Montana News & Current Events | Public News Service

Native American voters living on rural reservations often use ballot-collection services because of limited access to home mail services and polling places. Montana, home to 12 tribal nations, enacted a law that makes it illegal to pay organizers who collect completed absentee ballots from voters, according to the Brennan Center. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Indigenous Effort Aims to Get Out the Vote

Today is National Voter Registration Day, and in Montana, Indigenous advocates are working to register people and get out the vote. As part of its …

The U.S. Department of the Interior currently manages 11,000 bison in herds across 4.6 million acres of public lands in a dozen states. (Adobe Stock)

Washington Invests $5 Million in Tribal Land Bison Restoration

The U.S. Interior Department has invested $5 million in reintroducing bison to Native American Tribal lands across the country. Montana's iconic …

EPA Upholds MT Farmers' 'Right to Repair'

The Environmental Protection Agency has upheld Montana farmers' right to repair their own equipment, and says doing so does not violate the Clean Air …

The United States has fewer than 49,000 Black farmers, accounting for 1.4% of the country's 3.4 million producers, according to the latest Census of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Seek Better Land Access for Marginalized Farmers

With the new Farm Bill debate scheduled for later this month, advocates are calling on lawmakers to write new policy into the measure to ensure more …

Some 43.5 million Americans have some form of federal or private student loan debt, which is 13% of the population, according to the Federal Reserve's Consumer Credit report. (Adobe Stock)

MT Sees Sluggish Signup for SAVE Program to Reduce Student Debt

The U.S. Department of Education said more than 4 million Americans have enrolled in the Biden administration's college loan repayment program…

Manure from CAFOs contains more than 150 pathogens that have the potential to contaminate water supplies, while fumes and particulate matter elevate rates of asthma, lung disease and bronchitis<br />among farm workers and people living nearby, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Call for Tougher CAFO Rules in MT

Rural advocates are calling on the state to tighten the rules governing Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations - or CAFOs - in rural Montana…

More than 136 million people in the United States are TikTok users, and more than half are women. (Adobe Stock)

Montana ACLU Files Legal Support Opposing TikTok Ban

The ACLU of Montana is supporting a lawsuit to overturn a ban on the social media platform TikTok. Montana lawmakers passed a bill fining app …

The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act is projected to help grow Montana's $7.1 billion outdoor recreation economy, protect tens of thousands of acres of wilderness, and establish two recreation areas. (Adobe Stock)

Backers: Blackfoot Act Would Add $2.6B to Montana's Recreation Economy

Lawmakers in Washington held their first Senate hearing on the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act. Authored by Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., it would …

Sales of legalized marijuana in Montana generated an estimated $2.96 million in tax revenue in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

MT Conservation Advocates Rally Support for Veto Lawsuit

In its just-released 2023 legislative scorecard, the group Montana Conservation Voters is critical of Gov. Greg Gianforte's veto of a popular …

Missoula-based Mountain Line has grown to provide an average of 1.5 million rides per year, up 70% from 2014. The transportation company is making major enhancements to its service with federal infrastructure investments. (Mountain Line)

A Year In, IRA Investments Bolster MT Homes, Businesses

It has been a year since President Joe Biden signed the $770 billion Inflation Reduction Act. In Montana, it has meant new jobs in agriculture…

The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks estimates the state's elk population at 175,000 animals, but is aiming for a population closer to 92,000. (Adobe Stock)

Wildlife Advocates React to MT Elk Management Plan

After months of public input and work by wildlife officials, Montana is set to release a new Elk Management Plan this fall. Montana's last Elk …

The U.S. Forest Service system in Montana contains about 32,000 miles of roads, according to a report from the Montana Legislature. (Adobe Stock)

Court Orders Forest Service to Reconsider Closed Logging Roads

A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Forest Service to look again at the effectiveness of road closures in Montana's Helena-Lewis and Clark National …

The unpaid care provided by the 115,000 caregivers in Montana is valued at $1.76 billion, according to new state data available in AARP's latest report in the Valuing the Invaluable series. (Adobe Stock)

