Montana Public Radio News

It's tempting to assume Montana's summer wildfire season is going to be severe following our windy, dry and warmer-than-average winter. The official outlook released last week, however, paints a more nuanced picture.

A federal appeals court rejected a suit filed by 22 young Montanans that challenges several executive orders signed by President Trump in early 2025.

The Montana Republican Party worked this primary season to oust several of its own members from the state Legislature. The party took issue with moderate candidates it saw as being too willing to work across the aisle with Democrats. With the dust from this month's primary election settled, Lee Newspapers State Bureau reporter Seaborn Larson joined MTPR's Austin Amestoy to share results of the intraparty battle

5,700 miles and an entire ocean separate Helena High School from its “sister school” in southern Japan. But, the two became a little closer in a special ceremony this June.

Mental and behavioral health services like in-person support during a crisis or substance use treatment might soon become more accessible in the state. Montana is among 10 states participating in a federal program that will provide the funding needed to expand this care.

Federal officials released the final rules for Medicaid requirements this week. Hiding among the nearly 400 pages of regulations is a significant change that could make it harder for Montanans to stay on the public health insurance program.

Montana's tribes are losing their native languages. At least three Indigenous languages in the state are considered critically endangered. One summit is working to change that.

The 2026 primary results yielded a couple of surprise congressional candidates for Democrats. Republican congressional candidates won as expected. Legislative races pitting conservative versus moderate Republicans ended with mixed results. And Republican primary voters turned out in much bigger numbers than Democratic primary voters.

Bloomberg News called it “the Montana Miracle:” a suite of pro-housing laws signed by Gov. Greg Gianforte in 2023 designed to make it easier and cheaper to build in the Treasure State. After years of intense work and public outreach, city planners carrying out those laws have all completed their plans. But, they say it's too early to tell whether they'll make a “miraculous” difference.

The University of Montana this past semester terminated one of its oldest graduate programs — a master's degree in literature. The English department, students and UM faculty pushed back to no avail. Administrators say they had to make hard choices for the university's future. But those choices have left some students wondering if they were heard at all.

Two federal scientists based in Montana have been charged for allegedly smuggling samples of a virus into the country earlier this year. They work for Rocky Mountain Laboratories, a high-level research facility in the Bitterroot Valley. The lab studies infectious diseases and is overseen by the National Institute of Health.

Tariffs, market shifts and economic constraints hit Montana farmers hard last year. A recent analysis from agricultural economists counted six Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies in Montana in 2025 – triple the 2024 total. Farmers say without more support, the trend will continue.

Mountain goat populations have been on the decline in Montana for 70 years. Researchers are working to learn more about the nimble climbers, which means going where the goats go – and that's easier said than done. But no mountain is too high, no weather too extreme to stop us from answering this week's question: What happened to the mountain goat population in the Bitterroot Mountains?

A major health insurance company is leaving Montana, saying it's no longer profitable to do business in the state. The move will force about 11,000 Montanans to choose different health plans next year. It's part of a nationwide trend.

The stage is now set for Montana's November 3 general election. One of Tuesday's most closely watched races will ultimately determine who will replace two term Republican Sen. Steve Daines.

It's true all elections have consequences. But sometimes, a single vote can make a bigger splash than usual. That may be the case during Montana's June 2 primary election. Montana Free Press reporter Zeke Lloyd sat down with MTPR's Austin Amestoy to explain.

There are now more grizzly bears in more places in and around Yellowstone National Park than at any time in over a century. But until this spring, the population lacked genetic diversity. Montana Public Radio's Nick Mott reports on how fresh bear genes got into Yellowstone, and what it could mean for the bears' endangered species protections.

The Trump Administration is fast-tracking logging on more than 100 million acres of Forest Service land. But some locals are pushing back against one of the projects just north of Yellowstone National Park.

Democratic U.S. House candidate Sam Forstag hopes a Montana visit from AOC will help propel him to victory. Democratic Senate candidates are being walloped in the fundraising wars. And most of Jonathan Windy Boy's Senate colleagues want him gone.

When farmers sell their crops, they usually receive six cents for every dollar you spend on the end product at the grocery store, according to federal data. But a new processing facility is giving farmers a chance to sell a particular crop locally. That could put more money in their pockets.

