

The head of Montana’s health department has no plans to temporarily stop checking patients' Medicaid eligibility. About one in 10 Montanans have lost coverage through that process this year.

Montana’s Fish and Wildlife Commission passed new big game hunting regulations Thursday. That includes a new threshold for the number of deer and elk that can be harvested.

Grizzly bear managers in Montana last week said their top goal is to remove Endangered Species Act protections from the bruins and transition to managing a delisted population. A recommendation to delist bears in and around Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks could come in early 2024.

Police have charged a Kalispell school superintendent for allegedly assaulting a student.

The federal government has awarded millions of dollars to nine Montana communities to improve local infrastructure, housing and educational opportunities.

The Cascade County Commission voted Tuesday to remove election duties from the clerk and recorders office.

New analysis of state data by Montana Free Press confirms what many homeowners in the state may have already noticed: Residential property taxes are up substantially this year. At the same time, some large industrial businesses are paying millions of dollars less.

Federal agencies are considering the first nationwide plan for regulating rock climbing on public lands. The public is being asked to comment.

One person is dead and two others injured following a Sunday night shooting at a Lake County home.

A federal grand jury last week indicted two men for allegedly killing eagles on the Flathead Reservation to sell feathers on the black market.

The U.S. Forest Service says they will invest nearly $70 million into co-management agreements with tribes. The announcement came out of a tribal summit at the White House last week.

A decision by The Montana Library Commission means Montana will no longer require leaders at its largest libraries to hold a master’s degree. The decision was widely opposed in public comment.

Cascade County commissioners are scheduled to vote on whether to remove election duties from the clerk and recorder’s office. The move to strip the duties from the office comes after a year of lawsuits and allegations of misconduct directed at the current election administrator.

At least one charge has been filed and more may follow in what Missoula authorities said was a "brutal" assault against a minor last Friday.

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?

A proposed ballot initiative debated by state lawmakers this week could expand hunting access for non-tribal people owning land on reservations.

The VA announced Wednesday the former head of the Montana VA Health Care System retired this month. The Montana Air National Guard base near the Great Falls airport went into lockdown Wednesday.

A nonpartisan Missoula city council race is finally settled nearly a month after the local municipal election. Incumbent Sandra Vasecka retains her seat representing Missoula’s Sixth Ward.

Montana’s only tropical butterfly house opened its doors Tuesday. It’s part of a larger vision for outdoor education in Missoula and beyond.

A lawsuit argues a new map drawing election districts for the Public Service Commission is too partisan.

The rate of suicides involving a firearm are increasing nationwide, according to a new report. Indigenous people are seeing the largest increase.

Lake County said it will no longer handle felony cases for tribal members on the Flathead Reservation come next spring. But there are many open questions about whether the state will fill that void.

A state commission is asking Gov. Greg Gianforte to approve $7.5 million for mobile crisis teams and stabilization centers.

Contractors for Atlantic Richfield (AR) will begin demolition work this week at a former smelter site in the heart of Butte. MTPR’s John Hooks reports on the next phase of the city’s Superfund cleanup.

Montana’s health department is urging residents to check their pantries for applesauce and apple pureé products that may be contaminated with lead.

The Montana Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the state has the power to compel counties to collect a property tax that helps fund public schools. Nearly all counties in the state had banded together to collect less than the full tax.

Following a court-mandated deadline this week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has listed wolverines as a “threatened” species. Conservation groups have been calling for that protection since the early 2000s.

Cascade County commissioners unanimously certified municipal election results Wednesday, more than a week after a state-imposed deadline.

Rural communities across Montana have long been affected by “brain drain,” where the younger generation moves away for college and a career and never moves back. But, that's not the whole story. MTPR's Ellis Juhlin spoke with some new and returning residents and found optimistic visions for what the future of rural Montana could look like.

Cascade County commissioners finalized a vote Tuesday to change the way they select their chairperson. They faced a wave of opposition.

