Featured Articles in Montana News

Montana Attorney General Launches Investigation into Lee Enterprises Following Cyberattack

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced Friday that his office has opened an investigation into Lee Enterprises following a February cyberattack that compromised the personal information of nearly 40,000 employees and subscribers, including an undisclosed number of Montanans. Lee Enterprises, based in Davenport, Iowa, owns several major newspapers in Montana, including the Helena Independent Record, Read More…

President Trump Signs Senator Sheehy’s Aerial Firefighting Bill Into Law,

In a major legislative milestone for freshman U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), President Donald J. Trump on Friday signed into law the Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act, Sheehy’s bipartisan bill to expand and modernize the federal government’s aerial wildfire suppression capabilities. The signing ceremony took place in the Oval Office, where President Trump also issued a Read More…

Gianforte Honors Four Montana Veterans with 2024 Governor’s Veteran Commendation

Governor Greg Gianforte this week recognized four distinguished Montana veterans with the 2024 Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation during ceremonies held in Ravalli, Flathead, and Missoula counties. The award honors veterans who not only served with distinction in uniform but who also continue to make a lasting impact in their communities. “Montana’s veterans lead by example. Read More…

Gianforte Appoints Marta Bertoglio as Department of Commerce Director

Governor Greg Gianforte announced the appointment of State Representative Marta Bertoglio as the new Director of the Montana Department of Commerce, signaling a continued focus on economic growth and job creation in the state. “Marta has been a strong partner in the Legislature and is a driven leader, dedicated to making Montana the best place Read More…

All in: Montana News

Three veterans’ organizations to receive donations after settlement agreement

MONTANA — Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced three veterans’ organizations in the state will soon receive donations as a result of civil penalties assessed as part of a settlement agreement involving an illegal raffle enterprise and the Montana Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Gambling Control Division. In a press release, a series of online nationwide and Read More…

MHP Trooper Recruitment Cycle Underway

Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced today that a new Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) Trooper recruitment cycle is underway. MHP is accepting applications now through March 24 for at least ten new Troopers to begin training in August 2021. MHP is the traffic law enforcement division of the Montana Department of Justice and is responsible for Read More…

New Navy submarine named for Montana launched in Virginia

HELENA — The U.S. Navy announced that the USS Montana, a Virginia-class submarine, launched Wednesday in Newport News, VA. Wednesday’s launch brings the USS Montana one step closer to being commissioned into the Navy fleet. Huntington Ingalls Industries constructed the submarine. According to the company, the Montana had been dry-docked in since October. In launching, the Read More…

455-unit housing project planned near Kalispell

Kalispell’s building frenzy isn’t going anywhere. The city doubled the number of building permits issued last year, and major residential projects are on the horizon. On March 9, the Kalispell Planning Board will hold a public hearing for a subdivision proposed by Four Mile Farmstead LLC that at full buildout would offer 455 dwellings on Read More…

GPIA Adds Direct Flights to the Big Apple

The suite of passenger air services continues to expand at Glacier Park International Airport (GPIA), which on Friday announced a new partnership with JetBlue Airways that adds direct routes to New York City in addition to new routes through American Airlines. Beginning this summer, travelers will be able to take a seasonal JetBlue flight to Read More…

Health officials acknowledge COVID vaccine ‘line jumpers’ in Gallatin County

BOZEMAN — The Gallatin City-County Health Department, along with Bozeman Health, is addressing two new concerns when it comes to local emergency rules and vaccine distribution – and according to Health Officer Matt Kelley, that includes how some people have found a way to “jump the line.” “While we are down significantly from where we Read More…

Fraud rises in 2020 nationwide and in Montana

HELENA – While a lot slowed down in 2020, fraud and scammers did not. Data shows fraud reports and dollars lost went up both nationwide and in Montana. Scammers not only used phone calls, emails, text messages and social media, they also used COVID-19 to convince people to hand over their money. “We’re talking a Read More…

MT Attorney General announces partnership to fight human trafficking

MONTANA — Montana Attorney General, Austin Knudsen, announced a new partnership called the Sentinel Project between the Department of Justice (DOJ), Montana Beer and Wine Distributors Association (MBWDA), and Montana Association of Chiefs of Police (MACOP) to fight human trafficking in the state. Beer and wine distribution employees statewide have participated in the awareness training, which included Read More…