AARP MT Calls for In-Home Care Reform

More than 48 million Americans count themselves as in-home caregivers, helping loved ones live independently as long as possible. A recent AARP …

A new draft wolf management plan is expected to be released for public comment by the end of August, but skeptics say it is not taking the non-hunting public into account. (Adobe Stock)

Non-Hunters Want Seat at MT's Wolf Count Table

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks department is coming up with a new wolf management plan, but there is disagreement over how the animals are …

A bipartisan group of attorneys general in 31 states, including Montana, and the District of Columbia are partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to enhance competition and protect consumers in food and agricultural markets. Montana does not currently have a price-gouging law. (Adobe stock)

MT Joins Food Price Gouging Investigation

Montana is part of a bipartisan effort around the U.S. to strengthen enforcement and prevent antitrust activity within the nation's food system…

The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks is considering imposing

Severe Montana Drought Prompts Unprecedented Fishing Restrictions

Drought and soaring temperatures have prompted state wildlife officials to restrict fishing on some of the state's most popular lakes and streams…

As grizzly bear populations continue to expand across Montana, the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks is engaging local communities within likely grizzly range to share information on bear safety as part of its

MT Residents Learn How to Avoid Grizzly Encounters

A recent grizzly bear mauling in the state has drawn attention to interactions between the animals and humans. As the urban wildland interface …

Montana encompasses 145,552 square miles of land. The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department estimates about half, or 74,000 square miles, is suitable mountain lion habitat. (Adobe Stock)

Wildlife Advocates Push Back on MT Higher Mountain Lion Kill

Big-game advocates are pushing back against a move by the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission to increase the number of mountain lions that can be le…

Flathead Lake's high water quality results from its watershed being mainly national park, wilderness and managed forest lands combined with having a relatively low human population. (Adobe Stock)

Drought Tightens Grip on Montana Waterways

As crippling heat sears Western states, drought is creeping into Montana where Indigenous tribes are seeing historic waterways at record lows…

The 2022 Fair Housing Trends Report notes discrimination based on disability accounts for 53.68% of complaints filed, according to the National Fair Housing Alliance. (Adobe Stock)

Fair Housing: Discrimination Claims Up Amid Housing Crunch

Fair housing advocates said a tight real estate market is driving up discrimination cases in Montana. Pam Bean, executive director of Montana Fair …

About 4% of the present population of Montana is indigenous. The major groups include the Assiniboin, Blackfeet, Chippewa-Cree, Crow, Flathead, Grosventres, Kalispel, Kootenai, Little Shell Band of Chippewa, Northern Cheyenne, Piegan, Salish and Spokane. (Adobe Stock)

Western Native Voice Launches Road Tour to Educate Constituents

Indigenous advocates kick off educational listening sessions in rural Montana this month to educate Native Americans about actions the state legislatu…

The number of pedestrian deaths in Montana fell from 24 to 22 between 2021 and 2022, according to the Governor's Highway Safety Association. (Adobe Stock)

MT Pedestrian Fatalities Down Slightly

While the numbers are down slightly in Montana, more than 7,500 pedestrians were killed in the U.S. last year, a 40-year high. A new report from the …

Rural adults remain less likely than suburban adults to have home broadband and are less likely than urban adults to own a smartphone, tablet computer or traditional computer. (Adobe Stock)

Senators Call on Congress to Invest $50 Billion in Rural America

Senators in Washington, D.C. want to see a $50 billion infusion into America's rural areas - with the Rebuild Rural America Act. The legislation is …

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports there are about 220,200 openings for nursing assistants and orderlies each year over the course of a decade. (Adobe Stock)

MT Partnership Trains Nursing Assistants to Address Critical Shortage

Facing a critical shortage of front line health care workers, the Montana Department of Labor and Industry has partnered with the Blackfeet Indian …

The U.S. Postal Service delivers more mail than any of its counterparts around the world, serving nearly 165 million addresses in the country and covering every state, city and town. (Adobe Stock)

