Montana Public Radio News

Montana forecasters say 2025 was the second most active year for severe weather in at least four decades. MTPR's Austin Amestoy takes a look back at our year in weather.

The pending federal scholarship tax credit program will offer individuals up to $1,700 in tax credits if they donate to qualified student scholarship organizations. Students awarded scholarships can put them toward public or private school expenses like tuition, supplies or educational therapies.

Earlier this year, Congress passed legislation that requires some people on Medicaid to prove they are working or lose health coverage.The state quickly submitted its plan to implement those work requirements. But the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will not consider the state's request.

The Marshall Scholarship provides a full ride to a school of the winner's choice in the United Kingdom. The award is the latest feather in UM senior Paul Straw's hat — and a big step forward on a path he never thought he'd walk.

A woman nearly died from a heart attack in a Missoula courtroom recently. The incident stresses the importance of learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

A third of Montana waterways are impaired by nutrient pollution. Environmental groups are petitioning the state to stop issuing permits they say make the problem worse.

Missoula City Council members this month voted to draw up final plans for the $25 million Downtown Safety, Access and Mobility Project. The multi-million-dollar project has been in development for more than 15 years.

Libby residents may not have access to drinkable tap water for some time. Lincoln County health officials issued a boil water notice last week. President Trump has approved an emergency declaration that allows up to $5 million in federal funding to support the health and safety of Montanans living in the affected areas.

Wolves could soon be removed from the Endangered Species List in the lower 48. The U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday to pass a resolution to delist wolves. This is the latest in a years-long battle over federal protections for the animals.

Montana ranks among the lowest in the country when it comes to internet access and speed. Rural areas are among the most underserved. Since 2019, around $900 million in federal funding for rural broadband expansion has flowed into the state. It's starting to make an impact, but much work remains.

The upcoming trial for a man accused of killing four people in Anaconda has been suspended. The court found Michael Paul Brown unfit to proceed at this time.

Crews are making progress in restoring power to customers affected by Wednesday's storm-related outages. Utility companies say they've restored power to tens of thousands of customers. Thousands remain without power.

How do cabbage and spices become ingredients for community building? In Korea, the answer is kimjang, the fall tradition of making and sharing kimchi. This week on The Big Why, we visit a farm in the Bitterroot Valley where a group of Montanans came together to keep a food custom alive and find comfort and connection among the cabbage.

A Helena judge has blocked a program that allowed parents of students with disabilities to spend state funds on private education expenses. The judge found the program was being funded illegally, because lawmakers hadn't followed proper procedure.

An extreme cold front drove powerful winds into Montana Wednesday, knocking down trees, obstructing roads and cutting power. Gusts over 90 mph were recorded in parts of the state.

Last week's atmospheric river dropped over 12 inches of rain across northwest Montana, melting snow and triggering flooding across the region. December rains are more likely as a result of human-caused climate change, says State Climatologist Kelsey Jencso.

A powerful storm system is expected to crash into a wide swath of Montana this week. Another round of heavy precipitation, destructive wind and widespread power outages are possible, if not likely, according to the National Weather Service.

A federal program that supports schools and infrastructure in rural communities lapsed two years ago. This month, Congress revived it. In 2023, 30 Montana counties received a collective $16 million from the program.

Emergency managers are releasing water from a dam south of Libby they say is at risk of failing. It comes after a storm last week that brought flooding and high winds to the area. More rain and high winds are expected this week.

To grizzlies, they're unbearable. To wildlife managers they're a game changer. Drones mounted with thermal cameras are increasingly being used to help reduce conflicts between people and bears. Managers say drones provide them a safer option for hazing bears, and see more technological advances on the horizon.

A second ballot initiative that would ensure Montana's judicial elections are nonpartisan is advancing. The initiative was tied up in court when its backers and Attorney General Austin Knudsen disagreed over its wording.

Western Montana's drought conditions have improved significantly since late summer. North-central Montana's drought status is changing too, but for the worse.

An atmospheric river flooded Libby and Troy this week. Several bridges washed away and some homes were damaged. The water is receding and county officials are still assessing the damage.

Heavy rains brought severe flooding to northwestern Montana, flooding homes and washing out several roads and bridges. Lincoln County declared a state of emergency Thursday. The City of Libby has issued a boil water order for all users on the city water system.

State higher education officials have changed the eligibility requirements for Montana's American Indian Tuition Waiver. Starting next fall, blood quantum will no longer count toward eligibility.

A group of young Montanans are asking the state Supreme Court to overturn new laws that weaken the state's ability to regulate planet warming emissions, and exclude some fossil fuel projects from environmental review. This filing comes a year after they won a landmark ruling over Montana's constitutional right to a "clean and healthful environment."

The federal government says it will give farmers $12 billion in aid payments early next year. State agriculture leaders are torn on the plan.

The agriculture advocacy organization Montana Farmers Union just established its first Indigenous chapter in the state. Chapter President Dan Barcus says he hopes they can organize concerted efforts around local and federal policies that impact their producers.

Weather officials are keeping a close eye on the next installment of wet and windy weather expected to batter the Northern Rockies this week. Another 2 to 5 inches of liquid precipitation could be added to the already saturated terrain of northwest and west-central Montana.

Some of Logan Health's medical staff are unionizing. They say the Kalispell-based hospital system has chronically understaffed its primary care clinics, degrading working conditions.

A district court judge has ordered the state to allow for nonbinary designations on state driver's licenses. The order follows back-and-forth disagreements between state officials.

A Belgrade woman pleaded guilty this week to harboring 12 people in the country illegally. She faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each person without legal status.

The Montana Heritage Center in Helena is now open. The expansion of the state's history and art museum was in the works for decades. The museum is a sensory-rich experience including sights, sounds and smells.

A handful of Montana trucking schools may lose federal certification. A review found thousands of programs across the country may not comply with minimum requirements.

After months of pleading from the nation's agricultural sector, the federal government says farmers and ranchers will get much needed financial aid at the end of the year. Numerous federal policy changes this year led to record-high costs for things like fertilizer and equipment.

In Montana, abortion access has been at times illegal, legal, and stuck in limbo. Providers have weathered bombings and arson, advocates and opponents have battled it out in court, and citizens have passed a constitutional amendment affirming a woman's right to choose. One listener wants to know more about the history of reproductive rights in Montana. MTPR's Aaron Bolton reports on the underground networks, political violence and landmark court cases that got us to where we are today.

Gallatin County health officials are reporting two new measles cases along with a list of public spaces where the infected individuals exposed others to the highly infectious virus. Health officials say that anyone who may have been exposed should confirm their vaccination status.

Montana Health officials have selected Laurel as location for a new $26.5 million state mental health treatment facility. The health department was looking for a location in the eastern portion of the state. The facility is intended to help address a backlog at the Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs.

The first results from Montana's new standardized test show fewer than half of elementary-school students statewide are meeting math, reading and writing standards. The first year of testing had a rocky rollout.

The Kalispell City Council wants to make it easier to revoke zoning permits from businesses. This follows a court settlement over the city's attempt to revoke a homeless shelter's permit.

The town of Belt has worked with the state for decades to tackle issues left by the Anaconda Coal Mine. A new multimillion-dollar water treatment facility will finally fix that. The plant will clean the acid drainage before discharging it back into the creek.

The 2026 general election is just about a year away. The races for Montana's U.S. Senate and House seats are taking shape. Three Montana Democrats join the race to challenge Sen. Daines. The U.S. House races feature veterans, ranchers and political newcomers.