Montana Public Radio News

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Montana news, with updates on politics and elections, wildfires and air quality, heath care, wildlife, public lands and more, from Montana Public Radio.

Montana Public Radio


    • Jul 21, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
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    Latest episodes from Montana Public Radio News

    Nonprofit aims to bring art instruction to Helena schools

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2025 1:40


    Helena Public Schools officials say a new partnership will bring dedicated art instruction to elementary schools for the first time in years.

    schools nonprofits aims art instruction
    Ag summit highlights challenges, benefits of organic farming

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2025 3:44


    A recent agricultural summit is teaching Montana farmers about regenerative and organic practices. Farmers hope those changes will improve the health of the land and their communities.

    As tariffs rise and exports drop, ag panel meets to assess the damage

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2025 2:10


    Economists, business owners and farmers gathered at the University of Montana Thursday to discuss how rising tariffs and declining exports are impacting already slim margins for Montana's agricultural producers.

    Montana's public broadcasters brace for shortfalls after federal funding cuts

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2025 2:13


    Congress narrowly approved President Donald Trump's request to claw back $1 billion from public broadcasters. State public media leaders say the rescission will stretch station finances thin.

    Lawmakers override veto on jail reimbursements for inmate mental health holds 

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2025 1:16


    State lawmakers have overridden Gov. Greg Gianforte's veto of a bill that will pay county jails for holding inmates awaiting space at the state psychiatric hospital.

    Judge orders state to pay attorneys' fees in lawsuit over sex-definition law

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2025 1:14


    A Missoula judge has ordered the state to pay about $95,000 in attorneys' fees in a case over a state law defining male and female.

    Advocacy groups sue state over new voting laws

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2025 1:13


    Forward Montana and the Montana Public Interest Research Group say new voting regulations unduly burden young voters. The groups have successfully challenged similar legislation in recent years.

    Trump freezes education funding, leaving school districts scrambling

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2025 1:57


    The Trump administration is holding back more than $26 million that Congress already approved for Montana schools. The frozen funding represents more than 10% of what the federal government typically sends to Montana schools each year, according to an analysis from the Learning Policy Institute.

    Mountain face off: How trees choose sides

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2025 8:07


    Have you ever looked at a mountain and wondered why there were trees on one side but none on the other? Or noticed different species growing on opposite sides? Well, you barked up the right tree. Find out how trees choose sides in the mountain face off, right here on The Big Why.

    Mobile home residents find little relief amid rent hikes, ownership changes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2025 5:13


    Montana policymakers made housing affordability a top issue at the statehouse, but mobile home park residents feel left out. After three legislative sessions of asking for more tenant protections, there's been little change to the law. Residents are facing rent hikes and insecurity as parks are sold, often to out-of-state buyers.

    Trump administration proposes repeal of the Roadless Rule

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2025 1:44


    The Trump administration recently announced its plans to repeal a 20 year-old policy that prevented road construction and logging on some federal public lands. The Roadless Rule applies to 6 million acres in Montana.

    Average electric bill could drop by $4 as NorthWestern revises rate hike

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2025 0:54


    Montana's largest electric utility has temporarily pulled back on increasing customer bills. NorthWestern Energy raised customer rates by 17% in May but has now agreed to apply a smaller increase for at least the next few billing cycles.

    State to reapply for hospital certification lost after patient deaths

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2025 1:25


    The Montana State Hospital lost its federal certification in 2022 due to patient deaths. That decertification means the state can't bill Medicaid or Medicare for patient services – a funding loss that has cost the state millions of dollars. State health officials plan to apply for federal recertification next year.

    Montana Food Bank sounds the alarm over SNAP cuts

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2025 1:56


    Montana's only statewide food bank warns that at least 12,000 residents are at risk of losing some or all of their federal food benefits. The overhaul of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, coincides with growing demand for food pantry services in Montana.

    Zootown Festival draws crowds and cash to Missoula

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2025 1:33


    Missoula's largest music festival in decades brought in big bucks for the county over Independence Day weekend. County officials say the festival went off without any hitches, from the their perspective.

    Conservation group challenges DEQ approval of septic systems near Big Sky

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2025 1:20


    A new lawsuit claims the Montana Department of Environmental Quality failed to assess how nutrient pollution from septic systems near the town of Big Sky will harm the Gallatin River.

    Health department opens comment period on new Medicaid requirements

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2025 1:14


    The state health department plans to request federal approval to enact both Medicaid work requirements and co-payments for doctor visits in September. The department opened a 60-day public comment period.

    CSKT researchers chart safer paths for turtles crossing Highway 93

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2025 4:23


    Highway 93 cuts through the heart of the Mission Valley and crucial habitat for turtles and other wildlife. Researchers with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes want to build safer routes.

    Former Montana teacher missing after failing to register as violent offender

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2025 1:21


    The whereabouts of a former southwest Montana teacher are unknown after he was charged with failing to register as a violent offender.

    Voters challenge Montana's new constitutional right to an abortion

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2025 1:22


    Montana's newest constitutional right took effect this month — the right to terminate a pregnancy. A challenge to its legality is trying to find footing.

