Customers shouldn’t be on the hook for nearly $50 million in cost overruns NorthWestern Energy incurred to build the Yellowstone County Generating Station, according to the Montana Consumer Counsel. Those “substantial” overruns stem from “unnecessary development risks” NorthWestern Energy took to build the plant, according to briefing from the state’s consumer watchdog in an open […]| Daily Montanan
The director of Montana’s Department of Corrections has been tapped by President Donald Trump to serve as the United States Marshal for the District of Montana. Brian Gootkin has served as the head of Montana’s Department of Corrections since 2021. Gootkin will have to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, which is moving quickly to […]| Daily Montanan
The Montana Department of Corrections announced crews have restored full water service at Montana State Prison near Deer Lodge. Water had previously been restored throughout most of the facility on Friday, with additional worked needed at the High Side 2 facility during the weekend. “Over the past two weeks, our employees, community partners, and the […]| Daily Montanan
Yellowstone National Park officials announced on Sunday that all roads within the park south of Mammoth Hot Springs would close to public access following weather-related traffic incidents. Road access to much of the park closed at 5 p.m. on Sunday, and remains closed to public access. The latest road condition updates can be checked online. […]| Daily Montanan
The entire U.S. Ninth Circuit of Appeals may hear whether the Trump administration is able to send troops to Portland or other U.S. cities.| Daily Montanan
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, as well as all four members of the state’s federal delegation signed on to a letter last month claiming American Prairie’s bison restoration project is at odds with the state’s economy. The five men sent the letter to Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the former governor of North Dakota. The […]| Daily Montanan
Gov. Greg Gianforte promoted Montana products and the Treasure State’s partnerships with South Korea and Japan on a trade mission this week. On the trip, Gianforte, a Republican, touted, wheat, beef, coal and technology — and opportunities for future growth in trade — to business leaders, such as Chairman Jin-Sik Yoon of the Korea International […]| Daily Montanan
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Montana for failure to disclose a data leak of 462,000 Montana residents.| Daily Montanan
Columnist George Ochenski says that leaders are having to face the reality of diminishing water in the West and increased demand for housing.| Daily Montanan
Decreased taxable value, increased SNAP funding share could spell trouble for the Montana state budget if Trump's policy bill is passed.| Daily Montanan
Hundreds of ballots rejected following new law requiring voters write birth year on ballot envelopes| Daily Montanan
A new Montana law requiring a voter’s birth year has led to county election officials rejecting an abnormal number of ballots for this year’s local elections. Ballots sent to Montana voters this election year look a little different than in years past. Underneath the ballot envelope’s signature line are four rectangles, with instructions to fill in a […]| Daily Montanan
Food assistance, arts and programs to help crime victims will likely need more state funding support to continue| Daily Montanan
The U.S. Senate on Wednesday voted to confirm Montana state Rep. Bill Mercer as a U.S. Judge for the District of Montana.| Daily Montanan
Federal government shutdown begins, with no easy exit in sight| Daily Montanan
The Montana Public Service Commission ousted President Brad Molnar as its leader after months of controversy and bickering at the agency. The PSC will take up filling the role at its meeting next Tuesday, but PSC President Jennifer Fielder said Wednesday she won’t accept a nomination. “I have a very full plate with what I’m […]| Daily Montanan
The Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance is warning nearly a half-million Montana customers of Montana Blue Cross-Blue Shield that their private data, including financial information, health information, or personal information may be at risk following a major data breach, and it has launched an investigation that could affect nearly one-in-three Treasure State residents. Montana […]| Daily Montanan
As Montana’s general rifle season for deer and elk kicks off this weekend, state wildlife managers have made some changes to deer licenses in the state in response to localized disease outbreaks. Every year in Montana small pockets of game animals, usually white-tailed deer, succumb to diseases. A family hemorrhagic diseases that includes epizootic hemorrhagic […]| Daily Montanan
Montanans who use SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, may not receive the benefit in November. A message to SNAP clients on the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services website said the following on Tuesday: “As a result of the ongoing federal government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service […]| Daily Montanan
