The final decision reverses a Biden-era authorization that allowed non-production bison to graze on more than 63,000 acres of federal land, ending a four-year legal and political fight by Montana’s governor, attorney general, and congressional delegation. The Bureau of Land Management issued a final decision canceling the American Prairie Reserve’s bison grazing permits on more Read More…
The governor held a town hall in Sidney and visited a string of small businesses and nonprofits across five counties, using the tour to tout property and income tax reforms ahead of the next legislative session. Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte brought his 56 County Tour to the state’s southeast corner this week, holding a town Read More…
Montana has topped the nation in year-over-year increases in single-family home permits, according to a new report from the National Association of Home Builders. The Washington, D.C.-based trade association, which represents over 140,000 members in the residential construction industry, reported that seven states recorded year-over-year increases in single-family permits in January. Gains ranged from 25.5 Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte announced that the Montana Registered Apprenticeship Program (MRAP), administered by the Montana Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), reported record participation in 2025, reinforcing its role as a key driver of workforce development in the 406 JOBS initiative. “The Montana Registered Apprenticeship Program is opening doors for hardworking Montanans to earn while 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…
GREAT FALLS — Many Montanans take pride in living in the “406” – and soon Treasure State residents will be using that 406 more often. On Friday, the Montana Public Service Commission announced that beginning next year, whenever you call to a Montana phone number from a Montana phone number, you will have to include Read More…
High rates of chronic wasting disease in and around the Ruby Valley have prompted officials to ramp up the killing of white-tailed deer in nine hunting districts across southwest Montana. Brian Wakeling, game management bureau chief for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said at a virtual Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting Thursday that Read More…
HELENA — A multi-day hearing is scheduled next week on a human-rights complaint from former Corrections Department employee Adrianne Cotton, who said her job was eliminated in 2018 in retaliation for her sexual-harassment claim against the agency director. The hearing, at which state Corrections Director Reg Michael and other state officials and former state employees Read More…
BILLINGS — Few have felt the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic more than small businesses. In Montana, those account for over 99% of all businesses and 65% of all employees. So the Montana district of the U.S. Small Business Administration is hitting the road to highlight success stories across the state. District director Brent Donnelly Read More…
MISSOULA, Mont. — Sen. Jon Tester is one of several Democratic senators who isn’t an automatic yes on giving President-elect Joe Biden’s defense secretary nominee a congressional waiver. Retired Gen. Lloyd Austin is up for the position, but the National Security Act requires civilian control at the Pentagon, meaning someone has to have been retired from Read More…
Missoula County will distribute up to $625,000 in grant funding to help local businesses impacted by the pandemic retain jobs for low- and moderate-income employees through the COVID-19 Small Business Job Retention Fund. Qualifying businesses will be able to submit applications this week, and grant funding will be awarded and distributed in January. The application Read More…
During a Friday press conference, his first since being elected, Gov.-elect Greg Gianforte offered few hints about what policies he may pursue or support once he’s sworn in on Jan. 4. While he largely avoided answering direct questions about specific policy proposals and ideas, he did say that responding to the coronavirus pandemic, which has Read More…
The Honorable Ted O. Lympus, a former Flathead County Attorney and Flathead District Court judge for decades, died peacefully Thursday morning, surrounded by family members at home in Missoula. He was 77. Lympus served as a judge for the 11th District Court in Montana for 23 years, retiring in 2015. Prior to that he spent Read More…
BILLINGS — As the cold weather starts to settle in Montana, snow and ice can make getting from point A to point B difficult on the roads and rails. Luckily, BNSF Railway, which moves everything from groceries to medicine to automobiles, has some interesting methods to keep its trains running during the winter. READ FULL Read More…
MISSOULA — The Montana Food Back Network reports that approximately 10% of Montanans struggle with hunger — a problem only made worse by COVID-19. Once again KPAX and First Security Bank have teamed up for our annual holiday food drive to help keep our community fed. We spoke with First Security Bank president and CEO Read More…
Gov. Steve Bullock on Wednesday announced that Montana could receive the first shipment of vaccinations for COVID-19 as soon as Dec. 15. The state is expected to receive an initial shipment of around 9,750 doses of the vaccination developed by the drug company Pfizer, with several thousand more doses in subsequent weeks. If approved, another Read More…
A man shot at Belgrade police officers Monday night when they responded to a disturbance on NorthHoffman Street in Belgrade. The incident occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m. According to a press release, shortly after officers arrived on the scene, a man opened fire on officers from a second-story apartment window. A Belgrade police car that Read More…
MISSOULA — A $500,000 grant from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will double SNAP benefits in Montana for the next four years. Now, for every one SNAP dollar spent on items like fruits and vegetables, the user will receive one extra dollar to spend. This round of grant funding secures the program for four Read More…
KALISPELL, Mont. (AP) — Flathead County’s interim public health officer is resigning at the end of the year, saying she’s frustrated with the lack of support from county officials for any efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Tamalee St. James Robinson submitted her letter of resignation Friday to the county commission and the Read More…
BOZEMAN — Well-known sources like sunlight, moving water and wind generate sustainable energy which can be stored for later use. But what if we could turn the air around us into usable fuel when the wind isn’t blowing? Montana State University researcher Michael Mock envisions a future in which homes have solar panels on the Read More…
