Attorney General Austin Knudsen today announced the appointment of Billings attorney Emily Jones to the Montana Judicial Standards Commission, a key body responsible for upholding the integrity and ethical standards of the state’s judiciary. With more than 15 years in private practice, Jones brings extensive legal experience to the commission, which investigates allegations of judicial Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte and U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz has signed a historic Shared Stewardship Agreement between the State of Montana and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, launching an ambitious new partnership to accelerate forest restoration and wildfire risk reduction across the state. The agreement establishes a long-term framework to dramatically increase Read More…
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…
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…
HELENA – There are two new AmeriCorps billboards around the Treasure State. Their goal is to increase awareness of their programs and the opportunities for Montanan’s to serve right here in our fine state. There are eight programs for people to get involved in, which are all starting back up again in September. AmeriCorps offers Read More…
GREAT FALLS — Glacier National Park has temporarily closed access to the Granite Park area due to unusual grizzly bear activity, according to press release from park officials. The Highline, Loop, and Swiftcurrent Trail (from Swiftcurrent Pass to Granite Park Chalet) are all closed as of Sunday evening, meaning that access to the Granite Park Read More…
Workers for the general contractor toil eight days straight, in 10-hour shifts, before hiking the 6-plus miles out for six days off. They’re replaced during that time by another crew from Dick Anderson Construction of Great Falls. That rotation means the ongoing work in Glacier National Park to rebuild the historic Sperry Chalet dormitory, perched Read More…
HELENA, Mont. — A judge has sentenced a Montana man to 80 years in prison without the possibility of parole for a stabbing outside a bar. The Helena Independent Republic reports the attack happened outside Jesters Bar in 2017. Andrew Pierce Lake stabbed the victim seven times before going home, getting rid of the knife and Read More…
Nearly 30 people from 20 countries raised their right hand on Thursday and swore allegiance to the United States before waving the Stars and Stripes to celebrate their achievement as the nation’s newest citizens. In a ceremony that marked many firsts, and with a diverse crowd looking on, the 28 new Americans took their “obligation Read More…
1. DUBBED “Big Sky Country,” Montana is the third-least densely populated state in the United States. Forty-six of its 56 counties are considered “frontier counties,” and average just 6.86 people per square mile of land. 2. What it lacks in human population numbers, it makes up for in cattle. Montana has more than double the number of cows Read More…
MISSOULA, Mont. — Montana is ranked the fourth most dangerous state for kids online. The reason, according to a Century Link study, is because of “one law simply defining what bullying is, nothing else.” The study adds there is a “relatively low” victim rate of 8.21 per 100,000 residents. Century Link says more than one out of every Read More…
Montana State University President Waded Cruzado always sounds upbeat, but she talks about the outlook for the upcoming school year as especially exciting. “We are very, very happy because we have many things to celebrate this coming year,” Cruzado said. Cruzado, 59, MSU’s first female president, spoke in an interview this week in the Montana Read More…
HELENA — Helena non-profit Executives and Directors met Monday afternoon at the Power Block building with Republican Congressman Greg Gianforte. The roundtable meeting was held with intent to discuss concerns by each non-profit from Helena Food Share to Habitat for Humanity. Congressman Gianforte listened intently as they went around the table highlight this year’s achievements Read More…
GREAT FALLS — Second Lieutenant Jenna Schaack recently graduated from the United States Armor School in Fort Benning, Georgia, and is now the first female Armor Officer in the history of the Montana Army National Guard. After graduating in June, Schaack was assigned as a Platoon Leader with C Company, 1-163rd Combined Arms Battalion in Read More…
DEER LODGE – An official U.S. senate hearing on Montana’s national parks was held Thursday in a barn. Senator Steve Daines, who chairs the Senate’s subcommittee on national parks, held the hearing at the Grant-Kohrs Ranch in Deer Lodge to get feedback from those in the state’s tourism industry. The hearing focused on bringing more Read More…
