Featured Articles in Montana News

State Announce $4 Million Grant to Launch Montana’s First Teacher Apprenticeship Program

Governor Greg Gianforte and Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) Commissioner Sarah Swanson announced a $4 million federal grant to establish Montana’s first registered teacher apprenticeship program, a major step toward strengthening the state’s education workforce and addressing critical teacher shortages, particularly in rural and underserved areas. “Preparing the next generation of Montana’s workforce and Read More…

Knudsen Leads 23-State Coalition Defending Parental Rights in Gender Identity Case

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a 23-state coalition in a federal court case defending parental rights after a Delaware father alleged that school officials violated his constitutional rights by concealing his child’s gender identity decisions from him. The coalition filed an amicus brief Monday in Heaps v. Delaware Valley Regional High School Board Read More…

Governor Gianforte Signs Bill to Protect Water Users

Governor Greg Gianforte continued his 56 County Tour today with a stop in Chouteau County, where he held a ceremonial bill signing for legislation aimed at strengthening Montana’s water rights system and improving water administration across the state. Standing along the banks of the Missouri River, the governor was joined by Department of Natural Resources Read More…

Bozeman Tops List as Most Expensive U.S. Airport for Summer Car Rentals, Survey Finds

Travelers heading to Montana this summer may face sticker shock at the rental car counter. Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) has been named the most expensive airport in the country for car rentals, according to a new survey from travel website Cheapcarrental.com. The survey, which analyzed rental rates across 100 U.S. airports for the peak Read More…

All in: Montana News

‘Great day to be a Bobcat’: Brock Tessman welcomed as MSU’s 13th president

Lilly Keller Bozeman Daily Chronicle More than 700 faculty, students, staff and community members packed the Strand Union Ballroom on Wednesday evening to welcome Brock Tessman, Montana State University’s 13th president, in his first public appearance. The event marked a new chapter for MSU. Tessman steps into the role after the departure of Waded Cruzado, Read More…

Fiber broadband expansion continues in Whitehall

Officials gathered Wednesday to celebrate the completion of a fiber broadband project in Hardin and construction underway in Butte and Whitehall. Gov. Greg Gianforte announced the expansion of the fiber broadband network in collaboration with Visionary Broadband during a ribbon-cutting ceremony held in Whitehall. Gov. Gianforte and Visionary Broadband CEO Brian Worthen during a ceremony in Read More…

Governor Gianforte Honors Four Montana Veterans with Veteran Commendation

Governor Greg Gianforte this week honored four Montana veterans with the Governor’s Veteran Commendation, recognizing their exemplary military service and continued dedication to their communities. Ceremonies were held in Chouteau, Hill, and Valley counties as part of the governor’s ongoing commitment to celebrating Montana’s veterans. “Montana veterans don’t just serve in uniform, they serve for Read More…

Department of Commerce Relaunches Wood Products Loan Fund

The Montana Department of Commerce has officially reopened the Wood Products Revolving Loan Fund (WP RLF) to new applicants, unveiling a series of major updates aimed at increasing access to capital and strengthening the state’s wood products industry. The relaunch comes with revised program guidelines, adopted earlier this month, that streamline the application process, expand Read More…

Red Bottom Celebration Held In Frazer

Editor’s Note: This story was originally published in the June 26, issue of the Northern Plains Independent. The story is being republished with permission. The 122nd Red Bottom Celebration was held in Frazer June 19-22. Attendees were treated to a mix of rain and sunshine, as well as a wide array of dance competitions and Read More…

John William Ross Services

John William Ross passed away Thursday, March 20, 2025. He was born in Opheim, Mont., on Dec. 3, 1931, to Clarence and Marie (Novacek) Ross. A graveside service will be held on Monday, July 21, at 11 a.m., at the Opheim cemetery. A luncheon will follow at the Opheim Lutheran Church. A full obituary was Read More…

