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Montana Code School relaunches, open to rural, remote learners
Stephanie Back used to work for the U.S. Forest Service, but after being furloughed “quite a bit,” she hopped to a job with a health insurance company, and she learned that she liked data – a lot. This summer, Back, who has a couple of bachelor’s degrees from the University of Montana, is part of […]
DEQ issues air quality alert for 12 counties; smoke to worsen Tuesday
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality issued Monday an air quality alert for 12 counties, and if you’re looking for clean air in the state, you’ll likely have to wait. “Unfortunately, there’s nothing in the forecast that’s indicating we’re going to get a big breath of fresh air,” said Kevin Stone of the DEQ. In […]
Missoula opens ‘transformational’ $38M library
Roughly a decade ago, the Missoula Public Library Foundation’s Karl Olson made a passing remark to Honore Bray, the library director. At the time, it looked like the library’s plan to expand would not be possible in its existing building. “It just might be worth asking a few other organizations if they want to share […]
Attorney General intervenes in NorthWestern Energy application
An uncommon party is intervening in NorthWestern Energy’s application to add power with the Laurel Generating Station and a couple of other contracts. In addition to the usual suspects, such as other companies working in the energy industry, conservation groups, and the Montana Consumer Counsel, the intervenors include the State of Montana through Attorney General […]
Teacher shortage ‘crisis’ escalates
Montana is facing a worsening teacher shortage “crisis” even as education officials worry that a key support to students — mental health care through the Comprehensive School and Community Treatment program — remains in limbo. Beth Brenneman, with Disability Rights Montana, said parents of roughly 4,500 children who receive mental and behavioral health services in […]
UPDATED: Two dead, hostage safe in incident that ended outside Glacier National Park
The suspect in a Great Falls homicide and kidnapping is dead and an investigation is underway after the suspect fled Cascade County following police’s response early Thursday to a domestic disturbance, according to law enforcement officers. A news release Thursday from the Great Falls Police Department noted the hostage was safe with law enforcement and […]
Student athletes can profit from their brands, but details still scant
The door opened this month for student athletes at both of Montana’s flagship campuses to profit from their name, image and likeness, and with it a flood of questions. How much earning potential might students have? “The early ones have been anywhere from a $5 social media post to $6,000 per student athlete at the […]
Montana State volcanologist awarded $638K NSF grant
Madison Myers, a Montana State University researcher who studies the Yellowstone volcanic system, has earned a 2021 CAREER grant of $638,000 from the National Science Foundation. “Yellowstone is unique because it doesn’t erupt very frequently, if at all,” said Myers, a volcanologist and assistant professor at MSU in Bozeman. MSU is part of the Yellowstone […]
Missoula College’s ASN nursing degree ranked No. 1 in Montana
Missoula College’s associate of science degree in nursing has been ranked No. 1 in Montana, according to a news release from the University of Montana. “The faculty here is really awesome,” said program director Linda Barnes on Friday. “The people that are teaching these students, they all are really passionate about nursing. Many of them […]
The bison are back: Bison could appear in Glacier soon
A herd of at least 75 or 85 bison may be released even within a year or so to land in the Chief Mountain area of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, with freedom to wander onto their native land, now Glacier National Park, according to the Buffalo Program of the Blackfeet Nation. “There’s no fences, no […]
Students in limbo with mental health support in schools
Some parents of Montana students received a letter in the mail this month saying the mental health services their children receive in public schools were being suspended. Funding and services for students are on the line, and school officials are worried. To keep counseling going, they worry they’ll be left with holes in their budgets […]
NorthWestern power bills will tick up
The next power bill residential customers will get from NorthWestern Energy will be up $2.28 on average with an interim adjustment the Montana Public Service Commission approved this week. The 2.54 percent bump took effect July 1 and represents an increase in energy market prices, the “base” power that NorthWestern pays, said spokesperson Jo Dee […]