MSU Billings sees increase in graduate program enrollment and returning students

BILILNGS — MSU Billings released its spring 2021 enrollment data, which showed an increase in undergraduate student enrollment and graduate degree program enrollment, particularly in healthcare support programs such as clinical rehabilitation, special education in applied behavior analysis, and health administration. At its official 15th class-day count 3,987 students were enrolled with 2,263 at University Campus and 1,724 Read More…

Bozeman Health adding emergency behavioral health rooms

As the number of patients with mental health needs steadily increases, Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital is adding two rooms dedicated to emergency behavioral health patients. A lack of mental health and substance abuse services were flagged in two recent community health needs assessments, which Bozeman Health does every three years to ascertain where their services Read More…

50% of fatalities on Montana highways this year involve driving under the influence

BILLINGS, Mont.- Montana Highway Patrol Captain Keith Edgell said 50% of the deaths on Montana highways this year have involved people driving under the influence. There have been 17 deaths on Montana Highways so far in 2021. There were 209  deaths on Montana Highways in 2020. Ninety-one of those were linked to DUI. “You know, over the Read More…

Report: Ex-Titans coach Jeff Fisher interested in Montana State head coaching position

Longtime Titans coach Jeff Fisher is reportedly a candidate for the Montana State head coaching position. Fisher, 62, a Franklin resident, recently expressed interest in the Tennessee Vols vacancy. The Montana State position came open on Jan. 28 when Bobcats coach Jeff Choate became co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Texas. READ FULL STORY

South Dakota and Montana Teams that Convicted Former IHS Doctor for Serial Abuse of Native American Children Honored with Attorney General’s Award

(RAPID CITY, SD) – In a ceremony on January 25, 2021, United States Attorney Ron Parsons presented several federal prosecutors and law enforcement officials with the prestigious Attorney General’s Award, the highest honor given by the Department of Justice, for their exceptional efforts in the multi-district federal prosecution of Stanley Patrick Weber. A longtime pediatrician with Read More…

Commandments monument outside courthouse

KALISPELL — Anthony Weimer of Columbia Falls, who was found guilty of felony criminal mischief for removing a Ten Commandments monument outside of the Flathead County Courthouse in June, has been given a deferred three-year sentence. Court documents state that Weimer is ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $6,900 to reimburse insurance policies Read More…

Montana State Bobcats defensive coordinator Kane Ioane set to join Boise State staff

BOZEMAN — Montana State’s football coaching staff has taken another hit. Kane Ioane, who returned to Bozeman in 2019 as the Bobcats’ defensive coordinator, has agreed to become the co-defensive coordinator at Boise State. Multiple sources told MTN Sports that Ioane told his players on Friday and is flying to Boise on Sunday. MTN Sports’ Read More…

Greg Gianforte

Governor Gianforte Launches COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard

HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today launched the state’s COVID-19 vaccine dashboard. “With over 77,000 safe and effective vaccine doses administered in Montana, we continue to make strides to protect the most vulnerable. We can make even greater progress if the federal government increases our supply,” Governor Gianforte said. “I encourage Montanans to use Read More…

Montana Tech to add track and field programs

BUTTE – Montana Tech director of athletics Matt Stepan announced the upcoming addition of track and field to the Orediggers’ list of varsity sports. The men’s and women’s teams will begin recruiting immediately and are scheduled to compete in the Frontier Conference and the NAIA indoor and outdoor seasons in the spring of 2022. “We Read More…

Montana State expands asymptomatic testing for students living on campus

BOZEMAN – Montana State University announced that it will extend free asymptomatic COVID-19 testing for students living on campus beyond the first two weeks of spring classes. The tests are offered by appointment at MSU’s Student Testing Center near Bobcat Stadium. Only students living in the campus residence halls are eligible for asymptomatic testing, though any student showing symptoms Read More…

Gianforte requests Montana National Guard soldiers to return from Washington D.C.

HELENA – Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Friday he requested the returning home of Montana National Guard soldiers deployed for security assistance at the presidential inauguration in Washington D.C. In a tweet, Gov. Gianforte wrote, “With their mission complete, I have instructed Adjutant General Hronek to bring our @GuardMontana soldiers home.” READ FULL STORY

Montana State nursing instructor named Distinguished Nurse of the Year

BOZEMAN — A Montana State University nursing instructor has been recognized for her outstanding contributions made to professional nursing. Leesha Ford, clinical nursing instructor on the College of Nursing’s Bozeman campus, received the Distinguished Nurse of the Year award. The statewide award, which was founded in honor of nurse Trudy Malone, is given annually by the Montana Read More…