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Statewide news from Montana Public Radio

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1631 episodes

Why is Livingston so windy? Who's the woman on top of the Capitol dome?

In this special episode of The Big Why, A New Angle host, Justin Angle, joins Austin Amestoy to answer two questions.

7m
Mar 28
Water bill assistance program is running out of funding

A pandemic-era program that helped low-income people keep up with their water and sewer bills is running out of funding.

1m
Mar 27
Tribes are cautiously optimistic about new deal on pollution from Canadian mines

After years of tribes calling on the U.S. and Canada to do something about selenium pollution flowing into Montana, the two governments have struck a deal. An international body will make recommendations on how to settle the boundary-water dispute.

5m
Mar 25
Abortion proposal clears a hurdle; Ranchers, rhinestone cowboys and ... Beyonce

Abortion supporters face a tight deadline to get a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot. Senate hopeful Tim Sheehy talks up his ranching credentials, but an ad from his opponents calls him a rhinestone cowboy. Gov. Gianforte has a lot more money in the bank than challenger Ryan Busse.

13m
Mar 23
U.S. Attorney says feds lack resources for law enforcement on the Flathead Reservation

Federal officials said they don’t have many resources to offer if they take over law enforcement on the Flathead Reservation. Those comments come as Lake County plans stop providing those services on the reservation.

1m
Mar 23
Montana plans smoke preparedness program, awaits federal grant funds

A panel of Montana air quality experts met with federal environmental officials Thursday to discuss funding to reduce harm from wildfire smoke. The state is still waiting to receive those funds.

1m
Mar 23
Grizzlies from Montana could help recovery efforts in Washington

Federal officials released an assessment on reintroduction of grizzly bears to the Northern Cascade mountains Thursday. Bears in Montana could be sent to Washington state.

1m
Mar 23
Helena study aims find to fair market value for rentals and housing aid

Federal rental assistance isn’t keeping up with Montana’s surging rental market. A study in the Helena area aims to correct that.

1m
Mar 23
Winter weather predicted to return to Montana this weekend

Montana’s first taste of spring weather will soon end. In some cases, it is already being replaced with chilly, damp conditions.

1m
Mar 23
Nine candidates disqualified from Montana's primary election ballot

Nine candidates have been disqualified from Montana’s June primary ballot for failing to file required campaign finance documents.

42s
Mar 21
Missoula particleboard plant to close

A particleboard plant that’s operated in Missoula for over five decades announced Wednesday it will shutter by week’s end. The announcement is the second significant blow to the county’s rapidly dwindling wood products industry in less than a week.

1m
Mar 21
Flathead Forest road building is harming grizzlies and bull trout, judge says

Road-building in the Flathead National Forest is harming threatened grizzly bears and bull trout, according to a federal judge.

54s
Mar 21
Three Republicans enter the race for state auditor

Three Republicans entered their party’s primary race the office of state auditor before the filing deadline earlier this week.

51s
Mar 21
Montana Resources wants to extract rare earth minerals from the Berkeley Pit

Officials with Butte’s lone active copper mine said it has a commercially-viable process to extract rare earth minerals from the contaminated waters of the Berkeley Pit.

1m
Mar 21
State Supreme Court allows abortion access ballot initiative to advance

The Montana Supreme Court overturned the state attorney general’s block of a proposal that could amend the state’s Constitution to protect abortion access.

54s
Mar 21
Pyramid Mountain Lumber in Seeley Lake is closing

Missoula County’s last traditional lumber mill is shutting down after 75 years in business. Pyramid Mountain Lumber’s owners said they can no longer weather the current economy.

1m
Mar 21
Heart Butte Schools superintendent says budget fixes are on track

Board members voted last month to hire former Billings Public Schools leader Greg Upham as Heart Butte's new interim superintendent to help stabilize the school. He spoke with Montana Public Radio's Austin Amestoy.

3m
Mar 21
Montana Democrats focus voter turnout efforts in Indian Country

The Montana Democratic Party said it has launched a multi-million dollar campaign to turn out voters in 2024, with a heavy focus in Indian Country.

1m
Mar 21
Briefs: marijuana bill veto override; infrastructure funding; Former State Sen. Gordon Vance dies

The Secretary of State complied with a court order to send lawmakers a veto override poll on a 2023 bill to redistribute marijuana tax revenue funding. Thirty-two Montana communities will share over a million dollars of state funding to design infrastructure projects. A longtime southwest Montana lawmaker has died.

1m
Mar 21
Will bad publicity turn good for Tester and Arntzen? Whose coattails are longer?

Sen. Tester's position on the war in Gaza could cost him some young voters. State school superintendent and Republican congressional candidate Elsie Arntzen has angered some members of her party. Democrats hope to pick up a few more legislative seats this year.

13m
Mar 16
State lawmakers send letter rebuking OPI Superintendent Elsie Arntzen

A committee of state lawmakers has voted to rebuke Montana's superintendent of public schools.

2m
Mar 14
Montana's missing persons task force hasn't met since last summer

Montana’s Missing Persons Task Force has not met since last summer despite the Legislature funding the group for the next decade.

1m
Mar 13
The U.S. and Canada strike a deal over selenium pollution in Lake Koocanusa

The U.S. and Canada have struck a deal over pollution flowing from British Columbia coal mines into a lake and river system in Montana.

1m
Mar 13
Wildlife officials detect invasive mussels, urge vigilance

As spring approaches, wildlife officials are reminding visitors and Montana residents to take steps to avoid the spread of aquatic invasive species while boating and angling.

1m
Mar 13
Lawmakers criticize OPI's failure to properly implement new education laws

Montana lawmakers Tuesday criticized the state Office of Public Instruction (OPI) for failing to properly implement a slate of new education laws.

1m
Mar 13
Democrats will compete in more legislative races than last election

Democrats will compete in more legislative races this year than last election cycle. The party hopes that, along with new district maps, it could disrupt Republicans' supermajority.

1m
Mar 13
USPS pushes back on claims about Missoula post office changes

The United States Postal Service penned a letter last week criticizing what it called “mistruths and false narratives” about its proposed plan for changes at its Missoula facility.

1m
Mar 13
With the Senate in the balance, Tester walks a tightrope as he seeks a fourth term

Montana Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester is walking a fine line as he seeks a fourth term. And this year could determine control of the Senate. Tester’s appeal-to-the-middle brand of politics faces another tough test in increasingly polarized times.

8m
Mar 13
Secretary of state sought to sway Cascade County election administrator vote

Last month, Cascade County commissioners capped a tumultuous year of election discord when they hired a new nonpartisan election administrator. But according to new reporting from online publication The Electric, Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen emailed commissioners before they made their choice and advised them against hiring two of the four candidates for the job.

4m
Mar 08
Kalispell councilors reinstated until election is redone

The Kalispell City Council appointed Sam Nunnally and Kari Gabriel back to the seats they vacated last month due to election administration errors.

35s
Mar 08