Montana Public Radio News

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.

Many of Montana's wheat producers have struggled with drought for five straight years. Now they're facing economic headwinds because of President Trump's tariffs.

The Trump administration is ending an annual nationwide hunger survey. Montana's statewide foodbank says it's a deeply concerning development that will make it harder to assess needs and gauge the effectiveness of food aid programs.

Gov. Greg Gianforte joined mining executives from the U.S. Antimony Corporation for a groundbreaking ceremony in Thompson Falls. Antimony is considered a “critical mineral” that's used to develop military equipment.

After winning a landmark climate case at the state level last year, a group of young Montanans are taking the fight to the federal government. They presented their arguments to a judge in Missoula last week.

A Helena law firm says the state isn't meeting its constitutional obligation to provide a quality education. Missoula schools are the first to sign on to a potential lawsuit over the issue.

The word "wildfire" often conjures dramatic images of walls of flame, charred landscapes and one particularly famous photo of elk in a river, surrounded by flames. So, how do wildlife fare during these big fires? This week on The Big Why, a listener asks, why we don't get any statistics on wildlife that die in wildfires.

State health officials told lawmakers this week they will likely need more funding to implement Medicaid work requirements.

The fungus that causes white-nose syndrome among bats has been detected in northwest Montana. This is the first time the fungus has been detected west of the Continental Divide in the state.

The future of a land-use plan for tens of millions of acres of public land in eastern Montana is in doubt. The U.S. House of Representatives voted this month to throw the plan out. The plan came together over years with input from producers, tribes and energy companies.

People living in southwest Montana have long struggled to find care when they experience a mental health crisis. They often drove for hundreds of miles to get help. A new facility is opening to serve those patients.

Vaccination rates in schools are no longer gathered statewide, but some districts are sharing that information. Experts say smaller, more rural schools could be at risk of more infections because of lower vaccination rates.

A federal court ruled Wednesday the U.S. Forest Service broke the law when it expanded livestock grazing in grizzly bear habitat north of Yellowstone National Park.

A festival in the town of Chester last week brought Hi-Line residents together for music, food and fun. The festival is aimed at building community and celebrating the end of harvest season.

The new vice chair of the Montana Democratic Party has resigned three days after his election following his criticism of former Sen. Jon Tester, and the party's messaging.

Planned Parenthood clinics in Montana are no longer able to bill Medicaid for any services. Federal appeals court last week overturned a previous ruling that blocked the policy from taking effect.

Plaintiffs suing the Trump administration over its energy policies argue the executive orders to boost fossil fuel development jeopardize their health. A federal court in Missoula heard arguments in the case this week.

Federal health officials have narrowed the recommendation for who should get a COVID vaccine. The committee that makes those decisions is meeting this week, and could make more changes. For now, insurance providers are still covering the costs for vaccinations.

Montana Democrats elected new leaders over the weekend. Newer voices prevailed over stalwart members of the party.

How much does it cost to teach a child in Montana, and what's the right way to pay the bill? That's the question a group of lawmakers and education advocates will attempt to answer over the next year and a half. MTPR's Austin Amestoy sat down with host Elinor Smith to explain why finding the answer could be easier said than done.

The Bureau of Land Management under President Biden decided to end the sale of new coal leases in an area spanning across southeastern Montana, northeastern Wyoming and parts of South Dakota. Montana Rep. Troy Downing carried a joint resolution to reverse that decision. That resolution passed in the House late last week.

The Daily Inter Lake's Jack Underhill is based in Kalispell and has been following the situation. He sat down with MTPR's Elinor Smith to explain the timeline of discovery and how city officials handled the information.

This week on The Big Why: A listener is curious about recyclables that don't get recycled in Montana. Namely, why is plastic recycling so limited? "We're all encouraged to recycle. But when it comes right down to it, what happens to the things we actually recycle?"

Conservation group American Prairie announced its second largest land acquisition in the history of the nonprofit. Like previous American Prairie land purchases, the move has stirred controversy.

The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority recently hosted a conference in Livingston's retired railroad station. It focused on restoring stops like the Historic Depot through renewing Amtrak's Big Sky North Coast Corridor.

Montana wildlife managers are allowing hunters to kill a record number of wolves this season. Supporters of the policy say the practice helps reduce livestock losses to wolves. New research indicates that's not necessarily the case.

Helena voters approved two school bonds by a few hundred votes, unofficial results showed Wednesday. A new high school, elementary school and extensive renovations are on the way.

Duane Ankney, a former Montana legislator and longtime advocate for Colstrip, has died at the age of 79.

A district court has blocked the governor from intervening in an escalating dispute among state Public Service Commission (PSC) members over claims of sexual harassment. The PSC is the oversight board charged with regulating Montana's utilities

Two Native American voters in the Chippewa Cree Tribe are suing Chouteau County for minimizing the impact of Native voters' voices in local elections. They say at-large elections prevent Native Americans in the county from getting a fair say in who represents them.