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FWP lifting fishing closures, restrictions on some SW Montana rivers with cooler temps on the way
Fishing restrictions and closures on several sections of rivers in southwest Montana will lift at midnight because of the cooler temperatures and rain expected this weekend in that part of the state. Temperatures Friday afternoon across southwest Montana fell some 20 degrees to the 60s and 70s, and they are expected to stay in that range […]
Gianforte hears from anglers, ranchers on problems facing rivers, trout in Jefferson Basin
WISE RIVER — After years of grassroots collaboration and sounding the alarm about trout population and water declines in the Big Hole Valley, locals’ efforts to figure out why fish are getting sick and dying in record numbers in the Jefferson Basin and why water levels continue to drop are drawing attention from the state […]
Chico Hot Springs sold to Maryland company for $33 million
The owners of the historic Chico Hot Springs Resort and ranch have sold to a Maryland-based hotel and resort management company for $33 million, the company announced Wednesday. The Paradise Valley resort and hot springs between Livingston and Yellowstone National Park opened in 1900 and has become a popular vacation destination for Montanans and tourists […]
Stricter fire restrictions, emergency declarations in NW Montana over wildfire concerns
Lake County and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes adopted Stage 2 fire restrictions and Flathead County commissioners declared a state of emergency Tuesday in the midst of a host of wildfires that have burned more than 20,000 acres of land in the area in recent days. The new restrictions and emergency declarations went into […]
Several new wildfires spark, grow quickly in NW Montana
Around 30 new wildfires started in Montana over the past 24 hours, some of which forced evacuations Sunday, and at least five active fires have topped 1,000 acres in the drought-stricken western part of the state. Dry lightning sparked several fires in the Mission Valley on Sunday that grew quickly because of high winds and […]
Company allowed to resume operations following Warm Springs wastewater spill
A contractor that was ordered last week to stop its work upgrading the wastewater treatment plant at the Montana State Hospital after it unintentionally released more than 3 million gallons of partially treated wastewater into Warm Springs Creek has fixed the issues and is allowed to resume work on the project, state agencies said this […]
Yellowstone River at site of train derailment to reopen Saturday
The section of the Yellowstone River near Reed Point that has been closed since a train derailed and bridge collapsed into the river on June 27 will reopen this weekend as crews continue to clean up thousands of pounds of asphalt that spilled into the river. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks said Thursday the river […]
Some Montana counties already had drought disaster designations before Gianforte’s request
Federal drought disaster designations from the U.S. Department of Agriculture secretary had already been in place for several Montana counties for nearly a month when Gov. Greg Gianforte asked the secretary for drought disaster designations in some of the same counties earlier this week. According to the Governor’s Office, he made this week’s request based […]
Fire bans go into effect Saturday in northwest Montana
Stage 1 fire restrictions will go into effect just after midnight Saturday morning in northwest Montana, which prohibit any type of campfire or other burning outdoors save for the use of liquid fuel or propane stoves that can be turned on and off. “The intent of fire restrictions is to reduce fire risk and prevent […]
Fishing closed on parts of Clark Fork, Madison rivers; more afternoon restrictions added elsewhere
The first full fishing closures of the year in Montana went into effect Wednesday on stretches of the Madison River and the Clark Fork River because of warming waters, while additional afternoon and evening restrictions were added on portions of other popular rivers for anglers. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks issued the full fishing closures […]
First West Nile virus of 2023 in Montana identified in Blaine County mosquitoes
Officials reported the first detection of West Nile virus in Montana this year in mosquitoes from Blaine County on Monday, though no human or equine cases have been confirmed. The Department of Public Health and Human Services sent warning of the virus in the Montana mosquitoes as the state hits its hottest days of the […]
Judge approves $9M settlement for Blackfeet telecomms customers who alleged discrimination
A federal judge has approved a $9 million class action settlement involving a nonprofit telecommunications co-op that will pay back millions in capital credits to several hundred tribal members of the former Browning Exchange who alleged discrimination when the company withheld the credits after a 2020 sale. The final approval of the settlement on July […]