Featured Articles in Montana News

Bozeman Tops List as Most Expensive U.S. Airport for Summer Car Rentals, Survey Finds

Travelers heading to Montana this summer may face sticker shock at the rental car counter. Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) has been named the most expensive airport in the country for car rentals, according to a new survey from travel website Cheapcarrental.com. The survey, which analyzed rental rates across 100 U.S. airports for the peak Read More…

Knudsen Appoints Billings Attorney Emily Jones to Montana Judicial Standards Commission

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…

Gianforte, U.S. Forest Service Formalize Landmark Shared Stewardship Agreement for Montana’s Forests

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 Launches Investigation into Lee Enterprises Following Cyberattack

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…

All in: Montana News

Lawmakers review ‘feed bill’

The House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday reviewed a spending plan for the House, Senate and Legislative Services Division then adjourned to discuss it another day after being told cuts may need to be made. Committee chairwoman Rep. Nancy Ballance, R-Hamilton, told members House Bill 1, also known as “the feed bill,” was 16 percent more Read More…

Bozeman environmental group sues Montana DEQ over storm water pollution standards

A Bozeman environmental group is challenging the state’s regulation of pollution from storm water runoff because, they say, the state’s standards don’t adequately protect streams from urban runoff.   Upper Missouri Waterkeeper filed a lawsuit in Gallatin County District Court in late December contending that the Montana Department of Environmental Quality erred in how it Read More…

With federal changes looming, Montana legislators work on medical marijuana compromises

The upcoming Montana Legislature is likely to address many questions about medical marijuana, from taxes on its sale to cannabis storefronts, all while waiting to see what the Trump administration will do at the federal level.   Montana voters in November passed I-182, a citizen initiative that repealed the three-patient limit placed on medical marijuana Read More…

Montana Contractors

Contractors push for 38% increase in gas tax

With estimated shortfalls in the state highway fund, the Montana Contractors Association and other special interest groups are pushing for a 38 percent increase in the gas tax. Recently MTN reported that Governor Steve Bullock’s administration has spent $75 Million more than the fund has brought in since fiscal 2012. And now the balance has Read More…

Brian Schweitzer

Schweitzer, Stillwater Mining board under investigation

A pair of New York City law firms have launched an investigation in to proposed acquisition of Montana based Stillwater Mining by Sibanye Gold Limited, a South African company. Harwood Feffer LLP and Levi & Korsinsky LLP both of New York City have announced that they are investigating  shareholder concerns that the Stillwater Board of Read More…

Gianforte Family Foundation Supports Growth of UM Computer Science

The Gianforte Family Foundation once again has shown its dedication to supporting education and job creation in Montana, pledging $290,000 to the University of Montana’s Department of Computer Science. The two-year gift will help the department grow its enrollment capacity, ultimately graduating more computer science majors and minors for careers in Montana’s growing technology sector. Read More…

Steve Bullock

Bullock lays out priorities: new spending, new taxes

Helena – Fresh off a narrow re-election victory Governor Steve Bullock is laying out his priorities for the 2017 legislative session. Despite the gains made by Republicans on Election Day Mr. Bullock remains confident that he can secure legislative victories. Mr. Bullock told Lee Enterprises, “I don’t anticipate much different dynamics than we’ve seen in Read More…

Bullock O'leary

Ethics complaint against Bullock, O’Leary dismissed with no investigation

Helena – Montana commissioner of political practices dismissed a state ethics complaint against Governor Steve Bullock and Commerce Director Meg O’Leary on Monday with no investigation. The complaint was filed by state Representative Brad Tschida of Missoula. Commissioner Jonathan Motl, who was appointed by Governor Bullock, said that trips taken by Meg O’Leary to a Read More…

Rosebud School District: Board hires investigator to look into complaints against superintendent

Following the advice of legal counsel, the Rosebud School District #12 Board of Trustees voted 3-1 Monday to secure the services of an outside investigator to look into a policy 5015 complaint filed against Rosebud School Superintendent Mike Silverman. Rosebud School District Personnel policy 5015 covers bullying, harassment and intimidation between employees or by third Read More…