The city of Missoula, the nonprofit Trout Unlimited, the U.S. Forest Service and other partner agencies are tackling a $500,000 dam decommissioning in the remote Rattlesnake Wilderness. A proposal to remove the McKinley Lake dam is awaiting approval.

Conservation groups ask Judge Donald Molloy to temporarily block 2023 regulations for wolf and coyote trapping and shorten the season in all areas west of Billings to help grizzly bears.

West Central Montana’s hunting season wrapped up Sunday with a slightly lower-than-normal elk harvest.

Lake County has settled a class-action lawsuit over conditions inside its jail. The Lake County Jail will construct new housing units and an outdoor recreation area.

Montana’s Attorney General Austin Knudsen has responded to professional misconduct charges issued earlier this fall. The state’s top attorney is requesting the charges to be dismissed.

Traffic, and accidents, are steadily increasing between Missoula and the Bitterroot Valley community of Florence. A study aims to improve safety.

A pro-abortion group wants to enshrine abortion rights into the state Constitution. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana submitted the ballot proposition last week.

One listener wants to know why non-Natives make up a majority of the population on the Flathead Reservation. Another listener asks how much land Montana’s reservations lost to White settlement. The answer goes back to an 1887 law that ramped-up the federal government's efforts to assimilate Native people and erase their cultures.

Lake County commissioners Monday sent a letter to Gov. Greg Gianforte reiterating that the county will no longer oversee felony cases on the Flathead Reservation. Commissioners have long argued that the county doesn’t have the tax base to pay for law enforcement on tribal lands.

Cascade County postponed its certification for the municipal election in Great Falls. This is the latest in a string of election issues for the county.

In Montana, climate change means drought in some places, record breaking floods in others and wildfire seasons that burn hotter and last longer. That's according to a new federal climate report released last week.

The Montana Farmers Union is encouraging local producers to donate meat to food banks this winter.

The University of Montana recently cut the amount of time its marching band plays during games. An online petition asking the university to walk back that decision racked up more than 1,700 signatures in less than a day.

The Montana Stockgrowers Foundation created a new program to match ranchers with local businesses interested in cooking and selling Montana beef.

The chair of the Montana Libertarian Party has entered the race for Montana’s U.S. Senate seat up for election in 2024.

A grizzly bear has been spotted in the Upper Missouri River Breaks for the first time in over a century.

Nearly two dozen property owners near Paradise filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court alleging the River Road East Fire was started by a railcar. The fire burned a little over 17,000 acres near Paradise and destroyed around 15 homes in August.

Scientists and Frenchtown residents Monday provided state lawmakers with a day-long crash course on a Superfund site just downstream of Missoula. The hearing focused on the former Smurfit-Stone pulp mill.

Both Montana’s Republican Representatives in the U.S. House this week opposed a funding bill to avert a partial government shutdown. Despite their opposition, the chamber ultimately passed the stopgap bill with wide bipartisan support.

A lack of snow has led to the cancellation of a time-honored Nordic ski festival in West Yellowstone. It’s only the second time in 30 years organizers have been forced to cancel the event.

Montana officials touted a drop in children entering the foster care system at a recent legislative hearing.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week urged rapid action to minimize potential arsenic exposure at a public park in Deer Lodge.

Montana’s health department said the state’s 988 suicide and crisis hotline is among the best-performing in the nation.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office found that the VA is failing to provide veterans with appointments for specialty medical care in a timely manner.

Montana Trout Unlimited and the owner of a gold mine near Whitehall announced a joint project to improve spawning habitat and provide cool water for trout in the Jefferson River Basin.

Montana’s Supreme Court has ruled in favor of mobile home park tenants, saying landlords cannot terminate their leases without cause.

Two Cascade County commissioners at a meeting Tuesday sparked a fiery debate when they voted to change the way the panel’s chairperson is chosen. One commissioner criticized the current chair as an ineffective leader.

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester held a town hall in Butte Friday and was met with a mix of gratitude for his work in Congress and outrage over his stance on the Israel-Hamas war.

