Featured Articles in Montana News

UM Program Awarded $2.4M to Support Behavioral Health Care Across Montana

A University of Montana program that trains students for careers in behavioral health care recently received a $2.4 million grant to continue growing the program and produce more providers serving Montana’s children, young adults and those in rural and underserved areas of the state. UM’s Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training program was awarded the Read More…

Montana Digital Academy Launches Frontier Learning Lab

The Montana Digital Academy MTDA) has announced the launch of the Frontier Learning Lab FLL, a new statewide innovation initiative designed to help Montana schools explore and integrate artificial intelligence AI, extended reality XR, and other emerging technologies into education. Supported by funding from the 2025 Montana Legislature and building on MTDAʼs leadership in digital Read More…

All in: Montana News

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…

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…

‘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…

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…

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…

Attorney General Knudsen Announces $2.5 Million Opioid Settlement with Eight Drug Manufacturers

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced today that the state will receive $2.5 million as part of a nationwide $720 million settlement with eight pharmaceutical companies accused of fueling the opioid epidemic. The funds, which will be used for opioid abatement efforts across Montana, stem from a multistate agreement resolving claims that the companies played 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…

Montana Commerce Department Awards Over $240,000 to  Coal-Impacted Communities

The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that three communities in coal-impacted areas will receive more than $240,000 in grant funding to support critical public safety upgrades and community development initiatives. The funding, distributed through the Montana Coal Board, will aid local governments and school districts in enhancing infrastructure, improving emergency services, and investing in 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…

Hoot-owl restrictions begin July 2

Hoot-owl restrictions take effect July 2 at 2 p.m. on the lower Madison River from the Warm Springs BLM day-use area downstream to the Jefferson River, and on the Sun River from the mouth of Muddy Creek to the Highway 287 Bridge. Hoot-owl restrictions remain in place on the upper Madison above Hebgen Lake. Hoot-owl Read More…

Wearley honored at Montana Range Days

Milford Wearley, a retired agriculture education teacher and long-time resident of Choteau, was honored with the 2025 Montana Range Days Hall of Fame Award during banquet festivities at Montana Range Days in Miles City on June 24. Montana Range Days (MRD) is a rangeland educational event for young children through adult age individuals that inspires Read More…

Hunting regulation scoping meetings underway

Hunting regulation season setting scoping meetings are underway around the state this month with more meetings remaining over the next few weeks. These meetings and your input are critical for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff as we work to develop regulation proposals for the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission to consider this fall. If Read More…