Montana’s unemployment rate held steady at a remarkably low 2.8% in June, marking the ninth consecutive month below 3% and extending a historic run of four straight years with unemployment at or below 3.4%, according to Governor Greg Gianforte. “With more Montanans working now than ever before and historically low unemployment, we’re seeing the results Read More…
(The Center Square) – The nation’s largest nurses’ union is blasting Kaiser Permanente for pausing gender-affirming surgeries for patients under 19 starting next month, due to pending litigation and pressure from the Trump administration. “As the legal and regulatory environment for gender-affirming care continues to evolve, we must carefully consider the significant risks being created Read More…
The University of Montana (UM) and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) have announced the creation of the Center for Hunting and Conservation, a pioneering initiative dedicated to advancing science, research, education, and outreach focused on land and wildlife management across the United States. The new center builds on the longstanding partnership between UM’s top-ranked Read More…
Sixty-six newly trained law enforcement officers graduated today from the Montana Law Enforcement Academy (MLEA), ready to serve in 35 agencies across the state. The MLEA, a division of the Montana Department of Justice, provides both basic and advanced training to state, county, city, and tribal law enforcement personnel. Attorney General Austin Knudsen was on Read More…
Enter For A Chance To Win A P.O.P. Ticket To The Northeast Montana Fair! Color the official Glasgow Auto Sales coloring page using your most creative flair! Stop by Glasgow Auto Sales, 54137 US Highway 2, Glasgow, to grab one or a few! This contest is open to kids ages three to 15 but must Read More…
With heavy hearts, we share the passing of Darlene (Murch) Demko, who left us on Monday, July 7, 2025, in Great Falls, Mont., surrounded by her loved ones, at the age of 89 years old. No services are planned. Born in Hinsdale, Mont., to Harold and Beatrice Murch, July 24, 1935. She grew up and Read More…
The Montana Department of Justice has started a chaplaincy program to provide spiritual help and comfort to its more than 900 employees who find themselves dealing with the darkest of crimes and other trauma. Ten chaplains from around the Treasure State were sworn in Tuesday as DOJ employees by Attorney General Austin Knudsen and will Read More…
In what’s a usually quiet and restrained space, cheers and applause rang out in an American flag-adorned courtroom as immigrants became official United States citizens in a ceremony Wednesday. New U.S. citizens attend a Naturalization Ceremony at the United States District Court in Billings on Wednesday. Citizens of 15 countries attended the morning ceremony with Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte and Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) Commissioner Sarah Swanson announced a $4 million federal grant to establish Montana’s first registered teacher apprenticeship program, a major step toward strengthening the state’s education workforce and addressing critical teacher shortages, particularly in rural and underserved areas. “Preparing the next generation of Montana’s workforce and Read More…
Hoot-owl restrictions take effect at 2 p.m. on Thursday on several southwest Montana rivers. The restrictions prohibit fishing from 2 p.m. to midnight each day and will stay in effect until conditions improve. These restrictions are designed to protect fish that become more susceptible to disease and mortality when water temperatures rise. The rivers include: Read More…
Most people would agree that television commercials are an irritant at worst and beverage break at best. For University of Montana marketing researcher Jesse King, commercials – namely pharmaceutical advertisements – are intensely interesting and a focal point of his studies for the past several years. Specifically, King studies how images used in those ads Read More…
Since Hodgskiss Holdings purchased Bouma Truck Sales in Choteau on Jan. 1, the new “Teton Trucks” hasn’t missed a beat in taking care of customers who need vehicles fixed or detailed, parts or to purchase or rent a truck or other machinery. In an interview, Chrissy Hodgskiss said the new owners have continued and expanded Read More…
“Up the Creek,” a Helena-based trio of musicians who perform 1970s classic rock and the “Wilbur Rehmann Quintet,” a distinguished jazz ensemble from Helena, will perform in the Get Your Kicks at 6 concert in the Choteau City Park on Thursday, July 17. Get Your Kicks at 6 is a series of free concerts performed Read More…
Choteau and Bynum were among eight north-central Montana communities showcased for International Economic Development Council members attending a three-day rural retreat, organized in partnership with the Great Falls Development Alliance and Great Falls Montana Tourism. The IEDC brought 400 attendees, about half of whom work in rural communities, to the conference June 23-25, based in Read More…
A 37-year-old man is dead following a confrontation with four Worland Police officers on Monday evening.