Montana officials announced the state intends to participate in a federal program next year to help families with children afford groceries when schools are closed during the summer.

Montana’s Secretary of State launched her re-election campaign for the office that oversees elections and business services.

The report projects a declining snowpack coupled with warmer winters could shorten the skiing season by 33 days in the next few decades. And it shows that big game hunting could decline by 25% by 2050.

A new threat to native trout was detected in the Bitterroot River for the first time last summer. Smallmouth bass are a non-native species which prey on young native species like trout and whitefish.

Montana applied for federal grant money this week to help build a new unit of the Southwest Montana Veterans Home.

A 28-year old woman accused of striking and killing a young Indigenous woman near Arlee earlier this year pleaded not guilty to all charges Wednesday.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it has four “significant concerns” over Montana’s updated plan for cleanup on the upper Clark Fork River.

Great Falls Public Schools office staff said district leaders made no counter offers during a recent mediation session and wages are at the core of the dispute.

Following a lot of news about climate change, protests, presidential directives and court cases, a listener wants to know what Montana is doing to address climate change. It's a big question, so the answer will come in three parts. Here's part 1.

The amount of fentanyl seized in Montana has nearly doubled in the last year. That’s not the only drug seizure stat that concerns state law enforcement officials.

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced his re-election campaign Tuesday to be the state’s top lawyer for another four years. John Morrison has withdrawn from the race less than a month after announcing his campaign.

A citizen group monitoring the Cascade County elections office says they’re seeing evidence of new ballot irregularities in Great Falls municipal elections.

A group looking to change Montana’s primary election system is suing the Attorney General after he blocked their proposed constitutional initiative.

A citizen-driven resolution that would have set Butte’s policy for ongoing Superfund cleanup is dead. The resolution was defeated after the county attorney made significant changes.

Missoulians gathered for a fourth weekend of protest over the United States’ response to the war between Israel and Hamas. MTPR’s Austin Amestoy shares scenes from the weekend.

New data released by the World Wildlife Fund shows that 1.6 million acres of grassland habitat was lost throughout the Great Plains in 2021.

The former spokesperson of the Blackfeet Nation has been indicted for allegedly stealing federal COVID-19 relief funds allocated to the tribe.

Superfund officials in Butte want to use the famous Berkeley Pit as a waste dump. The idea comes as the EPA has ordered an investigation into contaminated seepage at another waste dump.

Federal officials from the U.S. and Canada plan to meet with Montana and British Columbia tribes over coal mining pollution. Selenium has for years flowed from B.C. coal mines into the transboundary Lake Koocanusa.

Montana’s Republican state auditor launched a campaign for the state’s eastern district congressional seat.

A multiyear project to restore a portion of central Montana’s Judith River is complete. Project collaborators hope the work will boost stream health and support the trout and insects that rely on the cold-water stream.

Families of former Montana State Hospital patients are suing the state. They say the state failed to prevent neglect, injuries and other issues at the psychiatric facility.

Some of Montana’s largest school districts are moving forward with plans to open public charter schools. Applications for the proposed schools are now pending before the state Board of Public Education. It’s the result of one of two new charter school policies passed by state lawmakers this year.

Montanans seeking to enroll in health insurance in the public marketplace can head to covermt.org to find in-person assistance near them. They can also call (844) 682-6837 to speak with an enrollment assistant.

Gianforte joined eight other Republican governors in calling on the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or NCAA, to reverse its decade-old policy allowing transgender women to compete on teams aligned with their gender identity.

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.

The National Weather Service has issued an air stagnation advisory for much of western Montana until midday Wednesday.

Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks unveiled a new online portal this month that allows hunters to thank landowners for providing access during hunting season.

A conservation group and several Montana voters are suing the state over new voting districts for the Public Service Commission.

$327 million will flow to tribes with water rights settlements; The Chief of Operations for Montana FWP pleaded not guilty to a charge that he failed to obtain permission to cross private land while hunting.