Montana News & Current Events | Public News Service

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

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

$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 …

President Lyndon Johnson signed the Fair Housing Act into law a week after Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassiniation. (Library of Congress/Wikimedia Commons)

55 Years Later, Fair Housing Act Could Go Further

April is national fair housing month and this marks 55 years since the federal Fair Housing Act was signed into law. The Act gives people an avenue …

Miles Community College is a small college in eastern Montana. (David Schott/Wikimedia Commons)

Report: Students Happy with College's 'Digital Transformation'

Digital learning has become the new normal for colleges since the pandemic, and a report finds community college students are largely satisfied with …

Blackfeet Community College is in Browning, Mont. in Glacier County near the Canadian border. (David Adamec/Wikimedia Commons)

Grant Boosts Student Parents at MT Tribal College

A grant is helping student parents at a college in northwestern Montana. The Aspen Institute has announced Blackfeet Community College and seven …

An increase in hunting has pushed some elk off public lands and onto private lands. (prochym/Adobe Stock)

MT Bills Could Improve Elk Management, Increase Hunting Opportunities

A package of bills in Helena is aimed at improving elk management in Montana. The six bills are bipartisan efforts from lawmakers, hunters and …

The Prairie Potholes region is considered some of the most important waterfowl habitat in North America. (DeVane/Adobe Stock)

Federal Funds to Conserve, Restore America's 'Duck Factory'

The Interior Department is investing funds in protecting what some call America's 'duck factory.' The Prairie Potholes are marshes and wetlands that…

Ranchers say imported beef hurts the market in the United States from local producers. (Laura/Adobe Stock)

USDA Rule Would Reform 'Made in USA' Meat Labeling

Ranching and agriculture groups say the federal government has taken a positive step in ensuring truth in labeling on meat from the United States…

The Gallatin River in southwest Montana is a tributary of the Missouri River. (melissadoar/Adobe Stock)

Montanans in DC Urging Protections for Iconic MT Rivers

Montanans are in Washington, D.C., to call for greater protections of some of the state's most iconic rivers. Anglers, business owners and river …

The pygmy rabbit occupies an estimated 10% of its historic range. (serikbaib/Adobe Stock)

Groups Call for Endangered Species Protections for Pygmy Rabbit

Advocates have filed a petition with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to save the smallest rabbit species in North America, the pygmy rabbit…

A diversity of lands exist in Montana, from forests to sagebrush. (Mark/Adobe Stock)

Preserving Wildlife, Climate Critical Topics for 2023 Farm Bill

As hearings on the 2023 Farm Bill begin, a push is on to ensure biodiversity is part of the conversation. A Senate hearing on the bill's conservation …

Legislation prohibiting ranked-choice voting will have its first hearing in Helena in the House. (Christopher Boswell/Adobe Stock)

Bill Would Ban Ranked-Choice Voting in MT Elections

Montana lawmakers are considering banning a way of running elections known as ranked choice voting. Under this election system, people rank their …

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. (dragonstock/Adobe Stock)

Study: Heart-Related Deaths Spiked in Pandemic's First Year

A new study finds cardiovascular-related deaths increased during the first year of the pandemic. American Heart Association data finds there were …

Montana lawmakers have attempted in past sessions to end medical aid in dying but failed. (vasanth/Adobe Stock)

Poll: Overwhelming Support for Medical Aid in Dying in MT

A poll shows in large numbers, Montanans support medical aid in dying. Under Senate Bill 210 in Helena, physicians could be charged with homicide if …

A $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation will help improve pedestrian and road safety in Kalispell, Mont. (digidreamgrafix/Adobe Stock)

Biden Admin Focuses on Rural U.S. with Infrastructure Projects

By Kristi Eaton for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Big Sky Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collaboration…

Properly designed crossings reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions by up to 90%, according to experts. (MierCat Photography/Adobe Stock)

Experts: Plan for Effect of Climate Change on Wildlife Crossings

Wildlife crossings could be a path to a future where the climate has significantly changed the planet. Wildlife and climate experts are urging …

In 2022, the state approved Habitat Montana funds to open up access to the Big Snowy Mountains in central Montana. (Forest Service Northern Region)

Up In Smoke? MT Bill Would Strip Conservation Program of Cannabis $$$

Montana lawmakers are reconsidering how cannabis revenue is distributed for a conservation program in the state. A bill in Helena could deprive the …

Montana Legal Services Association provides advice in civil cases across the state's 56 counties. (Bacho Foto/Adobe Stock)

Retired MT Attorneys Provide Pro Bono Legal Advice

For their next act in life, retired attorneys in Montana are providing free legal advice on civil matters over the phone. The Second Act Justice …

Many streams in Montana are seasonal, which can make them difficult to protect. (Robert Paulus/Adobe Stock)