Three properties totalling about four acres have been de-annexed from the city of Powell.
A bipartisan bill introduced in Congress this week would gradually phase out the use of helicopters in rounding up wild horses.
This year marks the fifth consecutive year of Celebrities for a Cause. The organization, started by Ryan Brown, has donated approximately $200,000 to different organizations in Park County.
On Monday afternoon, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) announced the discovery of a new geothermal pool in Yellowstone National Park’s Norris Geyser Basin.
A Cody man was arrested last week after allegedly driving under the influence and attempting to evade police.
Bozeman city commissioners voted 4-1 in the waning hours of Tuesday night to adopt the Pride flag as an official flag of the city after hours of public comment. The move allows the city to again raise the rainbow Pride flag after a state law restricting the type of flags that can be flown outside Read More…
July 7 6:13 a.m., dispatch received a report of a hospice death at 85 Fourth Lane NW, Fairfield. 11:26 a.m., Montana Department of Transportation and Montana Highway Patrol were advised of a truck fire on Interstate 15 near Power. Power Volunteer Fire Department responded. 3:39 p.m., Teton County deputy spoke with a Fairfield resident who Read More…
(The Center Square) – Across the country, federal agents are arresting members of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) U.S.-Salvadoran transnational gang designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration. In January, President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing transnational gangs and cartels to be designated as foreign terrorist organizations. In February, eight were Read More…
The Montana Jewish Project, a statewide community center headquartered in Montana’s first synagogue, held its third annual Pride Shabbat at the Temple Emanu-El in Helena. In Jewish culture, Shabbat is known as the day of rest, lasting from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. A key pillar of the Montana Jewish Project’s mission is Read More…
The city of Helena Streets team will be paving a section of 11th Avenue, resulting in a closure of part of the street Tuesday through Thursday. The work, which includes asphalt maintenance and paving, will take place 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from North Fee Street to North California Street. No on-street parking is allowed Read More…
A collection of the best images from the cameras of Independent Record photographers last week: Sawyer Squires pulls a hot branding iron out of an iron pot during a branding for the LF Ranch on June 11 outside Choteau. THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record A rider competes in the Lane Barrel competition at the 60th annual National Read More…
Montana State University is a key player in a major, multi-year grant that has helped train more than 450 nurses across six western states. The Montana Office for Rural Health and Area Health Education Center (MORH/AHEC), which is housed in the Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing at MSU, received the grant in 2021. Read More…
An observance was held at Saturday’s East Helena Rodeo in memory of a young lady who loved horses and rodeos who died last year in a horse-riding accident at McMaster Hills Recreation Area. A moment of silence was observed for Meghan Rouns Saturday before Day 2 of the 62nd Annual NRA Rodeo in East Helena. Read More…
A pedestrian from Arizona was struck and killed by a semi-truck near Jefferson City, the Montana Highway Patrol reported Monday. A 39-year-old woman from Winslow, Arizona, was pronounced dead on arrival July 11 around 11:15 p.m. on Interstate 15 near mile marker 173, officials said. Montana Highway Patrol badges. THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record A semi-truck Read More…
A pedestrian from Arizona was struck and killed by a semi-truck near Jefferson City, the Montana Highway Patrol reported Monday. A 39-year-old woman from Winslow, Arizona, was pronounced dead on arrival July 11 around 11:15 p.m. on Interstate 15 near mile marker 173, officials said. A semi-truck driven by a 51-year-old man was traveling south Read More…
A celebration of life for Congressman Pat Williams will be held at the University of Montana Dennison Theater at 4 p.m. July 15. Williams died June 25 in Missoula. He was 87. Pat Williams Courtesy of Aidan Williams Doors to the theater will open at 3 p.m. and following the celebration, a reception will be Read More…