Scam Text Messages Plague Smart Phones Across Montana

The Montana Office of Consumer Protection is warning Montanans about a texting scam that has been circulating around the state. Montana Attorney General Tim Fox explains. “Folks on their mobile devices and cell phones are receiving text messages that look somewhat legitimate,” said Fox. “Typically they look like they come from a bank, credit card Read More…

Bridging the Gaps in Foster Care

In a household with five children under the age of 7, a simple date night away for the parents can feel like a spa day, a few hours to recalibrate and breathe, to ignore the kids’ menu and enjoy conversation with other adults.   Amanda and John Mark Creamer understand how important this sliver of Read More…

DNRC: Montana fire season is below average

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation that this year’s fire season has been near or below average in the Treasure State. During an Environmental Quality Council meeting in Helena earlier this week, the DNRC’s Bob Harrington reported that 252 fires this season have burned 23,000 acres of state-managed land. The total cost to fight the blazes is Read More…

Supporters of North Dakota pipeline protests gather in Great Falls

Members of the Chippewa Cree Tribe gathered along the bank of the Missouri River in Great Falls on Tuesday evening to show their support for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North Dakota. The group is joining in protest of the multi-billion dollar Dakota Access Pipeline that would cross the Missouri River several times across Read More…

Montana GOP asks high court to remove Libertarian SOS candidate

By Mike Dennison – MTN News HELENA –  The head of the state Republican Party Wednesday asked the Montana Supreme Court to remove the Libertarian secretary of state candidate from Montana’s November ballot, for not filing proper campaign forms. Jeff Essmann’s filing for “extraordinary relief” said Libertarian Roger Roots failed to file forms required of Read More…

Miles City Council approves $23 million budget for 2016-17

The Miles City Council passed a $26.7 million city budget for 2016-17 Tuesday night. The $23,668,213 spending plan includes $5 million in General Fund expenditures, nearly $900,000 in cash carryover and various enterprise funds like ambulance, water, sewer, airport and library.. Finance Committee Chairwoman Susanne Galbraith said the police department requested an additional officer, which Read More…

Gianforte, Pro-Bullock PAC pouring money into MT’s gov race

Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte has poured another $640,000 of his own money into his campaign, upping his total personal contributions to $1.7 million – about half his overall campaign funds. But Gianforte wasn’t the only one who opened his checkbook in Montana’s gubernatorial race last month. Good Jobs Montana, an independent political action committee Read More…

Malmstrom AFB Issues Bad Water Notice

Malmstrom Air Force Base residents woke up to potentially dangerous drinking water this morning.  The base put out a notice stating there were elevated chlorine levels in water and it was unsafe to drink or even wash with.  Some residents stated the water smelled a little funny as early as last night.  Base officials say Read More…

Montana Ranch Offers the Cowboy Life for $35 Million

Hobble Diamond Ranch offers a home on the range to fulfill your dreams of living the cowboy lifestyle on a 30,000-acre spread accentuated by the Yellowstone River running through the property. It can all be yours for the sum of $35 million. Bloomberg’s James Tarmy has the details on “Bloomberg Markets.” From Bloomberg  

Hamilton National Guard Armory closes

The Montana National Guard marked the end of an era as it closed its armory in Hamilton Tuesday. The Hamilton Armory on West Main Street is 57 years old. Detachment 2,230th Engineering Company, which called the armory home, will be transferred to Anaconda. Montana National Guard soldiers did a final walk through of the landmark Read More…

House Benghazi Committee chairman in Montana to stump with Zinke

The House Benghazi Committee chairman is in Montana this week stumping for Rep. Ryan Zinke’s re-election. Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-South Carolina, is scheduled to appear with Montana’s Republican congressman at four fundraising events across the state beginning with an afternoon event in Kalispell on Tuesday. A spokeswoman for Zinke said he will talk about “national Read More…

Enviro group spending $500K to defeat Gianforte

A Montana-based environmental group said Monday it will spend $500,000 to help re-elect Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock and defeat his Republican rival, Greg Gianforte. The Montana Conservation Voters Action Fund, a political action committee, will use the money to fund a door-to-door canvassing effort to encourage people to sign up for absentee ballots, and to Read More…