The Montana Land Board voted 4-1 to approve a conservation easement across a more than 50,000-acre swath of land spanning three counties in northwest Montana, permanently providing public access and protecting wildlife habitat. Phase Two of the Montana Great Outdoors Conservation Easement Project will more than double the protected land in the Cabinet Mountains between […]| Daily Montanan
Energy watchdogs say NorthWestern Energy needs to stop hiding information about data centers from the public, and it needs to acknowledge the Public Service Commission is more than a “rubber stamp.” Earthjustice sent two letters, dated Oct. 15 and 17, to the Public Service Commission on behalf of the Montana Environmental Information Center, Honor the […]| Daily Montanan
Montana State Prison’s drinking water has routinely tested positive for coliform, a bacteria found in fecal matter, and the facility has received numerous drinking water violations over the past three decades, according to the state’s Safe Drinking Water Information System. Publicly available drinking water tests from the Department of Public Health and Human Service’s Environmental […]| Daily Montanan
Following House Bill 913, Yellowstone County officially has two new judges. Gov. Greg Gianforte appointed Seth Cunningham and Edward Zink to serve on the Thirteenth Judicial District in Yellowstone County, the Governor’s Office announced Monday in a news release. HB 913 increased the number of judges in that county from eight to 10. The Governor’s […]| Daily Montanan
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the department’s Fish and Wildlife Commission are named defendants in two lawsuits arguing, from opposite sides, that the latest wolf hunting regulations violate the state constitution. First, a pair of Republican lawmakers and the Outdoor Heritage Coalition filed a lawsuit in Sanders County District Court alleging that the Fish […]| Daily Montanan
HAMILTON — DILLON — POLEBRIDGE — Kent Kernahan, of Corvallis, said he’s a Methodist minister’s child, and he demonstrated Saturday at the No Kings Indivisible Bitterroot rally after asking himself what his father would have done. Kernahan carried a sign that said, “Lord, Please Forgive Trump,” along with an image of the Gadsden “Don’t Tread […]| Daily Montanan
A new presidential memo on national security is a direct attack on civil liberties — and a reminder of a disturbing period of Montana history, said the head of the American Civil Liberties Union of Montana and a retired University of Montana professor. “Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence,” also known as NSPM-7 (National […]| Daily Montanan
It really doesn’t matter if you’re lost in a MAGA fog trying to be a warrior for a deluded president, when Montana’s senators are on national news, they represent all Montanans to the world. And this week, Montana’s freshman senator, Tim Sheehy, embarrassed all Montanans with his rude, evasive, and uninformed interview with CNN’s Kaitlin […]| Daily Montanan
Blaming 1970s infrastructure that apparently has not been properly maintained, the Montana Department of Corrections presented the beginning of a plan to permanently address water issues at the Montana State Prison. In a late Wednesday news release, the department said it would “begin installing new, modern and permanent water infrastructure” with a $21 million appropriation […]| Daily Montanan
A federal judge in Missoula dismissed a youth-led climate change lawsuit challenging several presidential executive orders on the grounds the district court did not have jurisdiction to provide the sweeping relief asked for by the plaintiffs. Judge Dana Christensen on Wednesday issued an order “reluctantly” dismissing Lighthiser v. Trump, saying the scope of the requests […]| Daily Montanan
While the Trump administration and Montana’s elected officials continue pushing to expand the state’s coal industry, companies on the ground appear to have a waning appetite. The federal government recently rejected a bid on a new coal lease offered for 167 million tons of coal from Montana’s Powder River Basin and postponed a sale in […]| Daily Montanan
Montanans can’t afford the exploding costs of health insurance coming their way if Republicans in the U.S. Senate won’t work with Democrats to protect Affordable Care Act tax credits — that was the message Wednesday from a video call hosted by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray. Murray, a Democrat from Washington, hosted the call with three […]| Daily Montanan
Gov. Greg Gianforte ceremonially signed two fire-related bills from Rep. Llew Jones, R-Conrad, on Wednesday, which also ended his annual tour of all 56 Montana counties. Gianforte signed House Bill 127, which increases funding in the state’s fire suppression fund. It also mandates the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation submit a report on expenditures […]| Daily Montanan
