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 Montana Supreme Court announced that order this week while they await a full argument in a youth-led climate lawsuit.

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.

The Pekin Noodle Parlor in Butte is the oldest, continually operating family owned Chinese restaurant in the country. But the story behind the Pekin is not just the story of one restaurant. It's a story about the Chinese-American experience of a distinct, authentic culture and cuisine that was created in this chaotic mixing bowl of the American West.

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.

A federal court shortened Montana’s wolf trapping by over two months. The ruling aims to protect grizzlies.

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.

The state’s labor department has hired Don Wetzel Jr. to strengthen its relationship and support to Montana’s Indigenous population. Wetzel Jr., who is Blackfeet, previously held a similar position with the state Office of Public Instruction.

General hunting season opened last Saturday. Unusually warm and dry weather led to above-average hunter success rates across north-central Montana,

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) says possible heavy metals contamination at a public park in Deer Lodge does not pose a short-term risk to human health.

The Gianforte administration says counties must collect the full tax levied by the state to equalize funding for public schools. But county officials say that tax is subject to a cap the state has ignored.

Wildfires are now a year-round threat in Montana, but peak wildfire season is now behind us. According to the latest data from the Montana DNRC, 1,600 total fires scorched over 117,000 acres – about a six percent drop from last year.

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester is defending a recent vote to protect gun ownership rights for veterans and other votes in line with Republicans.

A 28-year-old woman has been charged in connection with the death of Mika Westwolf. New House speakers backed by Montana reps. A Billings man is accused of threatening to murder U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy.

For the second time this month, wildlife groups are suing Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) for violating public meeting laws. Montana FWP has announced a series of public meetings to discuss the draft Wolf Conservation and Management Plan.

A listener is curious about how glaciers are faring in the south end of the Mission Mountains, those big peaks you can see from Highway 93 on the Flathead Reservation. Learn more about them now, on The Big Why.

Office staff in Great Falls Public Schools are heading to mediation over a pay dispute with district leadership. Staff have been without a contract since the end of June.

State health officials said a drug treatment center near Missoula failed to report serious incidents and did not follow other state regulations.

Research at Montana’s largest universities and burgeoning laser industry helped earn the state a new federal designation as a regional tech hub.

New data from the Montana Health Department show nearly 16,000 people lost Medicaid coverage in August. According to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, over 2,100 hunters visited wildlife check stations as big game general hunting season opened Saturday.

New data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows winter wheat planting and emergence are lower throughout Montana then there were this time last year.

Weather forecasters last week announced Montana would soon get a bout of chilly weather. Details have come into better focus and this week’s wintery weather forecast is a doozy.

The U.S. Census Bureau released new data last week on state-to-state migration in the past year. The numbers show how many people moved into Montana and where they came from.

Montana regulators toured the state over the last few weeks to hear feedback from the public on the state’s cornerstone environmental law, the Montana Environmental Policy Act.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has released the first draft of a new statewide Wolf Management Plan and is now requesting public comment.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has released the first draft of a new statewide Wolf Management Plan and is now requesting public comment.

Montana regulators toured the state over the last few weeks to hear feedback from the public on the state’s cornerstone environmental law, the Montana Environmental Policy Act.

Montana’s Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted new fishing regulations for the coming year.

A few days of abnormally high temperatures are set to give way to the season’s first dash of winter weather by this time next week.

A Helena law firm has sued the state over a records request. Republican Brad Johnson has entered the U.S. Senate race. State environmental regulators are cracking down on a leaking wastewater pond near Holland Lake

Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP) has admitted to violating the public’s constitutional right-to-know in response to a lawsuit filed last week. The agency must now follow conditions to improve public transparency.

Registered nurses at St. Peter’s health clinics in Helena voted to join a union Tuesday.

One of the state’s largest mental health providers has ousted its interim CEO. The turnover comes as Intermountain is taking backlash over its plan to close a residential facility for children.

The governor’s Housing Task Force met at the capitol Tuesday to start ‘chapter two’ in its efforts to make homes more affordable and attainable.

The Montana State Hospital’s forensic unit has been struggling for years to keep up with the number of inmates criminally committed to the facility. That’s led to long wait times in jail cells for inmates awaiting treatment. State health officials said they have a way to fix the problem.

A Helena attorney has entered the for chief justice of the Montana Supreme Court.

The owner of a historic lakeside lodge in the Swan Valley said he’s backing down from a plan to expand the resort. The move sparked celebration for a group opposed to the project.