Short Staffed, USPS Still Meets High Demand in Rural MT

The U.S. Postal Service marks National Postal Worker Day this Saturday, recognizing the effort it takes to deliver mail across the country through …

There were 7,547 charter schools throughout the United States in the 2019-2020 school year, compared with 1,993 in the 2000-2001 school year, according to Statista. (Adobe Stock)

Parents, Teachers Sue Over Montana School Privatization

A coalition of parents and public-school teachers has sued to prevent the privatization of schools in Montana. Gov. Greg Gianforte has signed House …

The Cabinet-Yaak ecosystem, one of six designated recovery zones for grizzly bears in the lower 48 states, is located in northwestern Montana and northeastern Idaho. (Adobe Stock)

Judge Halts Logging Road to Benefit Grizzly Restoration

CORRECTION: The name of the logging project has been corrected, as well as the link to the court document. (1:40 p.m. MST, June 28, 2023) A federal …

Prior to passage of House Bill 648, Montana families paid as much as 14% of their monthly income in co-pays, leaving some less than $2,000 a month to cover housing, food and other expenses. The new law caps co-pays at 9% of monthly family income. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

MT Advocates Herald Increased Child Care Funding

Gov. Greg Gianforte has signed a bill into law aimed at reducing child-care costs in Montana. This month, the Annie E. Casey Foundation ranked …

As part of the Northwest Compact, 22 Montana firefighters have been dispatched to the Canadian province of Alberta to assist fire crews battling flames in a record wildfire season there. (Montana Dept. of Natural Resources and Conservation)

MT Firefighters Scramble to Aid Canadian Crews

Montana has dispatched emergency crews to help fight raging wildfires north of its border, under an agreement allowing northern U.S. states and …

One key issue in the case is whether Montana is responsible for emissions within the state and downstream emissions from fossil fuels extracted in the state and transported elsewhere, or whether it is responsible only for emissions within its territory. (Lesley Clark/POLITICO's E&E News)

Montana's Youth-Led Climate Case Could Set Precedent

Now in its fifth day, 16 kids are participating in a court trial with a lawsuit accusing Montana state agencies and the governor of compromising the …

The rate of children under age 19 without health insurance dropped to 5% in 2021, an estimated 4,165,000 million kids nationwide, down from 6% in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. (Adobe Stock)

Healthy Kids Study Shows Dramatic Lack of Montana Child Care

The Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book ranks Montana 18th nationally in overall child well-being. The just-released numbers showed …

Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's saves costs of medical and long-term care, both for families and the U.S. government, according to the Alzheimer's Association. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

MT Mental Health Advocates Push for Access to Alzheimer's Treatment

During Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month, doctors are encouraged by the results of two new drugs being used in clinical trials. In Montana…

Public land makes up 37.5% of the acres in Montana, 12th most in the country. (Adobe Stock)

$27 Million for MT Habitat Restoration

The Bureau of Land Management has announced a $161 million investment in wildlife habitat projects in 11 western states, and Montana is getting the …

Remnants of a stamp mill briefly used to process ore from the Highland Chief Mine that operated within yards of the Yellowstone Park northern boundary from 1894 to 1908. Fine mine tailings likely eroded soil and washed into Yellowstone National Park via the Yellowstone River. (William Campbell/Greater Yellowstone Coalition)

Advocates Push to Raise $6 Million to Stop Mining at Yellowstone

In Yellowstone National Park, 30,000 acres are protected from mining by Congressional order, but there is a sliver left unprotected, and a Montana …

About 20% of Americans living in rural areas, or about 6.5 million people, have been diagnosed with some form of mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Address Rural-Urban Mental-Health Care Gap

A new report underscores the challenges of getting mental health treatment when living in rural areas, like much of Montana. The Bipartisan Policy …

An increase in average global temperatures above 1.5 degrees Celsius risks sea-level rise, extreme weather and the loss of species and habitats, as well as food scarcity and increasing poverty for millions of people worldwide, according to ClientEarth. (Adobe Stock)

Montana Rolls Back Environmental Protections

Montana's environmental advocates are criticizing Gov. Greg Gianforte for signing a bill they said will allow the state to ignore the impacts of …

