Montana Public Radio News

The number of Canadian tourists visiting the Flathead and Glacier regions this spring has declined compared to last year. That has industry leaders casting a cautious eye toward the summer.

Private equity investors are one step closer to owning a historic lakeside lodge on public land in the Swan Valley. Eric Jacobsen and business partner Thomas Knowles are now permitted by the forest to operate Holland Lake Lodge for at least 20 years.

Montana's Department of Commerce recently awarded more than $300,000 in grants to Native-owned businesses across the state. The funds aim to support the economic development of tribal communities while supporting small businesses.

Two more measles cases have been confirmed in Montana. One case in Hill County exposed others in the community.

Frenchtown High School is celebrating a first-of-its-kind milestone in Montana. Nearly two dozen seniors are graduating with a year's worth of college under their belts.

Gov. Greg Gianforte this month vetoed two bills that would've protected or expanded the public's right to access government records – including his own.

Gov. Greg Gianforte this month vetoed two bills that would've protected or expanded the public's right to access government records – including his own.

This year, 12 Native American legislators from across the state made up the Montana American Indian Caucus. The group was largely successful in passing policy with major impacts for tribal communities. "This session particularly felt that we were a force as the Montana American Indian Caucus," Rep. Tyson Running Wolf said.

For some families, it can be hard to feed their kids when school is out. But more communities are participating in free summer meal programs to help fill that gap.

State officials and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) this year gained sizable water rights east of Missoula. Last week, they solicited feedback from water users on how they intend to exercise that right.

A long-standing argument over funding for law enforcement on the Flathead Reservation is over, for now. Gov. Greg Gianforte has signed off on funding to help Lake County and tribal officials transition to a long-term plan.

Sixteen young Montanan's made headlines when they sued the state – and won – for failing to act on climate change. Republican state lawmakers lambasted the decision. They fast tracked a suite of bills during the 2025 legislative session to limit the ruling's impacts.

Montana's congressional delegates in the U.S. House voted in favor of a massive spending and tax package proposed by President Donald Trump.

New laws signed by Gov. Greg Gianforte set aside tens of millions in marijuana revenue for conservation and wildlife habitat improvements, including the construction of wildlife crossings over busy roads.

The governor signed a bill last week that allocates $250 million to address overcrowding in Montana's correctional facilities.

This week's topic comes from a listener who asks, ‘Why is there no hog industry in Montana?' While Montana famously has more cows than people, as we dug into this question, we found out that pigs are a big deal in Montana.

An individual from Flathead County is the ninth confirmed case of measles in Montana. County health officials say they likely contracted the contagious virus during a trip in Montana, but didn't say where.

Republicans in the Montana Legislature passed several new laws this session they say will protect election integrity. Lawsuits from a student political organization and the state's largest public employee union argue the new laws unduly burden the right to vote.

The future of Montana's two Job Corps centers is at risk. That's due to a proposal from the Trump Administration to eliminate the program in its entirety. The Job Corps provides education and trade apprenticeships to low-income Americans ages 16 to 24. Montana's centers, in Darby and Anaconda, have a specific focus on forestry, conservation and firefighting work.

The Missoula airport is opening its second concourse this year after more than half a decade of construction. Montana's largest airports are all growing as passenger numbers take off.

Montana's Native families face higher rates of separation with a disproportionate number of Native kids in foster care. A nonprofit in Lodge Grass is developing a center aimed at keeping tribal families together and out of social services.

Roughly 250,000 homeowners and small businesses are projected to see a break on rising property taxes under two bills Gov. Greg Gianforte signed.

Five legislators from around the Hi-Line recently gathered for a town hall to discuss the 2025 legislative session. The bipartisan group of two state senators and three House representatives faced a room of around 50 constituents in Havre.

The state health department sent tens of millions of dollars back to the federal government last month after the Trump Administration cut several grants. Local health departments will feel the impact of those cuts.

Big changes are on the horizon for Montana's mental and behavioral health system. Lawmakers this year made major policy changes and investments into what many have called a broken system.

A Missoula District Court judge ruled that a ban on gender-affirming care for youths is unconstitutional. Republicans in the state Legislature passed the law in 2023, saying they need to protect youths from experimental treatment.

As summer fire season approaches, planes will soon be dropping red retardant to try to stifle the fire's spread. A new lawsuit says the Forest Service's use of that retardant violates federal wildlife protections.

The U.S. Attorney for Montana says the Lincoln County District Court overstepped its jurisdiction by allowing BNSF Railway to seize an asbestos clinic's property in Libby. It's the latest development in a long-standing legal battle.

Canada is Montana's largest trading partner. But, the ongoing U.S. trade war is putting pressure on that relationship. That's led to higher costs, shrinking markets and uncertainty for Montana farmers as they begin their planting season.

One in every 10 Montanans carries student loan debt. Borrowers far behind on payments will soon be hit with severe penalties.

The Trump Administration has fired the workers who research on-duty deaths and long-term health of firefighters. Investigative journalist Mark Olalde wrote for ProPublica about the impact of these cuts ahead of fire season. He joins MTPR's Elinor Smith to explain.

“Food deserts” are common in Montana – usually in rural areas where the nearest grocery store is a long drive away. But, food deserts can be found in cities, too. A new community garden in East Missoula is aimed at solving that problem.

Montana's U.S. Reps. Ryan Zinke and Troy Downing have joined a new bipartisan caucus dedicated to protecting the country's public lands. The lawmakers announced the initiative in Washington D.C. on May 7.

Central Montana's Smith River is one of few you need a permit to float, and they're notoriously hard to get. Recent changes may help Montana residents have a better shot at getting a permit.

Federal budget cuts and economic uncertainty are raising questions about what this summer will look like in gateway communities, the towns surrounding national parks. A group of businesses in Yellowstone recently asked Montana's congressional delegation for help.

Montana renters who apply for an apartment, but don't get it, are now entitled to a refund of their rental application fee. That's due to a new law signed this month by Gov. Greg Gianforte.

A Libby clinic that screens locals for asbestos-related diseases was shuttered this week. A district court authorized the seizure of the clinic's property to pay a court settlement.

Schools across the state struggle to fill staffing vacancies. And while improving teacher pay and retention has been a top priority for the Montana Legislature, schools often turn to emergency authorized licenses to fill the gaps.

Federal officials last week canceled a $20 million grant to build a community center in Butte. The cancellation came hours after local officials gained access to the funds

A Venezuelan man arrested by federal authorities has been released without explanation after nearly a week in an out-of-state detention facility. That's according to his attorney.

For decades, Libby residents have lived with the deadly aftermath of asbestos contamination from a now defunct vermiculite mine. People who were exposed to that asbestos are still getting sick. But getting a diagnosis could become more difficult as potential Trump Administration spending cuts threaten the specialized asbestos clinic that screens locals.

The 2025 session has adjourned and delivered on its promises of tax relief — but will taxpayers think they did enough? Republican leaders vow retribution for those in their ranks they felt betrayed the party. And the Capitol Talk team gives their biggest takeaways from this session.