MISSOULA, Mont. — The public comment period for a Montana plan to clean a polluted 42-acre area just north of downtown Missoula is set to expire on May 2. The Missoulian reported Thursday that the Montana Department of Environmental Quality had proposed a plan to clean the area to standards that would allow future industrial uses. Read More…
To close out Montana Agriculture Week, Governor Greg Gianforte toured the Feddes’ Family’s Amsterdam Meat Shop in Manhattan, which was awarded a MT Meat Processing Award Grant from the CARES Act. At the site, the governor heard from owners how this investment allowed them to increase their processing capacity and get their beef from pasture Read More…
Sixty officers from 40 different agencies in the state will graduate Tuesday from the Montana Law Enforcement Academy in Helena. Attorney General Austin Knudsen is set to give a keynote address. Glen Stinar, academy administrator, and graduating class representative Thomas Hsu of the Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office will also speak, according to a news release. Read More…
(The Center Square) – Montana is the ninth least stressed state in the U.S., according to a new study, in large part because of financial, family and health-related factors. Personal finance website Wallethub ranked the states based on more than 40 indicators across categories such as average number of hours worked per week, personal bankruptcy rate and Read More…
MISSOULA, Mont. — The Missoula City Council agreed to sign the city on to an interlocal agreement with Missoula County, Bozeman and Helena to hire a green tariff consultant. A green tariff is a rate, not a tax, offered to people who want to opt into receiving 100% clean, renewable energy. The consultant will help leaders Read More…
A little more than one week ago, U.S. Border Patrol agents took four men into custody near Whitefish after they allegedly made an illegal border crossing from Canada into the U.S. Three remain in custody, including one accused of murder in Canada, but one walked away before agents fully realized who he was. Now, law Read More…
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
Brown said it’s hard for many universities to maintain the expenses of library collections, and this reduction will save about $500,000 annually. “There’s inflationary rises in those costs. Similar, you know, to electricity, water, heat — the library really is, you know, like a utility and part of the basic infrastructure. But it is a Read More…
BILLINGS – A Billings woman was able to return stolen property to multiple residents this week, including one item that had been stolen over two years ago. Billings resident Courtney Kirkwood owns multiple rental properties. She said one of her tenants was trying to do a good thing by lending a room to a man and Read More…
(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…
A truck driver hauling produce was stopped at the Sweet Grass border crossing into Canada in December and found to have roughly 500 pounds of meth on board. The news came in a press release from the Canada Border Services Agency on Wednesday. It was the largest meth seizure at a land border crossing on Read More…
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A 20-year-old Montana man was arrested in Miami Beach after investigators said he admitted to sending threatening text messages about conducting a mass shooting at an elementary school in his home state. Linde Teo Lambson was arrested in Miami Beach on Tuesday, Jan. 26, after police tracked his vehicle to a parking Read More…
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…
MISSOULA, Mont. – Right now, cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the state and one in seven Montanans are using tobacco. The Montana Tobacco Quit Line is working to lower that number by launching new programs to make it easier for Montanans to get support and get more tools. The program Read More…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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
BILLINGS — A portion of Governor Greg Gianforte’s proposed Montana budget is aimed at bolstering drug and alcohol treatment, both inside and outside prison walls. He demonstrated his agenda on his first day in office by having Yellowstone County District Court Judge Mary Jane Knisley administer the oath of office. Then, at the top of Read More…
HAVRE, Mont. – The Department of Veterans Affairs announced 250 veterans will receive their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in Havre Thursday. The Montana VA Health Care System (MTVAHCS) was chosen to be the forefront of the VHA pilot program bringing vaccines to rural veterans nationwide. “With the vaccines, our Veterans and staff finally have Read More…
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…
(CNN)A Montana Highway Patrol trooper is being praised for his heroic actions after pulling a driver from her submerged vehicle in the icy Yellowstone River Thursday. Trooper Connor Wager entered the near-freezing water after responding to a rollover crash south of the town of Emigrant, the Montana Highway Patrol said on Twitter. “After arriving on scene, Read More…
BILLINGS — Montana could be on the cusp of achieving something that has never happened before in U.S. history. In early March, state officials expect to find out if Montana’s population has grown enough to warrant a second seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. If that happens, it will be a first. “If we Read More…
GREAT FALLS — The powerful winds that rocked most of Montana on Wednesday caused widespread damage – tipping semi trucks, toppling trees, ripping roofs, and more. The National Weather Service in Great Falls said: “This is an extreme wind event even for this area.” The NWS said that three locations set new January wind speed Read More…
HELENA — Attorney General Austin Knudsen joined a broad coalition of 48 attorneys general in pushing federal regulators to examine recent progress in their fight against opioid abuse. The bipartisan coalition specifically seeks a progress report regarding recent steps taken by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to combat the opioid crisis, given the new Read More…
