Governor recognized two veterans with Montana’s top commendation and addressed the state VFW’s annual convention Gov. Greg Gianforte recently continued his 56 County Tour and honored veterans in Yellowstone and Custer counties as part of his annual effort to visit every county in Montana. “As I travel the state for my 56 County Tour, I Read More…
Attorney general says MVD will waive renewal and replacement fees in July for Montanans adding the state’s new eagle-in-flight citizenship marker Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced that the state’s Motor Vehicle Division will waive certain driver license and identification card fees throughout July for residents who add the state’s new citizenship marker to their Read More…
Abutting the first-floor hallway of Montana State University’s Romney Hall, the Travis W. Atkins Veteran Support Center resembles a typical campus study space. But through the center doors is much more. Equipped with rows of tables, printers and grab-and-go snacks, the center dedicated to supporting MSU’s military population provides a comfortable place for veterans and their family members to study, relax and find community. Started in 2011, the Veteran Support Center has consistently invested in the Read More…
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has approved an Exploration License Amendment for Sentinel Metals and issued a final Environmental Assessment for the Columbia Gold Project, located near Lincoln in Lewis and Clark County. DEQ accepted public comment on the draft EA from March 20 through April 13, 2026, drawing significant public interest. The agency Read More…
ED KEMMICK for the Gazette Editor’s note: This story from former Gazette reporter Ed Kemmick was first published in 2006. Questions raised in the article are still being debated. Beneath the signature of William Clark etched into the sandstone at Pompeys Pillar National Monument, an interpretive sign explains the significance of the artifact. It reads: Read More…
Rocky Vista University (RVU), which inaugurated the RVU Montana College of Medicine (MCOM) in July 2023, announced its plans for the establishment of the Rocky Vista University College of Veterinary Medicine in Billings, MT. The college will provide a comprehensive Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program to train future veterinarians. RVU has been diligently working Read More…
Scheduled for a mail-in ballot this March, the $4.6 million levy, if sanctioned, will finance the acquisition of new equipment and the recruitment of additional personnel for Kalispell’s police and fire departments. After experiencing a rise in call volumes and delayed response times over the years, Kalispell city officials are initiating an educational campaign ahead Read More…
HELENA – The Montana Department of Justice is seeking applications to fill two spots on the Tow Truck Complaint Resolution Committee. The positions available are a representative of the tow truck industry from eastern Montana and a representative of the commercial truck industry. The Committee reviews and resolves complaints involving tow truck issues. The term Read More…
HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today announced his appointment of Paul Green to lead the Montana Department of Commerce as its director. “As a veteran with a background in business and economic development and strong leadership skills, Paul has my full confidence, and he will make an outstanding director for the Department of Commerce,” Read More…
HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte and Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen today announced a record number of new businesses were created in Montana last year. At Copperline Smashburgers! in Helena, Sec. Jacobsen reported that Montanans registered more than 59,420 new businesses with her office in 2023, surpassing the previous record set in 2022 by Read More…
New data suggests incidence of violent crimes in the state, revealing a notable decline in various criminal activities based on data provided by the Montana Board of Crime Control. The most significant drop was observed in the number of murders, which decreased by 38.6% from 57 cases in 2022 to 35 cases in 2023. This Read More…
On a single night in 2022, 582,462 people experienced homelessness in the United States, and numbers are on the rise. Since 2017, there has been a 6% increase in homelessness. About six in 10 of the people experiencing homelessness in 2022 had access to emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, or safe havens, while the remainder Read More…
In a press conference held Thursday to observe Human Trafficking Awareness Month, Governor Greg Gianforte was joined by Attorney General Austin Knudsen, law enforcement officials, and nonprofit leaders. Governor Gianforte expressed his strong stance against human trafficking, condemning the perpetrators who prey on individuals and engage in heart-wrenching crimes. He emphasized Montana’s unwavering commitment to Read More…
The first two years of the coronavirus pandemic had a profound impact on the U.S. housing market as Americans fled expensive, high-population areas to mid-sized cities or adjoining suburbs in lower-cost parts of the country. (See how the cost of housing has skyrocketed in these major U.S. cities.) Low-mortgage rates and high demand for homes Read More…
