Montana Public Radio News

A 2023 state law requires 10 municipalities to update their land use plans before the end of this May. These plans detail how communities want their growth and development to look over the next two decades. Whitefish is almost done with their plan, but local government is torn on recent revisions.

Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen is the third Republican in 24 hours to enter Montana's western district U.S. House race after Rep. Ryan Zinke announced he would retirement at the end of his term next January.

Montana lawmakers have asked the Montana Department of Military Affairs to investigate allegations of sexual harassment and financial mismanagement at the Fort Harrison VA Medical Center.

Montana's congressional delegates are united in their support for the war in Iran. Sen. Daines and Rep. Zinke also say they'll vote against a war powers resolution that would limit Trump from taking additional unilateral action in the region.

Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke announced Monday he's retiring from office at the end of his term in January. His exit opens the door for new candidates to run.

The nominee to lead the country's largest land management agency had his Senate confirmation hearing last week. The hearing centered around the nominee's track record supporting the sale of federal public lands.

Gov. Gianforte says one of his top priorities before leaving office is to pass a flat income tax rate. The state's healthy budget has supported tax cuts in recent legislative sessions, but revenue growth is slowing.

Agricultural producers across the nation are aging out. In her podcast Reframing Rural, Montana-born journalist Megan Torgerson explores this issue and others that impact rural communities across the state. In her latest season, Succession Stories, Torgerson asks Montana farmers and ranchers one of the biggest questions they face today: who's going to take over their land? MTPR's Victoria Traxler sits down with Torgerson to hear what she learned

A recent poll has good news for Montana Sen. Steve Daines' re-election chances. A longtime Democratic legislator enters the eastern district Congressional race. A new nonpartisan political group forms to elect "principled candidates." And past and present Montana politicians have opposing takes on the State of the Union

"Harmonic rippling pattern" might seem like a description of the soothing sounds from a white-noise generator lulling you to sleep. That's close. But in this case, the noise machine is your car and the rippling pattern is the washboard road you're bouncing over. One listener wants to know what causes these washboard patterns.

A coalition of historical groups, parks advocacy organizations and scientists are suing the National Park Service for removing signs about climate change, Indigenous history, slavery and other historical topics. The litigants say the removals erase history and undermine science.

A Democratic state senator from Box Elder entered the race for Montana's eastern congressional district. Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy has been a state legislator since 2003. He's a member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe and has long focused on issues like Native language preservation, state-tribal relations and child welfare.

A federal court ruled Tuesday that BNSF Railway can't be held liable for vermiculite shipments that spread asbestos contamination along its tracks in Libby.

Montana is falling far short of best practices when it comes to paying for school maintenance. That's according to a new nationwide report on school facilities. The message from Montana's school maintenance directors to lawmakers is straightforward: “We need help.”

The U.S. Supreme Court overturned many of the Trump administration's tariffs on foreign imports. The ruling is welcome news for Montana agriculture producers, who have been facing rising costs and shrinking markets.

Lincoln County was hit hard by flooding from winter storms in 2025. Records of major floods in the area date nearly 100 years. A closer look at that history shows decades of mitigation measures, plans and preparations that officials say prevented further catastrophe in December.

Sen. Daines files for reelection, and raises eyebrows over his association with a controversial State Department nominee. Montana's incumbent congressmen stand by Trump's economic policies, but do voters? Will he or won't he? Former UM President Seth Bodnar has yet to announce his political ambitions.

Laurel residents have been raising concerns about city and state transparency in selecting Laurel for a new facility that would treat criminal defendants before they stand trial. What's required of the government when it comes to public input isn't straightforward.

Although some 2026 candidates have been campaigning for months, the official registration period opened this week. Political hopefuls have two weeks to turn in their paperwork.

New analysis from Montana legislative staff shows the state's share of school budgets has gone up in dollar amount over the last two decades. But due to inflation, the value of that money has stayed almost exactly the same as it was in 2008.

The EPA Friday repealed standards for limiting toxic mercury, arsenic and lead that come out of power plants. The Colstrip power plant in Montana is one of the highest emitters of these cancer-causing chemicals.