Montana Public Service Commission President Brad Molnar failed to get support to reject a partial electric settlement with NorthWestern Energy, the state’s largest public utility. At a meeting this week, the embattled head of the agency repeatedly argued NorthWestern Energy hasn’t provided as much information to regulators as it should, especially about its new methane-fired […]| Daily Montanan
The Department of Corrections announced late Tuesday it had identified three water leaks at the prison. The Department of Corrections discovered a “water pipe break” at 6 a.m. on Friday, and an inmate and family members have said conditions have grown dire since, with a lack of drinking water and unsanitary conditions. An inmate at […]| Daily Montanan
Attorney General Austin Knudsen has approved a second ballot initiative seeking to enshrine nonpartisan judicial elections into the Montana Constitution but has rewritten the language of the initiative, despite a lawsuit challenging a similar rewrite just weeks ago. Montanans for Nonpartisan Courts is one of two committees bringing ballot initiatives forward for the 2026 election […]| Daily Montanan
A Lewis and Clark County District Court judge found Gov. Greg Gianforte has the authority and responsibility to investigate a complaint filed against Montana Public Service Commission President Brad Molnar — and Molnar has a “duty to cooperate in the investigation.” In the order, Judge Mike Menahan denied a motion to stop the governor from […]| Daily Montanan
Turning Point USA paid $72,234.33 to use Brick Breeden Fieldhouse for its Oct. 7 event on Montana State’s campus in Bozeman. The event featured Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte and Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, both of whom spoke during the event. Ramaswamy additionally took questions for around an hour during the event. TPUSA was charged […]| Daily Montanan
The federal government announced last week that the U.S. Forest Service approved a mining company’s exploration permit at an old mining site south of Libby. Idaho-based Hecla Mining Company will spend more than a decade determining whether the “world-class” copper and silver deposit presents a viable opportunity for future mining. “We are pleased to see […]| Daily Montanan
Investigations into two separate poaching cases by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks have led to recent charges against four men, the department said in a series of press releases last week. A special prosecutor filed charges against three Big Horn County men in Montana’s 22nd Judicial District Court alleging the unlawful killing of several bull […]| Daily Montanan
A broken water pipe at Montana State Prison has limited water for prisoners and forced mobilization of the state’s National Guard in an issue inmates’ families are calling a crisis, according to the Department of Corrections and family members of people who are incarcerated. “We haven’t had any showers since Thursday or even been able […]| Daily Montanan
The Missoula County Attorney’s Office has charged a 29-year-old man with a felony hate crime after he allegedly assaulted another man in downtown Missoula because he was Jewish, according to county officials. Authorities are hoping other people who witnessed the assault will come forward with more information. According to Missoula authorities, at around 1:30 p.m., […]| Daily Montanan
The Montana Department of Commerce is set to divvy out $300,000 in agritourism grant funding following the passage of legislation this session. The agency is taking applications for the program until Oct. 23 and it’s the second cycle of funding for agritourism in the state, commerce spokesperson Mitch Staley wrote in an email. The funding […]| Daily Montanan
It’s easy to watch Brad Pitt’s flyline unfurl in a perfect ‘S’ curve over the Gallatin River and know that image has helped feed into Montana’s status as an angling destination. It’s more difficult to determine exactly what kind of impact the fishing world has on the Treasure State. But that’s what the 2023 Legislature […]| Daily Montanan
Late-night comic Jimmy Kimmel could barely get the words out of his mouth when he had to say: “I agree with Marjorie Taylor Greene.” It was his second time this month, he noted, and added “I need something to wash out my mouth.” But in truth, the issue at hand, which is access to health […]| Daily Montanan
The Environmental Protection Agency has signed off on Montana’s plan to discard numeric water quality standards and adopt a measure that was passed by the 2025 Legislature allowing state officials to revert back to an older system, which many groups criticize as being insufficient to protect the Treasure State’s already struggling waterways. In 2014, Montana […]| Daily Montanan
Part of the Big Hole River closed to anglers due to low streamflows has been reopened by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Section 2 of the river — from the North Fork of the Big Hole River to Dickie Bridge — was lifted on Wednesday. It is the only section of the river currently open […]| Daily Montanan