BILLINGS, Mont. — This is the 96th year that the Marine Corps League is hosting their annual national convention, but for many veterans, this is their first time in the Magic City. Tom Lowry is a Marine Corps veteran himself and plays a key role in organizing the convention. “Coming in they wanted a western Read More…
Flathead High School Principal Michele Paine was surveying an assortment of old, at times decrepit, tables and shelves destined to be tossed or recycled last week as she prepared for the start of the school year. With the school gearing up to unveil its multi-million-dollar remodel later this month, Paine had decisions to make. “Education Read More…
Nearly half the bid and rental receipts from lease sales go to the states to directly support public education, infrastructure improvements and other state-determined priorities. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Montana/Dakotas raised $1.6 Million in its quarterly oil and gas lease sale held online July 30. Nearly 50 percent of the revenue from Read More…
A wolf trapper certification class scheduled for Billings aims to educate those willing to learn, how to properly trap and conserve in the state of Montana. The class will be a comprehensive education session taught by FWP staff and experienced wolf trappers. The trapping portion of each course will be taught by trappers who have Read More…
Gloria Schmidt visits Pacific Steel and Recycling in Kalispell every couple of weeks to drop off her recyclables. On Monday morning she deposited a few boxes and newspapers into the appropriate bins, just like usual. Although it’s not a lot, it’s important to her to do what she can to help the environment. But a Read More…
BELGRADE – A bull that legend says no cowboy could ride now has a permanent tribute in downtown Belgrade. In the 1890s, a bull named Corbett rose to fame with a reputation for being gentle in the pasture and a wild bucker outside of it. Cowboys came from hundreds of miles away to hop on Read More…
BROWNING – Water issues in Browning forced a late start Tuesday morning for the staff at public schools. Staff say it’s unclear what happened overnight, but when they arrived at work the faucets weren’t working. Corrina Guardipee Hall, Superintendent for Browning Public Schools, wrote the following on the schools, Facebook Page: READ FULL STORY
BILLINGS- For many, the first day of school is something to look forward to: new school clothes, new school supplies. For many, this is also a challenging time due to money constraints. Area Verizon Cellular Plus stores are doing their part to help relieve some of that burden and give back. On Saturday, July 27th all Montana Read More…
Southeastern Montana Development (SEMDC) announced last week that eight grant applications have recently been awarded into the SEMDC service region. “These funding opportunities resulted in $1,357,500 being awarded to much needed projects in Southeastern Montana” noted Jim Atchison, Executive Director of SEMDC. “Some of the eight grant applications were submitted over one year ago, so Read More…
Many of us have tried our luck with a lotto ticket, but it’s safe to say, the grand majority of us don’t win. But did you know the money from the Montana Lottery plays a big role in our local economics across the state? The Montana State Lottery money is disbursed in two different ways. Read More…
GREAT FALLS – A new regulation regarding abortion services and federal funding has Montana residents on both sides of the issue speaking out. The new rule originally implemented earlier this month does not permit clinics receiving government funding to give abortion referrals. Two other key changes include physical and financial separation of abortion services from providers Read More…
Montana Lt. Governor Mike Cooney today was awarded the first-ever Recycling Impact Award, a nationwide recognition of his work on recycling stewardship. The Recycling Impact Award is presented to a National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) member who is committed to working within a state, region, and/or communities to positively impact resource conservation and recycling. “Lt. Governor Read More…
A 15-year-old Montana girl who escaped from a mental health hospital has died after being struck by a pickup truck on a nearby interstate highway, police say. Kayla Neal, of Missoula, was walking on the southbound lanes of I-15 around 2 p.m. Monday in Helena when she was hit by a 56-year-old woman driving a Dodge truck, police there told KURL-TV. Minutes before, she had run Read More…
MISSOULA – The University of Montana is quietly hitting a very high mark in the on-going effort to retain newly-trained physicians to work in Montana, with a strong majority of graduates deciding to stay and serve patients across the state. Just five years ago, there was a growing concern of finding enough physicians to meet Read More…