There are signs the presence of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, may be declining in Montana. The drug was largely responsible for the increase of opioid overdose deaths during the pandemic. Now other dangerous drugs are emerging in the state.

The Missoula County Commission recently gave the green light to a plan that will guide the future development of western Montana's Swan Valley. Core values identified in the new plan include preserving the rural character of the region, protecting natural resources and ensuring access to public lands.

Montana is one of a shrinking number of states that doesn't have a law regulating student cell phone use in school. Research increasingly suggests the devices play a role in rising rates of anxiety, depression and distractedness in kids. Some schools are taking matters into their own hands — and taking input from students along the way. Montana PBS reporter Hannah Kearse joined MTPR's Austin Amestoy to discuss the trend.

Cattle industry representatives say they need more workers. They hope expanding a foreign labor program will help. Finding adequate farm labor is one of the biggest challenges producers face.

Montana's population grew again in 2025, though at a far slower pace than during the pandemic boom years.

A southwestern Montana community is searching for new leadership after its mayor abruptly resigned.

Recent data show around 4,000 fewer Montanans purchased an Affordable Care Act health plan in 2026, a roughly 5% decline. That decline is attributed to the loss of federal subsidies for monthly premiums. More people are expected to drop coverage.

The Montana GOP prioritizes judicial elections and party loyalty; Gov. Greg Gianforte and Attorney General Austin Knudsen launch an investigation over a possible violation of the state's "sanctuary city" ban; Democratic congressional candidates try to distinguish themselves.

The 23rd Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is underway in Missoula. The annual event celebrates nonfiction films and creators from around the world – including right here in Montana. MTPR's Austin Amestoy sat down with the filmmakers behind “Big Sky Falling,” a film about a web of Montana State University student athletes connected to a killing and drug dealing ring.

Federal environmental regulators Thursday repealed the bedrock finding that climate change endangers human health. It authorized the EPA to regulate planet-warming emissions as part of the Clean Air Act and to limit greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks. Experts say the repeal will worsen climate change and have a negative impact on industries across the state.

Pencils down! Does that phrase bring back some anxiety-inducing memories? What if, like in your bad dreams, it's an exam you haven't studied for? A listener wants to know why student test scores have stopped rising. The answer involves triangles and time. Learn more in this lesson of The Big Why. There won't be a quiz afterward.

Four Democrats competing for Montana's western U.S. House seat met for their first public forum Tuesday. The candidates covered a wide range of topics, from housing costs to immigration policy.

A federal investigation found systemic problems in a Helena hospital that resulted in sexual abuse allegations against employees going undocumented for weeks or months. MTPR's Austin Amestoy spoke with St. Peter's Health CEO Wade Johnson for the hospital's response.

Water watchdog groups and tribes are suing federal environmental regulators. The suit challenges the federal approval of Montana's new water quality standards.

The Montana GOP completed its sweep of all state and federal offices in 2024. This year the party is putting greater focus on another branch of government – the judiciary. Montana Republicans laid-out their priorities during their winter kickoff in Great Falls over the weekend.

The Missoula City Council Monday approved sweeping new rules for residential development within the city. The major overhaul will allow developers to build more and larger apartment complexes, and loosen rules for how many housing units can sit on a single plot, among other changes.

Thousands of Montanans are petitioning the federal government to hold public meetings on a proposal to rescind roadless protections. The change would impact more than 6 million acres of forest lands across the state.

Montana Republican leaders are mum on President Trump's threat to "nationalize" elections. Tribal leaders vow to fight Trump administration efforts to remove "woke" exhibits from national parks and monuments. Gov. Gianforte pushes for the establishment of a conservative religious club in Montana schools. And the Epstein files become an issue in Montana's congressional race.

Montana's junior senator has thrown his support behind the Trump administration's push to end birthright citizenship. Several federal courts blocked the order from going into effect. The Supreme Court will hear arguments debating the order's constitutionality in April.

There's good and bad news to report from Montana's labor market last year, according to economists with the University of Montana's Bureau of Business and Economic Research.

A recent report analyzed how national monuments affect their local economies. National Monuments protect places of historic or scientific interest, but some argue these areas hinder local development.