Montana Public Radio News

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.

The state's new home for tens of thousands of historical artifacts will soon open to the public. The Montana Heritage Center is decades in the making, and features art galleries, a research center and interactive exhibits – including a simulated mine shaft. Montana Public Radio's Shaylee Ragar joined a preview tour and has more.

Recent changes to federal environmental rules mean some logging projects are moving forward without public input. Tristan Scott works for the Flathead Beacon, and has been covering a 13,000-acre logging project moving forward west of Blacktail Mountain in the Flathead. He sat down with MTPR's Elinor Smith to share his reporting.

Bull Mountain Land Alliance and Northern Plains Resource Council accuse the state of violating the Constitution by changing coal mine permits without public input. In their lawsuit, they point to more than 300 changes made to the permit for the Bull Mountains Mine in south central Montana since the early 2000s.

A proposed ballot initiative to keep Montana's judicial elections nonpartisan is advancing after the state Supreme Court ruled that the attorney general overstepped by rewriting the measure.

Montana Farm Bureau Federation held its 106th annual conference this week. Farmers gathered to vote on how their organization should lobby on state and federal issues.

A nearly century-old private college in Great Falls is on the ropes as it confronts a massive budget deficit. The University of Providence lost funding from the hospital system that supports it. Administrators are now laying off staff and changing course offerings in a bid to stay afloat. Montana Free Press reporter Matt Hudson is following the restructuring and joined MTPR's Austin Amestoy with details.

A new commission charged with evaluating the state's judges met for the first time Wednesday. Its conception was part of a broader push by GOP lawmakers to further regulate the judicial branch.

A flag's primary purpose is to be recognized from a distance. That means few colors, no lettering and a clear distinction from other flags. Ideally, it should be simple enough for a child to draw it from memory. So, how did Montana end up with such a complicated flag? Learn more in this episode of The Big Why.

Missoula County residents are trying to prevent a gravel pit from opening along the Blackfoot River. State lawmakers made it easier for local officials to approve projects like these.

Havre is launching a rebrand in an effort to draw in more travelers. It's part of a state-funded effort to stimulate rural tourism.

The federal government shutdown has ended, but not the debate that started it. Republicans have promised a vote on health insurance subsidies that Democrats want to fund. Montana's all-GOP congressional delegation says the subsidies need to end.

A nonprofit nature reserve in Montana is suing the state. American Prairie argues the state needs to decide whether to grant their six-year-old request for permits to graze bison on state lands.

Environmental groups and other nonprofits have filed a formal complaint about data centers with state utility regulators. The groups are asking the Public Service Commission to ensure NorthWestern Energy customers do not subsidize the cost of powering data centers.

Montana's largest utility this year struck deals to power three data centers — and counting. NorthWestern Energy has promised them at least twice the amount of electricity used to power all homes and businesses in the state. As data centers look to break ground in Montana, some worry ratepayers will have to subsidize their colossal power needs.

The federal government is open again. That means families on federal food assistance are getting full payments after more than a month of uncertainty. Even with the end of the shutdown, reservation residents and tribes may still face consequences in the aftermath.

Missoula County is set to significantly update its floodplain map for the first time in 50 years. Hundreds of property owners could soon be added to the flood zone. MTPR's Austin Amestoy visited the flood-prone Orchard Homes neighborhood to learn more.

Most Montana homeowners this year are paying less in taxes than last year, according to the state. That's due to phase one of a new property tax system.

Stafman served in the Legislature for three terms, representing the Bozeman area since 2020. Prior to his resignation, he sat on the Law and Justice Interim Committee.

The agriculture industry is facing acute challenges: high input costs, tariffs, and a lack of federal support. The state faces limitations as it tries to help. MTPR's Victoria Traxler spoke with Montana Department of Agriculture Director Jillien Streit to learn more.

Low-income Montanans receiving federal housing assistance are having better luck finding rentals. A state study led to an increase in the amount of funding families receive.

With winter approaching, a creek restoration project is wrapping up in the Bitterroot Mountains. Crossing the finish line was hard won. The project faced mounting challenges from federal funding cuts and layoffs. Uncertainty over federal support adds more hurdles for future improvements.

State education leaders have picked the next Montana Teacher of the Year. The award recognizes excellence in the classroom. This year's recipient is culinary arts teacher Kortney Douma of Belgrade High School. She joined MTPR's Austin Amestoy to talk more about the award and what it's like to merge the kitchen and the classroom.