Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a coalition of 20 states in backing President Donald Trump’s deployment of federal and National Guard forces to Portland, Oregon, in response to violent protests and threats against federal officers. The coalition filed an amicus brief Wednesday in the case State of Oregon and the City of Portland Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte and the Montana Chamber of Commerce will host the 2nd Annual Big Sky, Bright Future Economic Summit on Thursday, October 16, in Bozeman, bringing together business leaders, policymakers, and energy experts to focus on the theme of unleashing American-made energy in Montana. “With rising demand on our energy grid, Montana must continue Read More…
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Kurt Alme to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana, returning the Great Falls native to a post he previously held from 2017 to 2020. A seasoned prosecutor and respected public servant, Alme brings decades of experience in both state and federal law enforcement. His confirmation drew strong Read More…
Before bear spray, encounters between people and bears often ended in bullets. That changed when graduate student Carrie Hunt developed the life-saving deterrent at the University of Montana in the 1980s. Over 40 years later, bear spray is one of the most important tools for human-wildlife coexistence. https://bigskyheadlines.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/MVD-office15.mp4 Hunt grew up in Chile, where she Read More…
HiSet, career education, college placement and moreBy: MIRIAM CAMPANReporterTuesday, November 19, 2019 Paula Walker, HRDC adult education lead instructor, sits in her office Thursday. Part of Walker’s job is to ease the anxiety of tests and schedules for those returning to education. Photo by Miriam Campan HRDC’s Adult Education program offers a second chance towards a Read More…
Brothers James, left, and Chris Wright stand by Café 406, which they hope to open by spring 2020. The restaurant will be Lewistown’s new greasy spoon, where people can go for an omelet, Belgian waffles or one of Chris’s famous “man dogs.” Photo by Charlie Denison PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. Our website requires Read More…
HELENA – In a few weeks 27 young ladies from around the country will be vying for the title of Miss Rodeo America and one of those contestants is our very own Miss Rodeo Montana Kayla Seaman. The pageant will be held December 1st -9th at the Tropicana in Las Vegas in conjunction with the National Finals Rodeo. She will go through eight days Read More…
By: MIRIAM CAMPANReporterFriday, November 15, 2019 Dr. Cassandra Lopez has recently joined the staff at the Central Montana Medical Center. Photo by Miriam Campan “They convinced me to come out and interview. The job here was just too good to pass up,” said Dr. Cassandra “Cassie” Lopez, who joined CMMC on Nov. 1. When Tori Poser Read More…
BUTTE, Mont. — A rescue mission in Butte is opening a “low-barrier” homeless shelter to take in persons who may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The Montana Standard reports the Butte-Rescue Mission is opening the shelter Friday at the urging of Silver Bow County officials and community leaders. Modular units in the city Read More…
On any given day, thousands of packages from Walmarts, Targets, and stores around the country travel north along a two-lane road out of Billings, Montana — past the Tumbleweed Saloon, past cows grazing on empty rangeland, past the Busy Bee Cafe and stands of short pines — to the town of Roundup, where they will be Read More…
The owner of three struggling Powder River basin coal mines says it’s negotiating with a new broker to back the bonds required to keep the mines operating after the Navajo Nation said it’s pulling its financial support. Erny Zah, a spokesman for the Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC), said Wednesday the firm doesn’t foresee a Read More…
Two grizzly bears have been killed in northwest Montana, one by a hunter and one by Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks. Information and Program Manager for District One, Dillon Tabish provides details. “We had an adult male grizzly bear that was euthanized this weekend near Libby after he broke into a garage seeking a food Read More…
By: CHARLIE DENISON ReporterTuesday, November 12, 2019 Local veteran and American Legion Post 16 Vice Commander John Payne plays “Taps” to conclude the Bells of Peace ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park Monday (Veterans Day). American Legion Post 16 Commander Bryan Armour spoke during the commemoration. The Honor Guard also paid their respects. Photo by Charlie Denison Read More…
Moore’s Mamie Hertel will represent National FFA as the central region vice president during the 2019-2020 year. Photo courtesy of FFA Sat, 11/09/2019 – 5:00am Moore’s Mamie Hertel has done it again. Hertel is the first female from the state of Montana to be elected as a national officer in FFA. Just prior to Read More…
Lewistown women choose military serviceBy: MIRIAM CAMPANReporterFriday, November 8, 2019 Roberta Mae Deal (left) not only served in the WAACs, but was also a model for recruiting more women (not to mention selling Grapette soda pop). Image courtesy of Miriam Deal Campan Army reservist Sandy Alexander, now Sandy Youngbauer, stands at a camp in Saudi Arabia Read More…