As Human Trafficking Awareness Month begins, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen urges Montanans to familiarize themselves with the indicators of human trafficking and report any instances they observe to aid the state in combating this reprehensible crime. In a stern message, he warns human traffickers and their accomplices against conducting business in Montana, emphasizing that Read More…
The implementation of a Montana state law scheduled to ban the TikTok app on January 1 has been temporarily halted by a federal judge pending the outcome of a lawsuit challenging the law. Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has filed notice of an appeal to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, contesting the preliminary Read More…
Montana Highway Patrol Sgt. Jay Nelson has verified the evacuation of the Montana State Capitol in response to a bomb threat received around 8:30 a.m on Wednesday. MHP troopers efficiently cleared the Capitol, evacuating both staff and visitors. This incident is part of a series of threats directed at state capitol buildings on Wednesday morning, Read More…
Efforts to convene a special session of the Montana Legislature aimed at addressing tax-related concerns have fallen short. On Friday evening, the Montana Secretary of State’s Office disclosed the outcomes of a legislative poll. Of the total votes cast, 55 were in favor of scheduling a special session on January 15, falling short of the Read More…
A 58-year-old Billings woman, Mary Ann Whitecrane, who was previously charged with attempted murder for shooting a police officer during a standoff earlier this year, has entered a guilty plea. Whitecrane appeared in Yellowstone County District Court on Friday, having reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. As per the agreement, Whitecrane pleaded guilty to the Read More…
The Montana Lottery has announced the locations that sold the 3 $1 Million grand prize winners in this year’s Montana Millionaire raffle. The winning ticket numbers and locations are: 299951 – Kalispell (Town Pump of Kalispell #5) 315800 – Billings (Town & Country Supply Assoc.) 346589 – Great Falls (Heidelberg Lounge & Casino) by: Montana Newsroom Read More…
The mayor of Joliet, Dakota Zachariah Mitchem, who also holds the position of the town’s Postmaster, is facing a felony assault charge. The charge was filed in Carbon County District Court on Monday. According to court records, the charge is related to an incident that occurred on Sunday at a residence on Second Street in Read More…
BOZEMAN — Montana State University Extension and the Montana Stockgrowers Association awarded 2023 Steer of Merit certifications at the association’s Dec. 7 convention in Billings. MSU Extension beef cattle specialist Megan Van Emon presented the top five winners of the carcass and ultrasound Steer of Merit contests at a Best of Beef Luncheon. MSU Extension Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte has announced a strategic investment of up to $17.5 million to enhance access to community-based behavioral health and developmental disabilities care for Montanans. This marks the initial allocation of the $300 million funding commitment made by the governor this spring to overhaul and enhance Montana’s behavioral health and developmental disabilities services systems. Read More…
In a pulsating clash at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, the Montana Grizzlies etched their names in history, overcoming the North Dakota State Bison in a double-overtime spectacle to earn a coveted spot in the FCS national championship game. The heart-stopping 31-29 victory not only marked the end of the season at home, as symbolized by the iconic Read More…
On Friday, a legal challenge was initiated by James Goetz, a longtime trial lawyer from Bozeman and a prominent Democratic Party contributor. The lawsuit questions the constitutionality of four bipartisan laws recently enacted by the Republican-controlled Legislature in Montana. These laws were designed to address the state’s housing shortage by promoting proactive land use planning Read More…
The second “Early Bird” drawing in the annual Montana Millionaire raffle was conducted by the Montana Lottery on Friday. In this year’s raffle, there were two Early Bird prizes: one for $25,000, drawn on Nov. 24, and another for $100,000, drawn on the most recent Friday. The winning ticket for the $100,000 prize bears the Read More…
Patricia Real Bird, a teacher and coach for the girls’ basketball team in the Lodge Grass school district, was apprehended on Wednesday following accusations of consuming alcohol during work hours, as reported by school authorities. There is a possibility that Real Bird may be charged with child endangerment. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is Read More…
This week, a dozen teenage girls filed into the Code Girls United classroom – a space they’ve spent many evenings in as a team over the past three months. Normally, the girls would open their laptops, hunker down, and delve into their coding work. However, this particular evening, the class had a different agenda. READ Read More…
Hunter Biden faces a heightened legal scrutiny with an indictment on nine tax charges as part of a special counsel investigation into the business dealings of President Joe Biden’s son, unfolding against the backdrop of the 2024 election. Filed on Thursday, these new charges—comprising three felonies and six misdemeanors—are in addition to federal firearms charges Read More…