In exchange for 25 pro bono hours and 225 reduced rate service hours, the Montana Legal Services Association's RIPL program provides networking, assistance with business and client development, and hands-on legal experience. (Adobe Stock)

Program 'Incubates' New Lawyers and Rural Montanans

The Montana Legal Services Association has started a program to help young attorneys get started on a path to success - becoming community leaders…

Experts say canopy cover to prevent rainfall from directly striking sloped soil, and a strong plant root system to bind the soil, are two of the best methods for preventing erosion. (Adobe Stock)

River Watchers Use 'Old' Technology to Renew Ecosystems

Environmental advocates in Montana are using an older form of technology in new ways to improve the quality of the land near river beds, and also …

In the 1800s, about 50,000 grizzly bears roamed the western United States. Now, that number is fewer than 2,000. Despite the dwindling numbers, the government has tried to remove them from the Endangered Species List and twice been rebuffed, according to the Alliance for the Wild Rockies. (Adobe Stock)

Judge Halts Key Logging Project in Grizzly Country

A U.S. District Court has halted a logging project in the Kootenai National Forest in Montana because of its potential to harm an already imperiled …

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health disorders worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, one in 13 people globally suffers from anxiety disorders. (Adobe Stock)

Mental Health Advocates Claim Success at MT Legislature

Montana's mental health advocates said state lawmakers addressed many of the state's pressing needs in the just-completed legislative session…

As of 2022, 448 statehouse reporters across the U.S. work at newspapers, making up 25% of the statehouse corps. That's down from 604 statehouse reporters - 38% of the total - in 2014. (Adobe Stock)

University Students Add to MT Statehouse Reporting

Student reporters are stepping up to fill gaps in news coverage as the number of full-time statehouse reporters continues to decline. State …

Senate Bill 442 would have appropriated $30 million to Habitat Montana, the state's premier environmental conservation program. (Adobe Stock)

MT Gov. Vetoes Key Environmental Bill; Supporters Still Hopeful

Despite the veto of a key piece of Montana environmental legislation, advocates are not giving up on the measure becoming law - even though the state …

HUD's Office of Multifamily Housing Programs administers programs providing housing linked with onsite and community-based supports, including for low-income seniors, people with disabilities, and families with children. (Adobe Stock)

Housing Advocates Push Back on GOP Budget Bill

Advocates for Montana's most vulnerable residents are pushing back on a budget plan passed by the U.S. House, saying it would have disastrous …

About a dozen miles of Montana's iconic Gallatin river is polluted with

Dozens of Miles of MT's Mighty Gallatin Declared 'Pollution Impaired'

Montana environmental officials have listed dozens of miles of the Gallatin River as "impaired" following pollution-induced algal blooms over the last…

A bill that could threaten transgender people's legal rights in Montana has passed the Senate and is in the House. (pabrady63/Adobe Stock)

MT Coalition Stands Up Against Anti-Trans Bills

As the Montana Legislature considers bills that target transgender people, a coalition of groups in the state wants impacted folks to know they stand …

A bill in the Montana Legislature would give livestock owners leeway to determine when a grizzly bear is considered a threat. (Ben/Adobe Stock)

MT Bill Threatens Grizzly Bear Recovery, Critics Say

Groups advocating for grizzly bear protections are concerned about legislation in Helena that could threaten the population in Montana. Senate Bill 2…

Habitat Montana was crucial in opening access to portions of the Big Snowy Mountains. (Forest Service Northern Region/Wikimedia Commons)

Competing MT Cannabis Revenue Bills Hinge on Conservation Funding

Montana lawmakers are considering how to distribute tax revenue from cannabis sales. One measure would strip funds from the Habitat Montana program …

The Bureau of Land Management manages about 8 million acres of land in Montana. (BLM Montana and Dakotas/Flickr)

BLM Proposes Greater Sustainability of Public Lands It Manages

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has proposed a rule that would bring more conservation to the lands it manages. The agency's proposal would …

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