The Flathead National Forest is asking for public comment on the East Fork Salvage Project.

A federal court judge has extended a block on a law banning drag performances. Judge Brian Morris issued a preliminary injunction Friday, saying the bill violates freedom of speech and expression under the First Amendment.

Missoula County recently received two grants totaling nearly $80,000 to help local domestic violence services.

A member of Montana’s Public Service Commission was arrested for a second time in two months Friday.

A federal judge in Missoula heard arguments Thursday on Montana’s law to ban Tik Tok in the state. The judge pressed state attorneys over previous statements made by the attorney general that appear to contradict the state’s legal defense.

According to the latest U.S Drought Monitor map, Montana’s entire southern tier, as well a respectable slice of the state’s mid-section, is drought free. Conditions across northern Montana aren’t as encouraging.

A group of transgender, Two-Spirit and nonbinary Montanans say the state is violating their constitutional rights with a new law that defines sex as binary. The group has filed a lawsuit in Missoula County.

So-called “date-rape drugs” are commonly slipped into someone’s drink without them knowing prior to a sexual assault. In the past, drugging someone wasn’t considered assault on its own. A new law that went into effect this month changes that.

Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality has received federal funding to create a plan for addressing climate pollution. The plan will develop strategies to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions.

Young children with severe behavioral health issues are likely to lose one of the few options they have for long-term residential treatment nationwide.

A new report from the Montana health department shows nearly half of people who’ve lost Medicaid coverage in the state since April are children.

Former Congresswoman Liz Cheney was in Missoula last week for a talk hosted by the Mansfield Center. The discussion ranged from her memory of being at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, her thoughts on supporters of Donald Trump and her lack of surprise at the removal of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House.

In the United States, it’s estimated that between 1 and 6 percent of people serving time in prison are innocent. The Montana Innocence Project provides free legal representation to Montanans who have been wrongly convicted. Since 2008 they’ve helped free 10 people. MTPR’s Maxine Speier spoke with Amy Sings In The Timber, the executive director of the Montana Innocence Project.

Thirty-seven counties have locked-in their plans to collect less in property taxes than the state has requested, according to Montana Association of Counties director Eric Bryson.

Montanans hate it. Politicians fear it. Supporters discuss it in hushed tones after the blinds are closed and the kids are tucked safely into bed. Yet, It doesn't exist in Montana. What is it? Today we’re talking about the sales tax. Wait, don't go! The tax debate is actually pretty hot right now, and a listener wants to know why Montana remains one of the few states without a sales tax.

Former Montana Gov. Ted Schwinden, a Democrat from Wolf Point, has died at the age of 98.

State wildlife officials urge Montanans to be extra ‘bear aware’ right now as the animals are frantically packing on the pounds ahead of winter.

Public health officials in Montana are reporting a significant uptick in COVID-19 cases and are seeing the highest rate of related hospitalizations in the country.

Montana’s attorney general is appealing a landmark district court ruling over the impact of human-caused climate change on young residents.

The Lolo National Forest is requiring Snowbowl ski area outside of Missoula to repair chairlifts and improve safety conditions before this year’s ski season.

Montana’s two Republican Congressional Representatives split their vote Tuesday on a historic move to oust Speaker of the U.S. House Kevin McCarthy.

Researchers have documented population declines of harlequin ducks in recent years, but no one is quite sure why. New research is underway to determine the best way to find and count harlequin ducks in an effort to save them.

The state of Montana sued Missoula County this week over county commissioners’ property tax plans. The parties disagree over how much Montana counties must collect.

2023 has been a contentious year for the Superfund cleanup in Butte. Locals have accused the EPA of failing to take their concerns seriously. One artist is trying to expand the conversation through an installation aimed at residents not involved in the official process.

This weekend’s passage of a short-term federal spending bill includes a provision maintaining a wildland firefighter pay raise, at least until mid-November.

St. Peter’s Health in Helena announced Monday it’s implementing visitor restrictions due to a steady increase in cold, flu and COVID cases in the community.

A Bozeman attorney has announced his candidacy to run for Montana attorney general.

Ahead of its first meeting next week, the panel charged with regulating a new system of public charter schools in Montana is down two members

Missoula’s public bus service is loosening restrictions on riders carrying firearms after Second Amendment advocates threatened a lawsuit over the policy.

Montana’s congressional delegation honored U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein who died Friday morning at her home in Washington, D.C.