District Judge Dan Wilson handed down a combined 170-year sentence to the perpetrator of the fatal 2021 Fuel Fitness shooting in Kalispell on Thursday. In Flathead County District Court on Nov. 30, a jury declared Jonathan Douglas Shaw, 37, guilty of felony deliberate homicide and attempted deliberate homicide with weapons enhancements, following a four-day trial in Read More…
Thanks to a new $5 million donation, Montana PBS has reached a fundraising milestone that will see a major expansion of the station located at Montana State University, as well as increased investments in news and public affairs programming to reach across the state. The recent gift from donors Patt and Terry Payne of Missoula pushed Montana Read More…
Representative Mike Gallagher, who chairs the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, and Congressional Republicans are urging a University of Montana institute linked to former U.S. ambassador Max Baucus to sever ties with a Beijing proxy group operating in the United States, as reported by National Review. The GOP lawmakers contend that the Read More…
A Billings man who claims he shot another man to death in self-defense during a road rage incident was arraigned Wednesday in Yellowstone County District Court. Jacob Dylan Troxel, 31, pleaded not guilty to deliberate homicide (with weapons enhancement) for the shooting death of 29-year-old Michael Duran. Troxel was allowed to remain free on his Read More…
Missoula witnessed unforgettable night at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, as the No. 2 seed Montana Grizzlies powered through a snow-covered showdown to dominate the Delaware Blue Hens 49-19 in the FCS playoffs’ second round. The win marked the Grizzlies’ eighth consecutive victory, propelling them into the FCS quarterfinals with an impressive 11-1 record. The snowfall, Read More…
A coalition of individuals, organizations, and businesses has strongly contested a Montana law that places restrictions on drag performances and prohibits drag reading events at public schools and libraries. In a recent legal development, this group has urged a federal judge to promptly declare the law unconstitutional without resorting to a trial. In the filed Read More…
BOZEMAN — An online auction to support Montana 4-H will be available through Dec. 4, according to the Montana 4-H Foundation. More than 50 lots are up for bid in the Montana 4-H Emerald Auction. Items donated by supporters and county councils include a collection of 4-H clover emblems, woodworking, jewelry, leatherwork and vacation getaways, according to Read More…
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Montana State University will host a presentation, “New Directions: County and City Leaders Look Forward to 2024,” during its monthly Friday Forum on Dec. 8 via Zoom. The event will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public. U.S. census data shows that Read More…
GREENOUGH — On Monday, November 27, 2023, Governor Greg Gianforte journeyed from Helena to Greenough to partake in the felling of the 2023 State Capitol Christmas tree. The governor ventured into the woods, reaching the designated site within the Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC) trust lands, where the ideal tree was selected Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte visited Billings to engage with veterans, business owners, legislators, and advocates in a discussion centered around the benefits of Senate Bill 104. The bill, set to take effect on January 1, will allow veterans to exempt up to 50 percent of their military retirement pay from state income tax. The governor emphasized Read More…
The Kalispell Public Schools (KPS) Board of Trustees will consider applications for one or more charter schools to be opened within the district at its Oct. 24 meeting. If approved by the board, the applications will head to the Montana Board of Public Education, where they will be approved or denied by early 2024. At Read More…
TikTok’s lawsuit against Montana over the state’s recent ban will be in court starting Thursday, October 12, 2023. The lawsuit argues the law banning the social media app violates the First Amendment, violates the U.S. Constitution in several other regards and is preempted by federal law. Governor Greg Gianforte signed the TikTok ban May 17 and Read More…
Residents from a neighborhood in the Billings Heights are upset about damages caused in their yards due to construction contracted by TDS Fiber. The construction leaves massive holes in front lawns of many in the area. These holes are where the Wisconsin-based company will lay brand new fiber optic internet cables underground. Heights resident Kristi Read More…
Phil Drake Someone fired two rounds from a shotgun at the Planned Parenthood facility in Helena, officials said Friday. There were no injuries, authorities said. Friday afternoon, police released three photographs asking for assistance in identifying a person and vehicle. One photo shows a person carrying what appears to be a shotgun or rifle and Read More…
Helena, MT – Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Christopher Abbott has issued a temporary restraining order that temporarily blocks a law scheduled to take effect on October 1st. This law would have mandated that abortion clinics in Montana obtain licenses to operate. The restraining order stems from the fact that the state has Read More…