Republican Challenge Could Strip MT Waterways of Protections

Republicans in Congress are calling for a repeal of Clean Water Act protections for waterways across the country, which could have a big impact on …

The Biochar Research Network Act would have set up as many as 20 biochar research facilities across the country. (K.salo.85/Wikimedia Commons)

Biochar's Rise on Farms Could Help Capture More Carbon

By Lisa Held for Civil Eats. Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Big Sky Connection, reporting for Civil Eats/Solutions Journalism/Public News …

Gov. Greg Gianforte gave his second State of the State address Wednesday. (Montana Public Affairs Network)

Gov. Gianforte Proposes Tax Cuts in State of State Address

Gov. Greg Gianforte delivered his State of the State address to the Montana Legislature Wednesday night, discussing his plans for the state's hefty …

Housing and rental prices have skyrocketed out of many people's reach during the pandemic. (Aisyaqilumar/Adobe Stock)

Native Americans Moving Off the Rez Face Discrimination in MT

Native Americans in Montana face a slew of challenges to finding housing off reservations - including discrimination. A tight housing market in the …

Unlike other states, which decided on this issue through ballot initiatives, medical aid in dying was legalized through the state Supreme Court in Montana. (CameraCraft/Adobe Stock)

MT Bill Aims to End Medical Aid-in-Dying Options

A bill in the Montana Legislature would roll back access to medical aid-in-dying options at the end of someone's life - access that has been guarantee…

Lowering top wires on fencing to 40 inches or lower decreases the chances of animals becoming entangled as they jump over. (F&J McGinn/Adobe Stock)

Study Locates Fences in SW MT for Sake of Migrating Wildlife

Migrating wildlife can struggle with the extensive fencing throughout the West, and a new study is filling in the gaps on where these fences are in …

More than 78,000 Montanans who received Pell grants were eligible for up to $20,000 in student debt relief under President Biden's loan forgiveness program. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

MT Student Borrowers Await Fate of Loan Forgiveness Program

About 120,000 Montanans qualified for the Biden administration's student loan forgiveness program, but the program's future is still in limbo…

Children are feeling the effects of an increase in online harassment. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

Tools for Parents as Harassment Permeates Online Spaces

It can be challenging for parents and caregivers to shield their children from bigotry and hatred online, but there are a few tips they can follow…

High rates of survival and reproduction have allowed the bison population to increase by 10% to 17% every year. That's 10 times faster than the human population grows worldwide, according to the National Park Service. (Adobe Stock)

Group Rallies to Protect Montana Constitution

The new year begins with the prospect of big changes to the Montana state Constitution that have been drafted by GOP lawmakers and opposed by conserva…

Montana Republicans will have a supermajority during the 2023 legislative session and could propose changes to the state Constitution. (spiritofamerica/Adobe Stock)

Facing Criticism, Group Forms to Educate Public about MT Constitution

Fifty years after its creation, and under increasing criticism from some lawmakers, an organization has been created to increase awareness of the …

Republicans won a supermajority in the Montana Legislature, but one Democrat was able to flip a state House seat. (Jon/Adobe Stock)

Dems Urged to 'Keep It Local' to Succeed in Rural US

Democrats have struggled to turn 'red' rural areas 'blue' across the country for years. But some left-leaning candidates won in 2022, raising the …

The Habitat Montana program is managed by the state Fish, Wildlife and Parks agency. (fwp.mt.gov)

MT Gov's Budget Zeroes Out Cannabis Revenue for Conservation Program

Conservation and hunting groups are concerned about Governor Greg Gianforte's decision in his proposed budget not to distribute revenue from recreatio…

Montana landowners and hunters have butted heads in the past about how to best manage the state's elk population. (kojihirano/Adobe Stock)

MT Trust Proposed to Enhance State Lands, Waters

With Montana lawmakers looking at a large budget surplus, a group of hunters, scientists and landowners is asking them to consider creating a trust …

There's a long history of mining across the Canadian province of British Columbia. (davidrh/Adobe Stock)

Tribes Say BC Mine Waste Threatens Water, Way of Life

Tribal representatives from across the Northwest are flying into Washington, D.C. this week to discuss how mine waste in British Columbia is …

Between 2010 and 2020, enough methane was vented on public lands to serve about 675,000 homes, according to the Bureau of Land Management. (FreezeFrames/Adobe Stock)

BLM Methane Flaring Limit Could Go Further, Group Says

The Biden administration has proposed a rule to limit methane flaring from oil and gas development on public lands. The rule would impose royalty …

A photo from the top of the berm near the Smurfit-Stone site shows how close the Clark Fork River is. (Lisa Ronald/American Rivers)

Tour of Former Mill Site Underscores Dangers for MT River

Community members and conservation groups recently toured a former paper mill because of urgent concerns that the site poses a threat to a nearby Mont…

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