News
Gianforte issues statewide drought emergency
Gov. Greg Gianforte issued an executive order Thursday declaring a statewide drought emergency and called on U.S. Department of Agriculture to identify all counties in Montana as natural disaster areas. The governor cited the economic hardships to Montana’s farmers and ranchers as well as the expected increase in wildfires brought on by the drought as […]
BLM seeks comments on American Prairie Reserve bison proposal
LEWISTOWN— The Bureau of Land Management invites the public to comment on its draft environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact, often called a “FONSI” for a bison grazing proposal on BLM-administered lands located in Phillips County, Montana. On Sept. 24, 2019, the American Prairie Reserve submitted a proposal (an update to their earlier […]
Yellowstone National Park enacts fire restrictions
Effective immediately, Yellowstone National Park officials have declared the fire danger level “very high.” Stage 1 fire restrictions are in effect until further notice. Those restrictions include: Backcountry and trails Prohibited: Charcoal or wood fire campfires in the backcountry, including those in established fire rings. Prohibited: Smoking in the backcountry and on all trails, except immediately adjacent […]
Officials: No missing Montana mail-in ballots
Even though the 2020 Election in Montana concluded more than a half-year ago, and a wave of Republican candidates were swept into office in margins that hadn’t been seen for a century, Montana is still making headlines in voting news. Ironically, none of the news about Montana or elections is coming from within Montana. A […]
Public comment mostly opposed to proposed wolf hunting rules
In a meeting to get the public’s comments on proposed changes to a wolf hunting season, opponents outnumbered supporters by a margin of nearly 10-to-1, with many criticizing night-hunting, snaring, baiting traps and some threatening to cancel vacation plans to the Treasure State. On June 24, the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commissioners put out […]
Medicaid expansion has nearly doubled mental health resources in some areas, report says
A new report by the Montana Healthcare Foundation shows that since Medicaid Expansion in 2016, Montana has rapidly built out its mental health services and residents have utilized those services equally as rapidly. The report studied how the expansion affected the state’s mental and behavioral health system. In short, Montana’s mental health providers in some […]
Advisory group suggests two candidates for Cascade County judgeship
The advisory council that Gov. Greg Gianforte appointed to review applicants to fill the vacancy in Montana’s Eighth Judicial District will suggest two candidates for the commission, it decided in its first meeting Wednesday. David Grubich, who currently serves as standing master in the Eighth District, which is centered around Cascade County, emerged as the […]
Gianforte ends COVID State of Emergency in Montana
Gov. Greg Gianforte ended the State of Emergency in Montana six months after it was put in place, according to a news release from the governor’s office. Gianforte cited the decline of new cases and hospitalizations and the increase in vaccinations for why he lifted the executive order that established the state of emergency, according […]
U.S. House backs a select committee to investigate Jan. 6 capitol mob
WASHINGTON—The U.S. House voted Wednesday to establish a select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection, in which a mob of pro-Trump supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol. In a 222-190 vote that was almost entirely party-line, just two Republicans joined Democrats in passing the resolution, which calls for a probe into “one of the darkest […]
Biden discusses wildfires with some western state governors
For years, American presidents have held annual meetings with Federal Emergency Management Agency officials to plan ahead for the Atlantic hurricane season. In an era when the catastrophic impacts of climate change are accelerating from coast to coast, President Joe Biden on Wednesday convened a first-of-its-kind meeting to make similar preparations for what is shaping […]
Yellowstone shares top ten tips for visiting the park this Fourth of July
Leave the fireworks at home. That’s one of the top things to know to recreate responsibly and safely in Yellowstone National Park this Fourth of July, the park said Wednesday in a news release: Most park camping and lodging is reserved and full. No camping or overnight vehicle parking is allowed in pullouts, parking areas, picnic grounds […]
Gianforte snubbed as Biden announces wildfire initiatives
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte didn’t get the invite to attend a meeting of western state governors at the White House on Wednesday to discuss a worsening forest fire threat across the region, which is once again set to experience a costly and severe fire season amid record-high temperatures, widespread drought and a weather system that’s […]