IDAHO FALLS – Police in Idaho are looking for information after equipment was stolen from a Montana fire crew on their way home from fighting fires in California. According to a Facebook post from the Idaho Falls Police Department, a crew stopped at the Super 8 in Idaho Falls to spend the night Sunday. Sometime between Read More…
In a decade when many American universities are struggling with falling enrollment, Montana State University’s student population has grown, along with its graduation numbers and spending on instruction. MSU’s fall report card on itself also showed that while the Bozeman campus still has more tenured and tenure-track faculty than non-tenured or adjunct instructors, the Read More…
A local businesswoman and activist in Havre has been recognized on the floor of the Senate. The office of U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said he recognized Havre’s Dottie Wilson for her tremendous impact on the state of Montana in his “Montanan of the Week” this week. Each week Daines highlights a Montanan by submitting Read More…
Local five-year-old beats cancerBy: CHARLIE DENISON Senior ReporterTuesday, November 5, 2019 Daizee Dae Douglass celebrates being cancer free at Billings Clinic Thursday, Oct. 3. Photo courtesy of Tammy Jo Douglass Five-year-old Daizee Dae Douglass has not had the most ordinary childhood. In June of 2017, she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and she’s been going Read More…
By: CHARLIE DENISON Senior ReporterTuesday, November 5, 2019 Lori Byron, left, and husband Robert delivered a presentation on how climate change impacts public health during the Rotary Club’s meeting Monday at the Elks. Photo by Charlie Denison Before every Rotary International meeting in Lewistown, Rotarians recite the four-way test, which they consider an ethical guide for Read More…
By: CHARLIE DENISON Senior ReporterFriday, November 1, 2019 A sign on Highway 87 west of town directs travelers to Main Street, part of local tourism efforts. Photo by Deb Hill Jan Stoddard How do we bring more tourist dollars to Lewistown? Much discussion took place on this topic Thursday morning at Central Feed Grilling Co. during Read More…
BILLINGS, Mont. — The Defense Department says a soldier from Montana — 23-year-old Nathaneil G. Irish — has died as a result of a non-combat related incident in Iraq. According to Sgt. Irish’s Facebook page, he was a proud Senior Bronc, attending the high school from 2010 to 2013. Several posts on his Facebook page indicate Sgt. Read More…
A Montana hunter shot and killed a grizzly bear Saturday in apparent self-defense, bringing to three the number of “human-caused” grizzly bear deaths to have occurred during the past week. Saturday’s incident occurred in the Eureka Basin of the south Gravelly Mountains. The hunter, who was not injured, contacted the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Read More…
BILLINGS — Protesters briefly disrupted a public meeting on the Keystone XL pipeline in Billings Tuesday night, arguing the project is bad for Montana lands and the meeting format did not allow for open dialogue. About an hour after the meeting started at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center, some demonstrators moved inside to argue Read More…
HELENA, Mont. — The state of Montana has spent more than $2 million on snow plowing so far this year surpassing what costs were this time over the last two years. The Independent Record reported Tuesday that snow plowing costs for the state Department of Transportation increased by more than 250% since last year. Department officials Read More…
What’s your least favorite Halloween candy?By: MIRIAM CAMPANReporterTuesday, October 29, 2019 Bre Warren and Eevee the dog: “Whoppers. I’ve never liked them.” Chelsea Kilgore: “Dots. They stick to your teeth.” Laura Flugge: “Black licorice. I used to own a restaurant and I like real licorice flavor, but not the fake flavor of black licorice.” Ralph Mihlfeld: Read More…
HELENA – Today, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality reached a short-term agreement with the Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC) that ensures compliance with the State’s mining and environmental laws, and allows coal production to resume at the Spring Creek Mine in Big Horn County, Montana. On Thursday, NTEC assumed ownership of the coal mine Read More…
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) is seeking a potential buyer for its roughly 60,000 barrel per day Billings, Montana refinery, according to three sources familiar with Exxon’s plans. Representatives for large refiners, including Valero Energy Corp (VLO.N) and Marathon Petroleum Corp (MPC.N), have toured the refinery, two of the people said, speaking Read More…
BILLINGS, Mont. — A Montana landowner is suing the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service to halt the hunting of bison just outside Yellowstone National Park’. The complaint filed by Gardiner, Montana landowner Bonnie Lynn and Neighbors Against Bison Slaughter contends the agencies have failed to analyze the consequences of the hunt on private property Read More…
