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First grizzly bear of the season spotted in Yellowstone National Park
MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, Wyoming – On Tuesday, a Yellowstone National Park wildlife biologist on a radio telemetry flight observed the first grizzly bear of 2023 to emerge from hibernation. The adult bear, estimated at 300-350 pounds, was seen near the remains of a bison carcass in Pelican Valley, in the central-eastern part of the park. […]
Charles ‘Chuck’ Johnson, tower of Montana journalism, dies
Charles S. Johnson, retired Montana reporter, Capitol bureau chief, and longtime mentor to journalists, has died, the Helena Independent Record reported Monday. “Johnson’s wife, Pat, told friends he was supposed to have dinner over the weekend with his relatives and, when he did not show, ‘they did a welfare check and found him gone,’ friends […]
Glacier National Park announces 2023 campground operations
Glacier National Park announced Friday the re-opening of Avalanche Campground in spring 2023 after being closed since 2020. Avalanche, Two Medicine and Many Glacier campgrounds will become advance reservation only through Recreation.gov, according to the news release from Glacier. Most of the campsites at Avalanche, Two Medicine, and Many Glacier campgrounds are reservable approximately six […]
U.S. Attorney: Kalispell man charged with making threats to kill U.S. Sen. Jon Tester
A Kalispell man accused of threatening to injure and murder Montana U.S. Senator Jon Tester was arraigned on Feb. 23 on an indictment, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Friday in a news release. Kevin Patrick Smith, 45, pleaded not guilty to an indictment filed on Feb. 22 charging him with two counts of threats to […]
Two Montana healthcare leaders announce likely merger
Two of the largest independent healthcare organizations in Montana announced Wednesday that they are exploring the possibility of uniting in a merger that would expand both organization’s footprints across the state. Logan Health is the largest healthcare organization in Kalispell and the Flathead area. Billings Clinic was, until the merger of Intermountain Health Care with […]
Bills roundup: Gender-affirming care, Indigenous People’s Day, obscenity, ed tax credits, more
Senate Bill 99, which aims to ban gender-affirming care for transgender children in Montana and subject medical professionals who perform it to criminal charges, passed the Senate in a 30-20 vote Wednesday. The day before, senators got into heated exchanges involving rhetoric about amputations and lobotomies during debate on the bill’s second reading. Jeffrey Welborn, […]
Resolution to fund reservation law enforcement poised for Senate passage, other updates
Here’s the status of some of the legislation the Daily Montanan has covered this session so far. Follow bills through the Montana Legislature’s website. Senate Bill 154, which drew heavy opposition and questions over its constitutionality at its first committee hearing, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee last week 7-4 on party lines. The measure seeks to […]
Bill to repeal Montana’s energy policy up for third reading in House, other updates
Here’s the status of some of the legislation the Daily Montanan has covered this session so far. Follow bills through the Montana Legislature’s website. A bill to repeal Montana’s energy policy is up for its third reading on the House floor Monday. It passed 67-32 on second reading. The energy policy was first adopted in […]
Former legislator Ed Butcher selected to fill Rep. Flament’s seat
Former legislator Ed Butcher was selected to fill Rep. Doug Flament’s seat in House District 29 near Lewistown, as confirmed by a House GOP spokesperson. The Republican central committees in Fergus and Petroleum counties chose three candidates, including Terry Gill and John Koch, according to Communications Director Madison Atkinson. Fergus County and Petroleum County Commissioners […]
Rep. Doug Flament submits resignation citing health reasons
Rep. Doug Flament, R-Lewistown, submitted his resignation due to health reasons to the Secretary of State’s Office on Tuesday, according to his resignation letter. “Unfortunately, I have received the diagnosis of a serious health issue that must be addressed immediately; I must leave the state to be treated,” Flament said in his letter. “Because of […]
Group of Republicans announce creation of Montana Freedom Caucus
A group of Montana Republicans announced this week they formed the Montana Freedom Caucus, which includes all four of the Republican members appointed to the newly created select committee on election integrity. The caucus is led by Sen. Theresa Manzella, R-Hamilton, while its vice chairman is Rep. Jerry Schillinger, R-Circle. Rep. Bob Phalen, R-Lindsay, and […]
Gianforte urges Board of Regents to ban TikTok on university campuses
Gov. Greg Gianforte urged the Board of Regents to ban the social media app TikTok within the Montana University System citing security risks in a letter on Tuesday. This follows Gianforte’s memo to Chief Information Officer Kevin Gilbertson last month that the app would be banned from state devices, for state business, and while connected […]