Kurt Alme was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana, following a bitter, partisan fight in Washington, D.C. Alme, a former U.S. Attorney for Montana during President Donald Trump’s first administration, was confirmed in a 51-47 vote. Democrats and Republicans have fought for more than a […]| Daily Montanan
Residential natural gas customers of Montana-Dakota Utilities will be paying $60.54 a month on average after the Public Service Commission approved a rate increase this week. When MDU filed its application for an increase in spring 2024, the average residential customer paid $44.61 a month, according to data from the PSC. The nearly 36% increase […]| Daily Montanan
BOZEMAN – In what felt at times like a solemn church service and others a rock concert celebrating conservatism, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte and Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy took the stage Tuesday night at Turning Point USA’s event on Montana State’s campus in Bozeman. The organization’s founder, Charlie Kirk, was killed last month during […]| Daily Montanan
A Butte-Silver Bow County District Court judge has ruled a lawsuit alleging the state has violated its constitutional duty to equalize taxes fairly so that the burden doesn’t fall disproportionately to residential taxpayers can continue, even though attorneys for the Montana Department of Revenue had asked for the case to be dismissed. In his order, […]| Daily Montanan
The Montana Legislature grappled with a lot of technological innovation during the 2025 session including determining how to regulate the growing digital economy and this month has seen the launch of new laws and committees focused on the digital space. One new law, the Financial Freedom and Innovation Act, took effect in October, paving the […]| Daily Montanan
Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality is seeking public input on how state agencies collect and analyze greenhouse gas emissions during environmental reviews. The effort comes out of Senate Bill 221, which directed the Department of Environmental Quality to develop new guidance on greenhouse gas emission assessments in a way that prevents industry and development from […]| Daily Montanan
A group aiming to protect ballot initiatives in Montana has filed a Constitutional amendment to ensure Montanans can petition to enact laws in the state without interference. “This initiative protects the right of Montana voters to propose and vote on laws that matter to them,” said SK Rossi, spokesperson for Montanans Decide, in a statement. […]| Daily Montanan
Two groups leading efforts to ensure that Montana’s judicial elections, both at the local and Supreme Court level, remain nonpartisan have filed a motion with the Montana Supreme Court saying that Attorney General Austin Knudsen has rewritten the ballot language of a proposal his office had already determined met the state’s legal requirements, and alleging […]| Daily Montanan
Montana’s flagship institutions of higher education are both celebrating continued growth reflected in fall enrollment numbers released last month. In Bozeman, Montana State University saw headcount numbers tick up slightly from last year, marking a second consecutive fall with more than 17,100 students enrolled. MSU is the largest school in a four-state region that includes […]| Daily Montanan
On Sept. 23, the Helena Independent Record published an opinion piece by Montana’s Republican Sen. Steve Daines, “The abortion pill is harmful to women.” Mifepristone, nicknamed “the abortion pill,” is the medicine that Daines is attacking. In the United States and globally, mifepristone is widely used, particularly for medication abortions. Its use has increased steadily […]| Daily Montanan
The shutdown of the federal government, which began Wednesday, could have a more visible presence in Montana due to the outsized impact the National Park system has on Montana’s economy. According to a report released Monday by the National Park Service, the state is a top-15 benefactor of national parks in terms of visitor spending, […]| Daily Montanan
Glacier National Park remains open to visitors during the federal government shutdown, which a former superintendent said could lead to trash pileup, a lack of communication for visitors and limited emergency response operations. Last month, former Glacier National Park Superintendent Jeff Mow joined more than 40 former national park superintendents in signing a letter urging […]| Daily Montanan
The Montana Department of Transportation is beginning a federally-mandated process of updating its freight plan, a report that includes transportation statistics and looks at shipping problem areas. It’s a good resource for understanding the goals and strategies the state has in place to address freight issues, said Heather Kuklo, a planner with MDT who works […]| Daily Montanan