HELENA — Montana is known for its beautiful mountain scenery, and some would even consider it the best place on earth for fishing so when avid fisherman Patrick Hogan was out on the Missouri River near Townsend and saw it sprinkled with old water bottles, he couldn’t let it go. Hogan says, “When you put Read More…
Two U.S. citizens have settled a lawsuit with Customs and Border Protection after they were detained by a Border Patrol agent who heard them speaking Spanish at a convenience store in Havre, Montana, and demanded that they show identification. The monetary settlement was announced on Tuesday by the American Civil Liberties Union, which filed the lawsuit on Read More…
All tickets for the 2020 drawing of Montana Millionaire have sold out, once again selling out in record time. Tickets sold out before 5:00 p.m. on Monday Nov. 23, nine days earlier than 2019 and four days before the first early bird drawing. “Sales for Montana Millionaire have been more and more brisk every single Read More…
As Montana U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme prepares to step down Dec. 2, he spoke with MTN News about the biggest challenges facing his successor. First and foremost, the new U.S. attorney for Montana will be dealing with COVID-19 and its impact on Montana’s justice system, including an alarming jump in violent crimes. According to new data Read More…
Montanans voted to legalize recreational marijuana earlier this month, but there are still hurdles to overcome before people without medical marijuana cards can head to the pot shop. I-190, one of the two initiatives that legalized recreational marijuana in the state, may still be changed by the Montana Legislature during the upcoming 2021 session, Read More…
BILLINGS — Warrior Wishes Montana works to provide veterans in Billings and surrounding areas with assistance and connect them to the right resources, and veterans can come get the fixings for a warm Thanksgiving meal in Billings on Tuesday, November 24. “Warrior Wishes Montana is going to be giving our annual Vetsgiving Meals to the Read More…
The Montana Department of Commerce announced November 19th, 2020, it has completed a bond sale worth more than $52 million to help finance the construction of a new facility for Shodair Children’s Hospital. The bond issuance by the Montana Facility Finance Authority will support a new facility in Helena, which will include 82 private rooms Read More…
MISSOULA, Mont. — Starting Wednesday, through next Tuesday, Bozeman School District administrators say Meadowlark Elementary will be on a remote learning format. Officials say a large number of staff members have to quarantine, so there is not enough coverage for classes and other positions. READ FULL STORY
Governor-elect Greg Gianforte unveiled advisory teams on Monday that will help him find new directors for the Department of Commerce, the Department of Labor and Industry and Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Gianforte was elected governor Nov. 3 and takes the oath of office Jan. 4. All members are voluntary and are not compensated. Last week, Gianforte Read More…
Montana Gov. Steve Bullock proposed a two-year state budget on Nov. 16 that he says preserves essential services while boosting education and infrastructure spending. YPR News’ Kevin Trevellyan reports it’s the two term Democratic governor’s final budget proposal. During a news conference at the capitol, Bullock proposed using $75 million, or two thirds of the state’s rainy Read More…
Back in 2014, I first interviewed the technology and security leaders in “Big Sky Country” for this blog. A lot has changed in the past six years, including the state’s government technology and security leadership. But what hasn’t changed is a focus on excellence and professionalism in public service that continues to surprise observers around the country. Read More…
BOZEMAN, Mont. – Governor-elect Greg Gianforte today announced his joint-transition advisory team for the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The advisory team will identify and review candidates to serve as the next directors of the DNRC and DEQ and will forward their recommendations to Governor-elect Gianforte. Read More…
MISSOULA – Montana Rail Link (MRL) announced Wednesday they released a special locomotive last week honoring veterans for Veteran’s Day. Additionally, MRL is also releasing a locomotive showing appreciation for essential workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “Essential workers have played a critical role in keeping our communities healthy and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic,” MRL Read More…
HELENA — Season work can be a good way to earn some extra money during the holidays, and help struggling families get back on their feet. Holiday hiring has begun in earnest, but those seasonal jobs are just a small portion of workforce shortage Helena businesses are currently experiencing. “There is an incredible need for Read More…
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is closing its office in Libby after 20 years of community outreach and extensive cleanup work. The Libby Field Office on Ninth Street opened as an information center as the EPA was ramping up its cleanup efforts after the town was declared a Superfund site from decades of asbestos Read More…
Historians, educators and proud Montanans gathered at the State Capitol in Helena Friday to honor the 2020 Montana History teacher of the year. Abbey Kochel is the 31st educator to receive the Montana Statehood Centennial Bell Award. Kochel teaches seventh grade at Castle Rock Middle School in Billings. Inspired by her father to become a Read More…
FARMINGTON, Utah — Montana and Montana State will meet in their annual Brawl of the Wild football game March 27 in Missoula, the Big Sky Conference said Wednesday in announcing its six-game league schedule for spring 2021. The abbreviated slate is set to begin Feb. 27 and will culminate April 10 with two conference-wide bye weeks Read More…
GREAT FALLS — The four-member staff of a Montana county’s health department has resigned, citing a lack of support by the county in fighting the coronavirus. A letter from Health Department Director Nicki Sullivan to the Pondera County Commission highlighted the need for a fairer wage, more transparency and additional contact tracers and staffers. “I want Read More…
HELENA — A new grassroots organization has been created to help individuals and businesses challenge COVID mandates in Montana for what they call government overreach. The Freedom Protection Project was created by the organizers of the “Let Freedom Ring” concert that was held at the beginning of October in the Helena Valley. “A lot of Read More…