    Thousands flock to Bigfork for July 4th revelry

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2025 2:14


    Independence Day weekend is one of the busiest for the northwest Montana town of Bigfork. The lakeside community's annual parade drew thousands to downtown at noon, but festivities kicked off early.

    Firework sellers hold prices steady as tariffs skyrocket

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2025 2:14


    Firework sales are booming again in Montana this year as managers say they mostly dodged price hikes amid a trade war with China.

    One Big Beautiful Bill passes Senate with Montana support

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2025 1:32


    Montana's U.S. Senators backed President Donald Trump's colossal tax and spending bill in a razor-thin vote July 1. The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” has passed the Senate.

    Land managers warn of fire danger before Independence Day

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2025 1:26


    Land managers are asking Montanans to be extra vigilant about fire safety heading into the long Independence Day weekend.

    State and federal officials agree to co-manage a section of Montana forest

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2025 1:14


    Montana officials and the federal government have agreed to co-manage a section of national forest lands.

    Montanans are urged to check the mail for property tax notices

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2025 1:49


    The Montana Department of Revenue is mailing property classification and appraisal notices. This information is used by county treasurers to determine property taxes owed for this year and next.

    What lived in ancient Montana?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2025 8:52


    People have lived in Big Sky Country for a little more than 10,000 years. But living things creeped and crawled and swam around here for hundreds of millions of years before then. A Big Why listener wanted to know when life showed up in the place we now call Montana.

    The Jericho Mountain fire 89% contained

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2025 0:51


    Fire crews are getting the upper hand on a stubborn wildfire that's burned south of MacDonald Pass for the past couple of weeks. The Jericho Mountain fire is now listed as 89% contained.

    An anti-meth campaign is now targeting fentanyl. Experts question its effectiveness.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2025 5:37


    $21 million in opioid settlement money is flowing into Montana communities, and the Meth Project is getting some of that funding. But, drug prevention experts say the program isn't backed by evidence.

    Former Congressman Pat Williams remembered for his longevity, dedication to Montana

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2025 4:24


    News of former U.S. Congressman Pat Williams' death broke late Wednesday night. By daybreak Thursday, messages of condolences, respect and admiration for Williams started flooding Montana email inboxes and on social media.

    Wally McRae, Montana poet and Colstrip rancher, died at 89

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2025 2:19


    Wally McRae – cowboy poet, Colstrip rancher, lover of literature and the land - died last weekend at the age of 89.

    Gov. Gianforte vetoes a bill to expand access to free school meals

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2025 1:33


    Gov. Greg Gianforte vetoed a bipartisan bill that would have expanded access to free school meals.

    One nonprofit is working to give Montanans access to local food

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2025 4:02


    Summertime in Western Montana means long days, time outside, and for many, farmer's markets. But beyond the once a week event, people have become increasingly distanced from their food. One local publication is working to change that.

    The summer Missoula MADE fair brought hundreds of artists to Caras park

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2025 1:41


    The day was abnormally rainy and cold for June in Montana, with clouds hanging low over Mount Sentinel, but that didn't stop artists from setting up shop in long lines of white tents throughout Caras Park.

    Gov. Gianforte signs two-year state budget

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2025 1:58


    Governor Greg Gianforte signed a two-year budget outlining more than $16 billion in spending.

    Montana's congressional delegation praises U.S. strikes on Iran

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2025 1:40


    America's weekend airstrikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities earned unanimous praise from Montana's Republican congressional delegation.

    Housing aid is now available for Medicaid recipients with behavioral health needs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2025 1:28


    Montana has received federal approval to provide Medicaid-funded housing services to assist those with behavioral health needs find housing.

    Rain, hail, heat and snow: Wild weather descends on western Montana

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2025 1:24


    Most Montanans have probably heard the old phrase: "If you don't like the weather, wait a minute and it will change." Montanans could get a striking demonstration of that phenomenon this week, forecasters say.

    Flood planning in the Flathead hits road bumps without federal funding

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2025 1:54


    A group of local, state, and federal partners is studying how to better prepare for future large flooding events in the Flathead. The work looks different but is moving forward after federal funds were rescinded.

    School safety upgrades on hold after Missoula voters reject levies

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2025 4:06


    Many Montana schools faced defeat at the ballot box this May as they requested taxpayer dollars to pay for upgrades that keep students and staff safe. Two Missoula-area schools that say they won't be able to keep their security up to date.

    How will federal cuts affect Montana's libraries and museums?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2025 8:54


    Libraries do more than just lend books. They offer community events, classes, access to computers — and they help preserve cultural knowledge. But, public funding is being slashed, delayed or taken back as the Trump Administration works to cut government programs. After recent federal cuts, one listener wants to know what's going to happen to rural museums and libraries across the state.

    After cutting thousands of jobs, Forest Service asks fire-qualified workers to return

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2025 4:00


    After a rash of federal job cuts earlier this year, the U.S. Forest Service is reversing course and asking people qualified to fight fires to come back to work. Missoulian outdoors reporter Sam Wilson sat down with MTPR's Austin Amestoy with more.

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