Students at Montana State University-Billings say their academic careers and, in some cases, their lives, were upended when the administration abruptly put two longtime, tenured professors on indefinite leave on the first day of class. The Daily Montanan learned that they were placed on the leave just hours after they submitted concerns about an academic […]| Daily Montanan
It’s harvest season in Montana as the leaves change colors, the temperatures drop, and the pantries and freezers across our big, beautiful state fill with the bounty of field, forest and stream to face the coming winter months. Despite the chaos emanating from Washington, D.C., there is a sense of stability here where individualism, respect […]| Daily Montanan
NorthWestern Energy, the state’s largest public utility, is asking regulators to allow it to temporarily tap a credit for customers to help pay for an additional $18 million associated with buying more of the Colstrip plant. On Jan. 1, 2026, the monopoly utility will control 55% of the coal-fired electricity generation plant at Colstrip following […]| Daily Montanan
Eva Sigsworth doesn’t have a problem with the search warrants authorities had when they knocked on her door at 5:30 a.m. on Sept. 17. She just wishes they would have given a copy to her. She doesn’t have a problem with the guns they found in some of her grandson’s belongings on her property — […]| Daily Montanan
Missoula County District Court Judge Shane Vannatta recused himself from hearing a lawsuit over a bill that says there are only two sexes, but he noted the “facts” in a move to disqualify him are “exceedingly thin.” In a Sept. 25 court filing, Vannatta said he would withdraw from jurisdiction of the case “in the […]| Daily Montanan
Attorneys argued a Kalispell man’s constitutional free speech rights were violated when he was arrested after filming police officers during a traffic stop. But in arguments Wednesday to the Montana Supreme Court, the Attorney General’s Office on behalf of the city of Kalispell said even the right to record police comes with limitations, and the […]| Daily Montanan
While Republicans in Washington, D.C. are opposed to extending the healthcare subsidies for the Affordable Care Act Marketplace, state insurance commissioners, including Montana Auditor James Brown, a Republican, sent a letter to Congressional leaders last month urging them to continue the enhanced tax credits that began during the pandemic. “Without an extension of the enhanced […]| Daily Montanan
The Montana Nurses Association said the failure to extend subsidies through the Affordable Care Act and protect funding for Medicaid in the federal shutdown will have “devastating consequences” for families and communities in the state. “When the government shuts down, Montana suffers,” said Vicky Byrd, CEO of the Montana Nurses Association, in a statement. “Our […]| Daily Montanan
TWIN BRIDGES – Brian Wheeler has spent a fair bit of the last six years wearing waders in the middle of the Big Hole River documenting river conditions and collecting samples of macroinvertebrates. Put simply, the river guide and conservationist has spent a lot of time scrubbing rocks and collecting bugs in small sections of […]| Daily Montanan
Funding was in limbo Monday for two of the 15 TRIO Student Support Services programs in Montana following initial grant denials from the federal Department of Education, according to TRIO leaders. TRIO programs help students who are first in their families to go to college, have lower incomes or live with disabilities. David James, TRIO […]| Daily Montanan
A smelting facility in Montana is looking to help secure U.S. national security supply chains through the production of antimony, a silvery-white metal element that is considered critical to industrial and military applications. Last week, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte joined Gary Evans, chairman and CEO of the U.S. Antimony Corporation, to celebrate an expansion of […]| Daily Montanan
Two environmental organizations that have previously challenged the construction of a new power plant are suing the Montana Department of Environmental Quality accusing the state agency of failing to follow the state Supreme Court’s order to consider the station’s impact on human and environmental health. The suit is the second the Montana Environmental Information Center and […]| Daily Montanan
The U.S. Department of Defense has quietly extended the timeline to clean up “forever chemicals” at more than 100 military sites around the country, including Montana’s largest military outpost. Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls is among 140 military sites with a delayed investigations and remediation timeline for chemicals known as PFAS — perfluoroalkyl […]| Daily Montanan
A man who was convicted in federal court of firearms violations after menacing neighbors and an elementary school in Billings by carrying guns and patrolling the neighborhood has had his conviction overturned in a split decision by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. In a ruling earlier this week, the panel of three appellate […]| Daily Montanan