The federal government faces a likely shutdown this weekend, with lawmakers unable to agree on a new budget in time to meet the October 1 deadline.

A Lewis and Clark District Court judge has blocked a new law requiring abortion providers to obtain a license that doesn’t currently exist.

The first cohort of inmates at the Montana State Prison to complete an intensive, year-long coding program graduated Thursday.

Two Montana educators and a state lawmaker filed briefs in support of a new law seeking to create a system of public charter schools in the state.

Attorney Matthew Monforton filed a suit on behalf of state Sen. Brad Molnar of Laurel Tuesday, arguing the state is overcharging property owners in taxes this year.

Great Falls Public Schools’ trustees are asking Cascade County commissioners to take over election duties from the clerk and recorder’s office. The trustees cite a strained relationship with Clerk and Recorder Sandra Merchant, as well as concerns over her handling of the school election in May.

A ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth in Montana will not go into effect on Oct.1 as planned. A district court judge temporarily blocked the new law saying it’s likely unconstitutional.

A Billings man is accused of threatening to kill President Joe Biden and Montana U.S. Sen. Jon Tester.

A Helena listener had a long-simmering curiosity about a relic of Montana history that still sits just across the Beaverhead River from Twin Bridges: The old Montana State Orphanage built in 1894. We took a look around with one of the previous residents. Join us for the tour, on this episode of The Big Why.

Montana taxpayers who qualify for a property tax rebate have only a few days left to claim theirs. The final day to claim the Montana property tax rebate is Monday, October 2nd.

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality said wastewater may be leaking from holding ponds that sit just uphill from Holland Lake in the Swan Valley.

Over 40,000 pounds of locally produced and processed pork, breakfast sausage and ground beef will soon be donated to the Montana Food Bank Network.

The University of Montana in Missoula is trumpeting not only a higher student headcount this semester, but also a record student retention rate.

Over 300 acres of wetland meadows in the Big Hole River have been transferred to the U.S. Forest Service for permanent conservation.

Sixteen-thousand Montanans lost Medicaid coverage in July, according to new data from the state health department.

Fishing closures on the Jefferson. Arctic grayling escape fish hatchery. Bison management comment period extended. Dueling wilderness bills advance. Oil & gas cleanup funding for tribal nations.

A former state health department employee pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing nearly $90,000 in federal assistance by approving fake paperwork.

Montana Free Press reporter Mara Silvers joined MTPR's Austin Amestoy with details about the Montana Health Department hiring a New York based consulting firm to guide the state as it undergoes a multiyear overhaul of its behavioral health services.

Federal health officials anticipate similar numbers of COVID, RSV and flu hospitalizations as last season. The 2023/2024 landscape looks a little different thanks to new vaccines and treatments.

Three transgender youth and two health care providers asked a judge Monday to temporarily block a law banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors.

Federal wildlife officials are abandoning a conservation plan for Arctic grayling at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in southwest Montana.

A weather system lumbering into the Northern Rockies is expected to bring wet and substantially cooler conditions with it that will likely last through the end of the week.

A Missoula affordable housing group Wednesday announced the formation of a new housing cooperative on the city’s north side.

For many children, back-to-school also means back to the doctor for mandatory vaccines. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported earlier this year that the use of non-medical vaccine exemptions is on the rise.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is planning prescribed burns at two wildlife management areas in western Montana in the coming weeks.

Missoula’s squirrels knocked out electricity to thousands of city residents.

As Montana schools struggle to fill classrooms with qualified educators, a growing number are turning to virtual teachers to fill the gap. But, online learning isn’t a great fit for every student, and some schools are struggling to balance student needs with the reality of the teacher shortage.

Montana’s Air National Guard will receive eight new, long-awaited cargo planes to update their fleet. Montana’s 120th Airlift Wing is one of four National Guard locations across the country selected to receive new aircraft.

Ryan Busse is a former firearms executive who got national attention for his book that’s critical of the gun industry. He’s also been an outspoken critic of Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte.

Choteau residents are being warned to watch out for a grizzly bear recently wounded near Freezeout Lake. A new cancer treatment center has opened in Lewistown. Montana will get more than one million dollars in federal aid for sagebrush conservation efforts.

You may know Montana has an official state animal, a state bird, a state gemstone and a state fruit. But did you know we have a state lullaby? Neither did we. Here's what we learned.

Dozens of people gathered in Helena on Monday night to protest the closure of a Intermountain Residential, a mental health program that treats young children.