Montana's top law enforcement officer joined Vice President J.D. Vance for an anti-fraud roundtable this week. President Donald Trump earlier this year declared what he called a “full-scale war” on fraud in public benefit programs like Medicaid and nutrition assistance.

Montana's primary elections are just a few days away, and candidates are vying to stand out in a packed race. In the final days, Democratic U.S. House hopeful Sam Forstag held a rally with Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, in the hopes of securing his party's nomination.

Two of Montana's three Independent candidates for federal office are confident they gathered enough signatures in time to appear on the ballot this fall.

More than 100 years ago, the first women's basketball team in Montana made history traveling around the state and the country. Now, the town of Fort Benton is honoring the team's legacy with a new mural.

The Montana Historical Society is receiving national attention for its work opening the new $100-million Montana Heritage Center in Helena.

Lawmakers recently instructed the Federal Emergency Management Agency to develop a more transparent system for reimbursing states post-disaster. Local governments apply for Public Assistance grants to fund emergency responses, but may wait years for updates and payments.

According to a new report released from a national transportation research group, 31 percent of Montana's major roads are in poor or mediocre condition, and a lack of sufficient funding could make it difficult to maintain that infrastructure.

The U.S. Senate has confirmed President Trump's nominee to lead the country's largest land management agency. Stevan Pearce has been criticized by public lands advocates for his past support of selling off or transferring ownership of federal lands.

Memorial Day is widely considered the kickoff to the summer tourism season in Montana. But with high gas prices, Americans might be more reluctant to hop in the car for that big road trip. MTPR's Victoria Traxler reports on what high prices at the pump means for the state's busiest season.

Public libraries have books, magazines, movies and … fresh air? Missoula Public Library and its satellite campuses have been set up as spaces where people can gather during hot, smoky days and breathe clean air.

A rising Democratic star and possible presidential candidate gets a warm reception in Montana. Republican "dark money" groups take a keen interest in Montana's Democratic Senate primary, and those Senate candidates make their case at a forum in Missoula.

The Montana Republican Party has taken aim this year at incumbent state lawmakers it feels have strayed from the party line. At the top of its ouster list is one of the Legislature's most powerful members: Rep. Llew Jones of Conrad. MTPR's Austin Amestoy sat down with Montana PBS reporter Sam Wilson to learn more.

Montana Public Radio this spring aired interviews with 20 candidates for federal office. MTPR's Shaylee Ragar joined Austin Amestoy to recap our coverage and share what voters should expect ahead of the primary election.

The Montana GOP is putting a thumb on the scale in competitive legislative primaries. More than a dozen moderate conservatives are facing challenges from hardline Republicans. The results will reveal how deep the state GOP's influence runs.

A lawsuit argues the state's process for redetermining Medicaid eligibility after the pandemic was intentionally devised to kick as many Montanans off the program as possible. Both state and third-party analysis found a large portion of the people unenrolled still qualified.

AOC's return visit to Montana pleases both progressive Democrats and conservative Republicans – for different reasons. President Trump's effect on Montana's election is yet to be measured. A last minute infusion of PAC money to a Democratic Senate candidate raises questions. Voter interest in this mid-term election is hard to gauge.

Researchers are learning more about pesticides that are leaching into Montana's waterways. They're finding that streams and rivers in urban areas might be more impacted than waters near farm fields.

Montana's labor department projects a need to fill more than 4,000 jobs in education and childcare each year, mostly due to workers leaving the industry.

After more than three months in jail, a federal judge allowed undocumented immigrant Roberto Orozco-Ramirez to be released. A longtime mechanic and beloved community member in Froid, Montana, Orozco-Ramirez was detained by border patrol in January. MTPR's Victoria Traxler spoke with Montana PBS reporter Matt Standal to learn more.

MTPR visited two Bitterroot Valley classrooms last month where students were learning what it takes to raise rainbow trout and keep fisheries in good health. MTPR's Austin Amestoy returned to Hamilton as the students released their trout into a local pond.

One seat on Montana's seven-member Supreme Court is up for election in 2026. Two colleagues are competing for the promotion. MTPR's Shaylee Ragar looks at their judicial philosophies.

Tuesday's near record mid-May heat will soon give way to what weather experts are describing as a wintery end-of-the-week ‘shock to the system.' A potent cold front is expected to sweep into western Montana this week, bringing gusty winds and potentially powerful thunderstorms.