Joining hundreds of other farmers across the country, 14 members of the Montana Farmers Union joined the organization’s legislative fly-in earlier this month in Washington, D.C., to voice concerns about a future farm bill even as tariffs take a toll on the agriculture sector. The annual event comes as farmer advocacy groups across the country […]| Daily Montanan
You really can’t make this stuff up. Last week Montana’s Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologists electroshocked the Big Hole River to collect data as part of a trout “adult mortality study” in conjunction with Montana State University. If the goal was to induce mortality in adult trout, they succeeded — and left a […]| Daily Montanan
Well, it’s not often we get to say this — in fact, it may be the first and last time — but thank you, President Donald J. Trump. No, not for wrecking international alliances, raising our taxes through tariffs, starting an international trade war, and increasing the national deficit, but for something truly unexpected: Taking Bill […]| Daily Montanan
The only vendor to ever provide legalized sports gambling in Montana recently won the state’s contract after a successful bidding process in which it underbid it’s current contract as it inked a new deal for a seven-year term that could be extended to as long as 10. Intralot, a Greek-based sports betting and technology company, […]| Daily Montanan
A national free speech watchdog is calling for a Montana State University-Northern professor to return to work after she was placed on a leave of absence following social media comments critical of Charlie Kirk. The issue in Havre highlights the conservative firestorm over how people talked about the late right-wing influencer’s career. A movement immediately […]| Daily Montanan
As soon as she fell, Deborah Buttgereit knew she couldn’t avoid going to the hospital. “I could hear the bones moving around in my elbow,” said Buttgereit, who was 60 when she slipped on a patch of ice in December outside her apartment in Bozeman. Emergency room scans showed she had fractured her left arm […]| Daily Montanan
During the past two years, nonresident tourists visiting Montana spent an estimated $5.28 billion in the Treasure State annually, a roughly 9% decrease from the previous two years but one of the highest estimates on record. That’s according to a new report by the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research (ITRR) at the University of […]| Daily Montanan
Electricity demand in western states is projected to increase 20% during the next decade — double what has been expected, Gov. Greg Gianforte said Monday. “It’s clear we’ve got to meet this challenge head on to secure affordable, reliable energy for Montana families and businesses,” Gianforte said. At their initial meeting Monday, the governor asked […]| Daily Montanan
Ann Bauer, a researcher who studies Tylenol and autism, felt queasy with anxiety in the weeks leading up to the White House’s much-anticipated autism announcement. In August, Bauer and her colleagues published an analysis of 46 previous studies on Tylenol, autism, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Many found no link between the drug and the conditions, while […]| Daily Montanan
LOLO – Reaction time during a bear encounter is the focus of a new effort from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to better educate the public about grizzlies and black bears. And it involves a bear on wheels that can reach about the same top speed as a grizzly can — more than 30 mph. […]| Daily Montanan
The Montana Public Service Commission vice president wants to make it easier for the PSC to ask the governor to remove an elected commissioner. PSC Vice President Jennifer Fielder said Monday the idea to amend a policy to require just three commission votes instead of four to request the governor suspend a commissioner would make […]| Daily Montanan
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials suspect a hemorrhagic disease is the culprit behind several dozen white-tailed deer deaths in northwest Montana, and the department is also following reports of localized outbreaks in deer and antelope in the southeast part of the state. The department received reports of roughly two dozen dead deer near Eureka […]| Daily Montanan
A federal judge in Missoula this week found that the U.S. Forest Service violated the law when authorizing expanded commercial livestock grazing leases north of Yellowstone National Park. In an order handed down Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy found that an Environmental Assessment conducted by the Forest Service was insufficient, as it did […]| Daily Montanan