Most Montana taxpayers who qualify for a property tax rebate have already claimed theirs. Those who haven’t are encouraged to do so before it’s too late.

As wildfire season winds down, late summer and early fall prescribed burning is picking up throughout Montana.

New statewide testing results show improvements in English and math scores for high schoolers, but student proficiency still lags behind most pre-pandemic benchmarks.

Montana Public Service Commissioner Randy Pinocci was arrested last week for failing to appear in court. The Montana State News bureau first reported he’s been charged with disorderly conduct.

Summers in the Northern Rockies have historically been fairly temperate and most housing here wasn’t built with extreme heat in mind. As climate change heats up Montana’s summers, more Montanans need air conditioning. It’s a new expense that’s especially hard for people in low-income housing.

Montana environmental officials are making close to a million dollars in grants available for water quality projects across the state. A new pool of federal funding is available for Montana farmers to fund projects working to mitigate and address climate change.

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department and its partners have inspected over 88,000 watercraft this year for aquatic invasive species.

In recent weeks, hundreds of White Lives Matter stickers have been placed on street signs, local art installations and private property around Great Falls. Vandals have also sprayed graffiti with neo-nazi images.

Soil is often overlooked, but Montana farmers are joining in on a new challenge that aims to change that: burying cotton underwear to see how it decomposes. The “Soil Your Undies” campaign gives everyone a chance to see what’s happening underground.

A district court judge earlier this week partially stalled state lawmakers’ plans to set up a new system of charter schools in Montana. The decision does allow the newly formed commission in charge of charter schools to begin meeting.

Montana’s annual Labor Day report shows a record number of available jobs statewide and a persistent lack of people to fill them.

The Flathead National Forest is reopening more of the Hungry Horse Reservoir to the public as recent rains have helped firefighters contain wildfires in the area.

Montana Democrats are trying to defend the last statewide seat they hold. They're turning to grassroots organizers in deeply red places, hoping to win back rural votes with some outside help.

Health department officials are asking legislators to change criminal commitment laws amid a bottleneck at the Montana State Hospital.

In the charging document, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel argues Attorney General Austin Knudsen and his staff have “routinely and frequently undermined public confidence” in the state’s judicial system. The office governs attorneys' conduct in Montana and is supervised by the Montana Supreme Court.

Ming Cabrera, a retired pharmaceutical rep from Billings, is the latest Democrat to announce his candidacy for Montana's eastern district U.S. House seat.

The federal government said it will evaluate how climate change could inform future cleanup decisions at the Smurfit-Stone Superfund site near Missoula.

A Helena judge Wednesday temporarily blocked state education officials from approving new public charter schools in Montana.

$28 million in federal funding has been designated to support restoration and conservation projects on public lands across the West.

Projects to improve travel routes for Cutthroat Trout and Arctic grayling in southwest Montana and to stabilize streams along the Musselshell River get awarded state funding.

Montana environmental officials are moving forward with clean-up efforts at a public park in Deer Lodge.

State officials have moved forward with appointing a board to review applications for new public charter schools, although some hope a judge will block its work before it begins.

The Bitterroot National Forest seeks comment on four proposed fuel break projects. The Flathead National Forest is also seeking comment on a proposed logging project. A new report shows Yellowstone visitors, spending dropped by a third this year.

An adult male grizzly bear in the Tom Miner Basin was shot and killed by an angler in self-defense this week.

Federal officials have proposed a nationwide rule that will require nursing homes to meet specific staffing ratios.

The federal government has awarded a rural southeast Montana health care center almost $2 million to address regional opioid-related overdose risks.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) have closed fishing access to the Mission Reservoir.

Community members in Butte are skeptical of a plan from federal environmental regulators to clean up Silver Bow Creek while leaving some contaminated dirt in place.

In this episode, we answer a question from a listener who wants to know what's really behind these wildly low water levels we're seeing in Montana this year.

Every three years Montana’s largest electric utility tells the public how it’s planning to meet energy demands, which is going on now. And it follows a major court ruling that found the state’s energy policy is contributing to climate change. MTPR’s Austin Amestoy sat down with reporter Ellis Juhlin to break down where NorthWestern’s plan fits into the new legal landscape.

Persistent rainfall in northwest Montana has subdued large wildfires in the area.

Rural businesses and agriculture producers in Montana have been awarded $1.3 million in federal grants to become more energy efficient. A nonprofit organization said an anonymous tip led them to recover a missing piece of expensive monitoring equipment from the Big Hole river last week.