Montana Public Radio News

More than 100 years ago, Montana sent the first woman to Congress, before women had the right to vote. Jeannette Rankin blazed a trail for suffrage and the anti-war movement. Now, a new biography of Rankin's life and legacy is hitting shelves. MTPR's Austin Amestoy visited with author Lorissa Rinehart about her book.

State health officials say they are working to quickly send partial payments to families on federal food assistance. A court ordered the Trump administration to partially fund the SNAP program during the federal government shutdown.

Helena's county health department held its first community baby shower over the weekend. Around 60 expecting families qualified to participate.

A new legislative committee met Monday to start digging into questions about free speech on college campuses.

Most Montana homeowners should see a drop in property taxes after sweeping tax reforms go into effect this year. Renters, however, could see the cost of living rise after lawmakers made a mistake reforming property taxes.

Montana tribes are trying to find ways to feed members who will lose federal food assistance. Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, has been paused because of the federal government shutdown.

Montanans who rely on federal food assistance could get partial payments in November. That's after benefits were set to freeze because of the federal government shutdown. Multiple courts Friday ordered the Trump administration to use emergency funds to pay for SNAP costs.

Hey, Montana! This is your Morning Edition host, Austin Amestoy with a request for you.I tell stories for MTPR about education and schools in the Treasure State, but I know there are more stories out there waiting to be told. That's where you come in.Please head to MTPR.org to fill out my education news survey. Let me know the cool things happening in your schools, questions you have or things you wish would change about education in Montana.I'll use your responses to make my reporting better.

Wind farms are facing strong opposition in much of southeastern Montana, but Stillwater County is welcoming wind power with open arms. New turbines went online there in August, and plans for up to 400 more are under consideration.

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has stalled or altered multiple proposed ballot initiatives. Backers of a campaign finance initiative are challenging his actions in court.

The state's utility oversight board has elected a new president. The Public Service Commission's previous leader was ousted last week amid allegations of misconduct.

When public schools face deep budget cuts, art and music programs are often the first to be slashed. A new nonprofit in Missoula is hitting the road with a mobile pottery studio to help fill the gaps.

The city of Missoula is weeks away from finalizing new rules expanding how many homes, apartments and businesses can be built on land within the city.

Some of Montana's largest counties are rejecting more ballots than usual this election. A new requirement is tripping up voters. State law now requires mail-in voters to write their birth year in addition to their signature.

For decades, Libby residents have lived with the deadly aftermath of asbestos exposure from a closed vermiculite mine. It contaminated the local baseball fields where kids played, it was in gardens, and it insulated homes. Hundreds have died from asbestos-related diseases. Two families were awarded damages from BNSF Railway in 2024. Now the railway is appealing that decision, saying it's not liable for those deaths.

Montana's top education official this month sent a letter to schools telling them to “stay compliant” with state and federal laws. The letter from Superintendent of Public Instruction Susie Hedalen references concerns schools are teaching diversity, equity and inclusion and gender identity. But it stops short of explaining what prompted those concerns. MTPR's Austin Amestoy spoke with the Superintendent to learn more.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday that it's partially reopening local offices that help farmers get federal financial support. That's happening as Montana's farmers say they're on the brink of disaster.

Seniors are one of the fastest growing homeless populations, but most homeless shelters aren't equipped to help with specialized needs. MTPR's Aaron Bolton visited a shelter for seniors in Utah to see if their model could work in Montana.

This week on The Big Why, we're exploring Montana's 56 counties. A listener from Billings wants to know how they got their shapes. Finding the answer led MTPR's Austin Amestoy down a rabbit hole where he found a saga of boom and bust, backroom dealing and an unlikely folk hero.

Federal food benefits for low-income Americans won't be available next month. Federal officials say funding has run dry because of the government shutdown.

Drought experts say unpredictable precipitation patterns are making drought forecasts more difficult.

Ballots are on their way to voters' mailboxes. Local elections around the state will take place November 4.

It's fall pledge week at Montana Public Radio. 75% of our funding comes from listeners like you. Visit www.mtpr.org today and make a donation in any amount to support the Montana news you rely on.

Protestors in cities and small towns across Montana turned out for "No Kings" rallies, including in Billings, Bozeman, Dillon, Fort Benton, Helena, Hamilton, Kalispell, Lewistown and Missoula.

Three hunters in two separate incidents recently came face to face with grizzly bears near Big Sky. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks says there were no injuries, but advises recreationists to be wary.

A federal judge Wednesday dismissed a climate lawsuit brought by a group of young people in Missoula. In their case, they requested the court strike down Trump administration executive orders promoting fossil fuel development.

Federal officials have rejected an offer to mine coal on federal lands in southeastern Montana. It was the only bid for the lease following the Trump administration's push for increased fossil fuel extraction.

In 2023, the DEQ listed sections of the Gallatin River as impaired due to recurring algal blooms. The blooms choke out fish and degrade water quality. State scientists are amid a six-year study trying to understand what's causing the harmful blooms. The state says it will use the results to inform local development regulations and a plan to protect the river.

Monday marked the first state-recognized Indigenous Peoples' Day in Montana. Missoula celebrated with a powwow and a dedication for a massive new downtown mural.

Congress has voted to overturn part of the federal management plans for millions of acres of BLM lands in eastern Montana. The development of the Miles City plan involved mineral owners, industry groups, landowners, ranchers, farmers, hunters and 17 tribal nations.

This week: A second edition of "The Little Why," where we tackle questions from our younger listeners. Saddle up, grab the reins and ride along with us as we learn about wild horses in Montana.

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed last month at a Turning Point USA event in Utah on a nationwide tour of college campuses. But the tour is continuing as planned. That included a stop at Montana State University Tuesday night.

Montana has long had one of the highest suicide rates nationwide. Many of those deaths involve firearms. Montana's seniors are also dying by suicide at high rates.

Many early-career teachers in Montana received an unprecedented salary bump this year. A new state law made the raises possible.

An aviation fuel company wants to inject wastewater into the ground along the Rocky Mountain Front. Federal officials say the plan wouldn't put drinking water at risk. Residents are skeptical.

Local and tribal governments will now get an advanced notice before state wildlife officials relocate bears into their area, under a new state law that went into effect this week.

When you think of bison, Poland may not be the first place that comes to mind. One researcher is comparing human-bison coexistence on both sides of the Atlantic.

A Flathead nonprofit is suing over a state law that allows local police to check immigration status during traffic stops.

Many U.S. Department of Agriculture services are frozen as a result of the government shutdown. The freeze could have significant impacts for Montana's farmers.

Glacier and Yellowstone national parks will remain open during the government shutdown, according to a federal memo. A major drop in staffing will impact park services and gateway communities.

Federal lawmakers this summer created a $50 billion fund to stabilize rural hospitals and other providers. State health officials want public comment on how to spend that money.

Environmental groups filed a second lawsuit over a gas-fired power plant on the banks of the Yellowstone River. The lawsuit takes issue with how the state issued the permit for NorthWestern Energy's Yellowstone County Generating Station.