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality will investigate the circumstances that led to a drug burn sickening over a dozen employees at an animal shelter in Billings. On Sept. 10, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was apparently burning methamphetamine in an incinerator primarily used by the City of Billings Animal Control Operation to burn dead […]| Daily Montanan
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said states need to be “creative and innovative” in how they think about learning — and don’t need the bureaucracy of Washington, D.C., in the way. McMahon made her remarks Friday at a roundtable with Gov. Greg Gianforte at Montana State University in Bozeman, the largest public university in the […]| Daily Montanan
Montana western district U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke announced this week that his office will host in-person office hours in rural areas of the state’s first congressional district. Zinke has two Montana offices, one in Kalispell and another in Missoula, where constituents can meet with congressional staffers. But with an expansive district that takes more than […]| Daily Montanan
A film festival geared toward showing “uplifting” movies and shorts is coming to Big Sky this weekend. It’s the first year for the Lone Peak Film Festival in Big Sky, which will have six feature films and 16 shorts. The event will also include a mentorship program for local Native American filmmakers. Feature films include “Bring […]| Daily Montanan
Tribal colleges in Montana will receive more federal dollars for the 2025 fiscal year after initial “confusion” and “uncertainty” around funding. “We were freaking out,” said Stone Child College President Cory Sangrey-Billy. Montana has seven tribal colleges out of the 35 in the country — the most of any state. The schools together are estimated […]| Daily Montanan
It’s pretty clear the repercussions from the assassination of Charlie Kirk have basically betrayed his lauded dedication to free speech. Instead of a widespread national dialogue on — and spirited defense of — every American’s right to voice their opinion on the complex issues facing the nation, repression and retribution have been leveled against those […]| Daily Montanan
A federal judge has directed the U.S. Department of the Interior and an irrigation corporation to stop diverting water from the Upper Clark Fork River near Deer Lodge to prevent harm to endangered bull trout. U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris on Wednesday issued a temporary restraining order in a suit brought by two organizations, […]| Daily Montanan
A Flathead Valley mother and daughter from Honduras who were arrested by U.S. Border Patrol last weekend arrived Wednesday at a facility in Texas, the Daily Montanan confirmed. Luisa Torres and her daughter, Fergie Diaz, 17, were arrested Sunday after a call from the Montana Highway Patrol, leading to a 36-hour demonstration and additional arrests, […]| Daily Montanan
A hiker who suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries from a bear in Yellowstone National Park has been released from the hospital, a press release from the park said. National Park Service workers investigated the incident and found a carcass near where the hiker was attacked and confirmed grizzly tracks. The man discharged bear spray […]| Daily Montanan
The elected vice chairperson for the Montana Democratic Party resigned his post just days after taking office following remarks critical of former U.S. Sen. Jon Tester. This weekend at their state convention, Montana Democrats elected new executive leadership, including Shannon O’Brien as chairperson and Max Johansen as vice chairperson. O’Brien pledged a fresh start for […]| Daily Montanan
MISSOULA — “What is it you want me to do?” U.S. District Court Judge Dana Christensen asked the legal team behind 22 youth suing the Trump administration over a series of actions aimed at “unleashing” the fossil fuel industry. The lawsuit, Lighthiser v. Trump, was filed in Montana’s federal district court in May and seeks […]| Daily Montanan
The State of Montana is on the hook for nearly $3 million to cover attorney’s fees stemming from the litigation of Held v. Montana, the youth-led constitutional climate lawsuit that made national headlines when it went to trial in 2023. Lewis and Clark District Court Judge Kathy Seeley, who ruled in favor of the young […]| Daily Montanan
A male, 29, sustained non-life-threatening injuries from a bear while hiking on the Turbid Lake Trail, located northeast of Mary Bay in Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park said Tuesday in a news release. The male was hiking alone roughly 2.5 miles from the Pelican Valley Trailhead in the Pelican Valley Bear Management Area when he encountered […]| Daily Montanan
MISSOULA — For the second time in two years a youth-led lawsuit challenging the government’s role in climate change is seeing the inside of a Montana courtroom — this time with more plaintiffs and Democratic political consultant John Podesta as a key witness. Twenty-two youth are suing the Trump administration over the president’s executive orders […]| Daily Montanan