According to the Montana Census Complete Count Committee, Montana will need thousands of U.S. Census workers to help complete the 2020 census. The census helps determine how much federal money Montana will receive for things like infrastructure, medical assistance, educational programs, and public assistance. Currently, Montana receives about $2 billion in federal funds each year Read More…
A Helena man is accused of filming himself undressing a girl under the age of 16. 20-year-old Ching Man Chan has been charged with one count of sexual abuse of children , a felony. Chan allegedly filmed himself lifting the bra off a underage girl. His bond was set at $25,000 and he will make a plea Read More…
Mark Juras of Montana completed his 3,500-mile rowing adventure Thursday that took him from the Treasure State to the Gulf of Mexico in about four months, and reinforced claims about the astounding power of Gorilla Tape. “I finally made it to the ocean today,” the 32-year-old Great Falls resident said in a telephone interview. “It Read More…
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The world’s first all-female spacewalking team made history high above Earth on Friday, replacing a broken part of the International Space Station’s power grid. NASA astronauts Christina Koch, who resides in Livingston, Montana, and Jessica Meir completed the job with wrenches, screwdrivers and power-grip tools, it marked the first time in a Read More…
BOZEMAN — There was a silver lining to that Montana State loss over the weekend to Sacramento State. Not only were fans surprised to hear that Kenny Chesney will be coming to Bobcat Stadium in July, but more importantly, MSU announced that it has raised the $18 million for its new athletic complex. Construction on Read More…
GREAT FALLS — With hunting season in Montana right around the corner, it’s time for hunters to start getting prepared. But what about the meat processing companies? For about five weeks at the end of every year, meat processing companies see their business skyrocket. To make sure that everything is ready for the start of Read More…
U.S. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt paid a visit to the Rocky Mountain Front Saturday to hear about conflicts with grizzly bears. The secretary heard numerous calls for delisting grizzlies from their threatened species status in and around Glacier National Park, but he says changes may be able to be made prior to delisting. Secretary Bernhardt took Read More…
Montana education leaders have released the latest results in the assessment that measures elementary and middle school students’ math and English-language arts proficiencies – and the data shows there has been little change this year. The Montana Office of Public Instruction announced the results of the statewide Smarter Balanced Assessment for the 2018-2019 school year. Read More…
Montana sports betting is less than two months from launch. The Montana Lottery has now published its draft regulations — the framework of rules that, once finalized, will unleash full-fledged legal and licensed wagering on the Big Sky State. The Lottery said Friday that it expected to launch the market towards the end of 2019, Read More…
MISSOULA, Mont. — Medicare is reducing payments to nine Montana hospitals under a program that penalizes costly readmissions within a month of treatment for heart and lung diseases as well as knee and hip replacement surgery. The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program evaluated 14 Montana hospitals and will reduce Medicare payments by Read More…
The Office of Public Instruction announced Wednesday that Montana has received a five-year, $50 million Striving Readers Comprehensive State Development Program literacy grant through the U.S. Department of Education. The Montana Comprehensive Literacy State Development Project (MCLSDP) will award competitive subgrants to eligible districts to advance literacy skills using evidence-based practices, strategies, and interventions for Read More…
HELENA, Mont. — The state of Montana has denied a $97 million claim filed by a man who was exonerated after spending 18 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit. Richard Raugust had to file the claim before filing a lawsuit. It was denied Monday. Raugust tells Lee Newspapers of Montana that he has Read More…
Reminder: Montana has one year left before REAL ID requirements go into effect, and travelers without REAL ID won’t be able to board commercial flights. Montana, Washington and Idaho are among states where the REAL ID extension will expire in October 2020. READ FULL STORY
GREAT FALLS — The annual Montana Association of Counties conference in Great Falls this week is connecting county commissioners from across the Treasure State. “It travels around, so to speak, in each of our major towns: Missoula, Great Falls, Helena, Billings, Kalispell,” said Jim Hart, MACo president and Madison County Commissioner. The 110th annual event Read More…
Roughly three years into a new initiative, 55 Montana providers have woven more mental health services into their regular care. Montana Healthcare Foundation CEO Aaron Wernham announced the number Tuesday during the organization’s Integrated Behavioral Health Summit at Montana State University. “That is a fantastic rate of transformation,” Wernham said. The idea behind integrated Read More…