GREAT FALLS — It’s not quite time yet, but some Montana school districts have begun planning to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to their teachers and staff when they are available. According to the latest draft of the state’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan, Frontline Essential Workers will receive the vaccine in Phase 1c. The Centers for Disease Control Read More…
HELENA, Mont. – Last week, Governor Greg Gianforte unveiled a revised vaccine distribution plan that prioritizes protecting the most vulnerable Montanans. With Gianforte’s revisions, Montanans most at-risk for serious illness or death from COVID-19 – Montanans 70 years of age and older, Montanans 16 to 69 years of age that have a severe underlying medical Read More…
MISSOULA, Mont. — Gallatin County is working to get an interim sheriff in place after Gov. Greg Gianforte nominated Brian Gootkin to lead the Montana Department of Corrections. Gootkin had served 27 years with the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office. READ FULL STORY
HELENA — A Republican state representative from Hamilton revealed late Thursday that he has tested positive for Covid-19 – the first state lawmaker to be known as infectious with the disease during the 2021 Legislature, which began Monday. Rep. David Bedey came into contact with the virus before the Legislature began, said Sen. Jason Ellsworth, Read More…
BOZEMAN — As part of a new contract Montana State head football coach Jeff Choate signed with the university last year, he would have to pay the university $250,000 if he terminates the agreement with more than 12 months remaining on the contract. The contract is set to expire on Jan. 31, 2024. MTN Sports Read More…
Gov. Greg Gianforte vowed Tuesday to rescind the statewide mask mandate — though not immediately — and announced he is revising the state’s vaccine distribution plan to prioritize Montanans over 70 and people with specific underlying health conditions. Gianforte, a Republican, said he will lift the statewide mask rule once the most vulnerable Montanans are vaccinated and once the Read More…
GREAT FALLS- On Jan. 2, community members around the Electric City are gathering to spread awareness of the reality of human trafficking in Great Falls. Chelsi Lanphear founded Solid Ground when she moved to Great Falls in Oct. 2020 after not being able to find an awareness and support group in central Montana for human Read More…
MISSOULA, Mont. — In a press call with reporters exactly one week before Gov.-elect Greg Gianforte takes office, he again called COVID-19 the most pressing issue Montana faces Jan. 4, but didn’t make any big announcements about how his approach will look. He said he will announce new guidance for Montana after he’s sworn in, but Read More…
HELENA — During the COVID-19 pandemic, both the federal government and the state of Montana have issued orders limiting when someone can be evicted for failing to pay rent. However, those moratoriums don’t cover all situations, and eviction cases are still being filed. Currently, the CDC has an order in place that protects tenants from Read More…
President Donald Trump’s decision to sign the COVID-19 stimulus bill, which also had a funding bill attached, has wide ramifications. It makes the Montana Water Protection Act law, which in turn gives the management of the National Bison Range to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. READ FULL STORY
MISSOULA — Two Flathead Lake parcels are one step closer to becoming public property, and now it’s just a matter of money. On Monday, the Montana Land Board unanimously approved the Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) purchase of the 15-acre Montebello Fishing Access Site near Dayton and the 106-acre Somers Beach State Park near Somers. The Fish, Wildlife & Read More…
MISSOULA — Two Flathead Lake parcels are one step closer to becoming public property, and now it’s just a matter of money. On Monday, the Montana Land Board unanimously approved the Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) purchase of the 15-acre Montebello Fishing Access Site near Dayton and the 106-acre Somers Beach State Park near Somers. The Fish, Wildlife & Read More…
BILLINGS- Billings Police said that violence has gone up “substantially” in 2020. Lt. Brandon Wooley of the Billings Police Department shared the following numbers for this year: Assault against police officers- up 50% Partner family member assault- up 21% Partner family member strangulation- up 24% Assaults with a weapon- up 50% Lt. Wooley also said there have been 16 Read More…
MISSOULA, Mont. — Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, a writer and ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has announced that three Montana tribal colleges and the YWCA Billings will be among more than 384 organizations receiving a total of $4.2 billion. Salish Kootenai College, Blackfeet Community College and Chief Dull Knife College will receive donations. Chief Dull Knife Read More…
HELENA, Mont. — Incoming Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signaled he won’t continue a statewide mask mandate in place since July, though he said he plans to wear a mask himself and get vaccinated against COVID-19. If Gianforte, a Republican, reverses outgoing Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock’s mask order, Montana will be just the second state after Mississippi to Read More…
Major Steve Lavin, of Kalispell, will lead the Montana Highway Patrol under the next Department of Justice administration, Attorney General-elect Austin Knudsen said Wednesday. “Steve has the vision, experience and leadership ability we need to tackle the difficult challenges we face,” Knudsen, a Republican, said in a statement. “His integrity and steadfast devotion to duty Read More…
BILLINGS – It’s been said that age is just a number—but when that number reaches 100, it’s still a pretty big deal. You would never guess that George Wallis is that old when you first meet him. “That pile is from the 446th Bomb Crew and that pile is from family,” he says pointing to stacks Read More…
Gov. Steve Bullock was at St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings Tuesday afternoon as health-care workers received the first doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. “This really is a historic moment for our state and our country…no place I’d rather be as we start to see some light in what’s been a long, dark tunnel- really Read More…