Featured Articles in Montana News

Gianforte’s 56 County Tour Makes Stops Across Western Montana

HELENA, Mont. — Gov. Greg Gianforte traveled across western Montana this week, visiting agricultural producers and manufacturers, opening a new manufacturing facility in Kalispell and recognizing a dozen veterans for their military and community service. The stops were part of Gianforte’s ongoing 56 County Tour, an annual swing through Montana aimed at highlighting local businesses, Read More…

OPI Launches Redesigned School Report Card Platform

Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Susie Hedalen has launched a new online platform intended to make state and district education data easier for the public to search and understand. The Community Engagement platform, built on software from PowerSchool, provides access to Montana’s annual report cards required under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act at the Read More…

State Investigation Alleges Kalispell Bondsman Exploited Clients

Montana State Auditor James Brown has suspended the insurance producer license of a Kalispell bail bondsman accused of exploiting people under his supervision, including allegedly trading bond services for sexual favors. The suspension order, issued Aug. 3, bars Laine Kendall Callahan from operating as a bail bondsman in the state pending a revocation hearing, which Read More…

Montana State conference to explore possibilities and challenges of artificial intelligence

Montana State University will host an interdisciplinary symposium Oct. 1-2 to explore the possibilities and challenges of artificial intelligence for human knowledge. “The Future of AI” conference, sponsored by the Interdisciplinary Institute on Artificial Intelligence at MSU, will be held on campus. Attendance includes lunch and an evening reception on Thursday, and a light breakfast Read More…

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First bin store opens in Choteau

The Choteau Juice Box, which opened in mid-April, is a combination shop, selling a wide variety of disposable vape products and smoke accessories on one half of the store and selling liquidation items at bargain prices on the other half. Caine and Shanda Gray are operating the shop at 25 Third St. NE in the Read More…

Choteau, Fairfield, Power receive grants

The Montana Farmers Union Foundation has awarded more than $43,000 to 22 projects that create new opportunities and contribute to the growth and enhancement of Montana agriculture and rural communities. “MFU Foundation’s grant program has been a huge success so far,” MFU Chief of Staff Matt Rains said. “This year, we were excited to see Read More…

Butte-Silver Bow commissioners diving into contentious ‘urban camping’ issues

A Butte-Silver Bow commissioner and some residents say “urban camping” is becoming a serious problem in Butte and they want local laws to regulate it. “Communities across the country and here in Montana are grappling with the public health, safety and environmental changes posed by unsanctioned encampments in parks and other places,” Commissioner Trudy Healy Read More…

Victim of fatal hit-and-run in Butte identified

The name of a pedestrian killed in an early Saturday morning hit-and-run incident in Butte was released Sunday. The victim was 39-year-old Duncan Brass of Butte, authorities said. He was positively identified by the Butte-Silver Bow Coroner’s Office with help from Butte police and the Montana Highway Patrol. Police say Brass was struck and killed Read More…

Montana State graduate students see carbon fiber reshaping flying transportation

BOZEMAN — Two graduate students at Montana State University recently gave presentations at an international conference on a unique carbon fiber composite that could one day reduce manufacturing and operational costs of airplanes, helicopters and other flying forms of transportation by making them significantly lighter without compromising their strength. Montana State University masters student Cooper Read More…

Native American-owned dispensary, N8V Grown, opens new location near Billings

N8V Grown, a Native American-owned and operated recreational marijuana dispensary, opened its first Billings-area storefront Friday, bringing the company’s signature high-potency products to Montana’s largest city. The shop — located at 7342 Eggebrecht Lane — is the sixth N8V Grown location statewide and the first near an urban center. Recreational cannabis shops are legal in Yellowstone 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…

Darlene Mae Demko

With heavy hearts, we share the passing of Darlene (Murch) Demko, who left us on Monday, July 7, 2025, in Great Falls, Mont., surrounded by her loved ones, at the age of 89 years old. No services are planned. Born in Hinsdale, Mont., to Harold and Beatrice Murch, July 24, 1935. She grew up and 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…

Law Enforcement Report

For the week of June 30 through July 6, there were 51 motor vehicle stops, four reports of loose dogs, two reports of missing dogs, one report of a barking dog, one report of loose livestock, and two reports of deer/antelope being removed from the ro…

Yard Of The Week

Cindy Taylor’s yard at 321 4th Avenue North is a testament to her neighbors’ love for Cindy as much as their continuing care for her yard while she is away getting treatment. The neighbors pitched in time and money to buy plants and then take care of…

Reds Drop Two At Home

Between July 8 and July 9, the Glasgow A Reds hosted the Billings Cardinals at Bill Connors field here in Glasgow. Glasgow would only manage to take one of the three games against the Cardinals in the home-stand. In the first game on July 8, Glasgow…

‘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…