(The Center Square) – Sunday marks the first anniversary of the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pa. Despite the life-altering milestone, the president appears to be keeping it quiet. After touring the devastation in Texas on Friday along with First Lady Melania Trump, the first couple is scheduled Read More…
Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder today announced the appointment and reappointment of three distinguished individuals to the Wyoming Charter School Authorizing Board: Steve Lupien, Jill Bramlet, and Joe Feiler. “Steve, Jill, and Joe are all independently qualified charter school advocates,” Superintendent Degenfelder said. “Each brings unique and exceptional expertise to the board through Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced today that the state will receive $2.5 million as part of a nationwide $720 million settlement with eight pharmaceutical companies accused of fueling the opioid epidemic. The funds, which will be used for opioid abatement efforts across Montana, stem from a multistate agreement resolving claims that the companies played Read More…
State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler on Friday announced the four outstanding educators selected as finalists for North Dakota’s 2026 Teacher of the Year award, praising their dedication and commitment to shaping the future of the state’s students. The finalists are: Julie Dawes, Grand Forks County Jared Sagvold, Ransom County Kelsey Tunseth, Traill County Holly Wheeling, Burleigh Read More…
For Elizabeth Arnold, mathematics has always been a family affair. While growing up, she spent lots of time solving problems and mathematical puzzles with her father, a now-retired community college professor of mathematics. She remembers going with him to campus as a fourth grader on “Take Your Child to Work Day,” attending his lectures and Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a 23-state coalition in a federal court case defending parental rights after a Delaware father alleged that school officials violated his constitutional rights by concealing his child’s gender identity decisions from him. The coalition filed an amicus brief Monday in Heaps v. Delaware Valley Regional High School Board Read More…
The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that three communities in coal-impacted areas will receive more than $240,000 in grant funding to support critical public safety upgrades and community development initiatives. The funding, distributed through the Montana Coal Board, will aid local governments and school districts in enhancing infrastructure, improving emergency services, and investing in Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte continued his 56 County Tour today with a stop in Chouteau County, where he held a ceremonial bill signing for legislation aimed at strengthening Montana’s water rights system and improving water administration across the state. Standing along the banks of the Missouri River, the governor was joined by Department of Natural Resources Read More…
(The Center Square) – Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown proposed several measures on Monday to “jumpstart” the city’s affordable housing supply with hopes of building more than 22,000 units by 2046. The proposals build on Brown’s H.O.M.E. Starts Here initiative, which the Spokane City Council passed last month as part of her overhaul of the local homelessness Read More…
The Helena Area Chamber of Commerce and Helena Public Schools district will be discussing bonds over a cold one at various establishments throughout the Queen City ahead of a September vote. Brothers Tapworks, Ten Mile Creek Brewery and Speakeasy 41 will be host venues for Bonds and Brews for discussions about proposed bond issues that Read More…
(The Center Square) – As lawmakers begin crafting the 12 annual appropriations bills to fund the federal government in fiscal year 2026, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has implied that his party will refuse to cooperate in the process if Republicans revoke billions in funding from previous years. The Senate is set to vote Read More…
Hunting regulation season setting scoping meetings are underway around the state this month with more meetings remaining over the next few weeks. These meetings and your input are critical for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff as we work to develop regulation proposals for the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission to consider this fall. If Read More…
Hoot-owl restrictions take effect July 2 at 2 p.m. on the lower Madison River from the Warm Springs BLM day-use area downstream to the Jefferson River, and on the Sun River from the mouth of Muddy Creek to the Highway 287 Bridge. Hoot-owl restrictions remain in place on the upper Madison above Hebgen Lake. Hoot-owl Read More…