Rep. Greg Gianforte said he has gotten language included in the new defense bill that calls on the Secretary of the Air Force to consider improvements at existing facilities, such as fixing the runway at Malmstrom Air Force Base, rather than build new ones. “Malmstrom Air Force Base is home to the 341st Missile Wing which Read More…
MANHATTAN, M.T. – According to the U.S. Geological Survey a 4.0 magnitude earthquake occurred at 7:52 p.m. Mountain Time, 2 miles northwest of Manhattan, Montana. More than 500 people have reported feeling the quake. READ FULL STORY
When someone in Montana enters a hospital with private insurance, the price for care can be two-to-four times beyond what the federal government sets as fair. Rand Corporation, a global think tank, released a study earlier this summer that showed private insurance companies paid twice what Medicare paid for the same services nationwide from 2015 through 2017. Read More…
The month of June was the deadliest on Montana roadways in a decade. With the alarming increase in crashes, the Montana Department of Transportation is urging travelers to drive safely this summer. Memorial Day to Labor Day is known as the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” due to the increased traffic deaths nationwide. At other Read More…
MISSOULA – Are you buying a used car that previously may have been used to transport meth? Or is your child going to a daycare that could have been a meth lab in the past? These are the questions a Montana pair are trying to answer with a new form of methamphetamine testing. The Montana Department Read More…
ANACONDA – According to U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, this year’s open house at the Anaconda Job Corps Center was anything but routine. While the Anaconda Job Corps’ open house is an annual event, Tuesday’s had a special feel to it. Last May, the career-training program was set to be closed, and some Job Corps participants Read More…
Montana gas prices have fallen 1.9 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.79/g today, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 615 stations. Gas prices in Montana are 9.9 cents per gallon lower than a month ago, yet stand 12.5 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. According to GasBuddy price reports, Read More…
Montana’s Lt. Governor Mike Cooney met with radio and television executives at the Montana Broadcasters Association convention at Big Sky on Sunday morning. Cooney provided a preview of the discussion with KGVO News on Saturday night. “We’re going to talk about the importance of the census to all the people of Montana, and we’re going Read More…
DARBY — Republican Sen. Steve Daines heard from Trapper Creek Job Corps employees about the president keeping the program open in Darby on Friday. “I was just a kid growing up in Montana like many of you have done and are doing,” Daines said at the event. “And it was an honor for me to Read More…
RED LODGE – Beartooth Pass is now completely open, according to a press release Sunday afternoon. It is completely open on both the Montana and Wyoming sides. The status of the pass can change quickly due to adverse weather and rock/snow slides, however. Drivers are asked to use caution. READ FULL STORY
The possibility of a nurse’s union forming at Kalispell Regional Healthcare is coming to a tipping point as employees gear up to cast their votes on the matter during a two-day union election slated for July 11-12— a fast-approaching resolution hospital officials say could signal an end to the hospital’s independence, should they vote in Read More…
Acadia Montana, the troubled residential psychiatric treatment facility for children that has operated in Butte under several different names and owners over the past 31 years, announced Tuesday it will close. It was not immediately clear how many jobs would be lost, though Butte-Silver Bow Chief Executive Dave Palmer said the number could be more Read More…
In a media release issued Tuesday night, Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin delivered the following message to anyone seeking the Forrest Fenn Treasure in the area of Yellowstone National Park: “In the last couple years, two people have died, two have been rescued near death, several have had run-ins with local and federal law enforcement, Read More…
Montana’s congressional delegation made a successful bipartisan push Wednesday to advance legislation that would, for the first time, federally recognize the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians. According to a press release sent to MTN News, Sens. Steve Daines and Jon Tester have stapled their tribal recognition bill as an amendment to must-pass defense spending Read More…
MISSOULA – Montana boaters will see another mandatory inspection this summer. A new aquatic invasive species (AIS) rule calls for all watercraft with ballast tanks or bladders to be decontaminated upon entering the state or crossing the Continental Divide into the Columbia River Basin. READ FULL STORY