‘We’re all immigrants:’ Roughly 50 people become American citizens in Billings ceremony

In what’s a usually quiet and restrained space, cheers and applause rang out in an American flag-adorned courtroom as immigrants became official United States citizens in a ceremony Wednesday. New U.S. citizens attend a Naturalization Ceremony at the United States District Court in Billings on Wednesday. Citizens of 15 countries attended the morning ceremony with Read More…

State Announce $4 Million Grant to Launch Montana’s First Teacher Apprenticeship Program

Governor Greg Gianforte and Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) Commissioner Sarah Swanson announced a $4 million federal grant to establish Montana’s first registered teacher apprenticeship program, a major step toward strengthening the state’s education workforce and addressing critical teacher shortages, particularly in rural and underserved areas. “Preparing the next generation of Montana’s workforce and Read More…

UM Researcher Studies How Ads Distract From Side Effects

Most people would agree that television commercials are an irritant at worst and beverage break at best. For University of Montana marketing researcher Jesse King, commercials – namely pharmaceutical advertisements – are intensely interesting and a focal point of his studies for the past several years. Specifically, King studies how images used in those ads Read More…

International group visits Choteau, Bynum projects

Choteau and Bynum were among eight north-central Montana communities showcased for International Economic Development Council members attending a three-day rural retreat, organized in partnership with the Great Falls Development Alliance and Great Falls Montana Tourism. The IEDC brought 400 attendees, about half of whom work in rural communities, to the conference June 23-25, based in Read More…

It’s official: Gallatin County commissioners pass ban on public property camping

Gallatin County commissioners unanimously approved a requested urban camping ordinance Tuesday that bans public camping on county property and right-of-ways and provides enforcement tools. Jennifer Boyer and Scott MacFarlane were present for the second reading. Commissioner Zach Brown was excused but MacFarlane told the audience Brown had communicated his support of the ordinance and was Read More…

July 7-13

July 7 6:13 a.m., dispatch received a report of a hospice death at 85 Fourth Lane NW, Fairfield. 11:26 a.m., Montana Department of Transportation and Montana Highway Patrol were advised of a truck fire on Interstate 15 near Power. Power Volunteer Fire Department responded. 3:39 p.m., Teton County deputy spoke with a Fairfield resident who Read More…

Former MSU Billings Chancellor Ron Sexton dies

Dr. Ronald P. Sexton, who spent more than 30 years as a higher education leader in Billings and was the first person selected as chancellor at Montana State University Billings, died this past weekend. He was 87. JAMES WOODCOCK/Gazette Staff Sexton was a stalwart leader for his alma mater Eastern Montana College, MSUB’s predecessor, and was Read More…

Pedestrian struck and killed by semi-truck near Jefferson City, MHP says

A pedestrian from Arizona was struck and killed by a semi-truck near Jefferson City, the Montana Highway Patrol reported Monday. A 39-year-old woman from Winslow, Arizona, was pronounced dead on arrival July 11 around 11:15 p.m. on Interstate 15 near mile marker 173, officials said. Montana Highway Patrol badges. THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record A semi-truck Read More…

What they can with what they have: Crow officials join national demand for better Indigenous health care

Paul Hamby The hospital in Crow Agency isn’t hurting for patients. The campus of the Indian Health Service hospital, located among the collection of buildings housing the government offices for the Crow Tribe, has a parking lot that’s consistently full. As a full-service hospital, it offers some of the most comprehensive health care that members Read More…

Montana Folk Festival attracts and wows big crowds Saturday in Uptown Butte

With elegance, power and poise, the Mariachi Mariposas wowed the boisterous but respectful throngs Saturday evening at the Original Mineyard during the Montana Folk Festival.  The Mariachi Mariposas saluted an appreciative crowd Saturday evening at the Original Mineyard during the Montana Folk Festival in Uptown Butte.  Will Adams, Special to The Montana Standard The all-female Read More…