Podcasts about Missoulian

Our word of the week is “Socialism in Montana in the 20th Century,” a mouthful to be sure, but it is the title of retired University of Montana professor Clem Work's talk before a Missoula audience on March 6th, 2025. And before Clem Work's presentation, we will hear an opinion piece by Robbie Liben entitled “Protect us From Wall Street!” published in the Missoulian newspaper also om March 6th, 2025.

This week, we're in Montana discussing the flashlight killer. Then, we'll talk about an unsolved murder at a rest stop. Buckle up and join us on this dark and twisted ride through the Treasure State. You may now join us on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buy us a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cocktail⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Be sure to subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and leave a review, or, email us at unitedstatesofmurder@gmail.com Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sources: Great Falls Tribune, Montana Right Now, Unsolved Mysteries, The Missoulian, Billings Gazette Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unitedstatesofmurder/support

An entrepreneur with ties to a proposed $100-million retail and condo project in Missoula has been charged with federal wire fraud.

Two years after the public learned of a controversial plan to drastically expand Holland Lake Lodge in western Montana’s Swan Valley, a new suitor is trying to purchase the historic lakeside lodge in far northern Missoula County.  A wealthy businessman originally from Great Falls and a partner teamed up to make the purchase. But after overwhelming public opposition to the previous prospective buyers over the past two years, the public is largely skeptical of the new potential future owners.  With me today is Joshua Murdock, outdoors and natural resources reporter at the Missoulian, who has covered this issue from the beginning alongside Dave Erickson the business and real estate reporter.  We discussed the backstory of Holland Lake Lodge and the previous proposal on a past Untamed episode.  

Rob Chaney covered the outdoors for decades as a Missoulian reporter and editor. Last week he learned he had been laid off by the paper's owner, Lee Enterprises. MTPR's Ellis Juhlin sat down with Chaney to reflect on his time covering environmental issues, and to look ahead to his future plans.

For at least a decade, a pair of great gray owls have made their nest each spring in the top of a broken cottonwood tree trunk on the Blackfoot-Clearwater Game Range northeast of Missoula. They fledge chicks almost every year, and they’ve become increasingly popular with wildlife photographers — including professionals — who appreciate the nest’s easy access and visibility from the ground.  So it made sense that some photographers were upset this spring when they learned that the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks planned to remove the nest. Why would FWP do that? Mainly because of the photographers themselves. And because the nest wasn’t actually natural.  With me today is Joshua Murdock, outdoors and natural resources reporter at the Missoulian. He visited the nest with an FWP biologist and met with photographers.  

Next year, for the first time in more than 100 years, farmers and ranchers across Montana’s Hi-Line region will face a summer without irrigation water. Normally, water from the St. Mary River is diverted into the Milk River, which runs through north-central Montana towns like Havre and Malta.  But the infrastructure that moved the water failed in June, and it won’t be repaired until the 2025 irrigating season is over. Agricultural producers say they face devastation.  By mid-August this year, the Milk River above Havre had run completely dry. That could be the norm for all of next summer.  With me today is Joshua Murdock, reporter for the Missoulian, who visited the St. Mary Canal to inspect damage, and who traveled the entire length of the Milk River affected by the loss of water.   

Meet Cameron Reimers; father, husband, hall of fame baseball player, and UPS driver. Since he was a kid, the dream was to be a professional baseball player and after climbing the ranks with his sinker, it came to an abrupt end so he returned to his hometown of Missoula. Another incredible story from a lifelong Missoulian that you don't want to miss. Check him out in the Missoula Mavericks Hall of Fame: https://missoulamavericks.com/mavericks-hall-of-fame/

Today's Guests: Our guest today is Taylor Scott, Owner of The Missoulian Angler Fly Shop. Fish On Western Montana's Finest Rivers Guided fishing trips, for any skill level, on Montana's scenic rivers. Taylor says they also offer fly fishing for beginners! For more information visit www.MissoulianAngler.com. Also, Cole Daniels with Deadnuts Outdoors. Cole will tell... READ MORE

Today we are going to regale you with tales of keggers past… Jimmy recently stumbled upon an article in Good Beer Hunting on the rise and fall of the kegger at UM in Missoula, Montana. And there's a lot more to it than there just having been a lot of beer!Brian Alberts, a historian of beer in context, is joined by Cody Ewert, associate editor at the Montana Historical Society, to break it all down for us. These two storytellers have kept all the juicy lore to paint you a picture of the kegger's inception.Now tune in and let's party like it's ‘79! Photo Courtesy of The Missoulian. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Beer Sessions Radio by becoming a member!Beer Sessions Radio is Powered by Simplecast.

The fifth night was the coldest, and Thomas Gray worried he might freeze to death if he stopped moving.  The 73-year-old boater from North Fork, Idaho, was huddled inside a pitch-black trailer just outside the remote Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness on May 21. He was near an empty campground and silent airstrip; the only road there was snowed in and the highway was miles away and over a mountain pass.  Gray’s story is harrowing and improbable, not only because of his own feat of backcountry survival, but because his brother died two years earlier, almost to the day, in almost the same place, when they attempted the same float that year.  With me today is Joshua Murdock, outdoors and natural resources reporter at the Missoulian. He extensively interviewed Thomas Gray, his wife Lori, the people who found him and the people involved in searching for his brother two years ago.  

It’s one of the most obvious and dramatic signs of wildland firefighting, a bright red slurry raining down from the bellies of large planes that roar through the mountains like fighter jets. Fire retardant.  For years, the U.S. Forest Service used the same ammonium phosphate retardant on wildfires large and small across the country. Last year it authorized a new formula, pioneered by a company that was partially based in Montana, that was supposed to be more environmentally friendly. But while the new retardant may be kinder to waterways it sometimes gets dropped into, it seems to be dangerous to the planes that carry it. The result is grounded planes, a federal investigation, and questions around how the Forest Service determines what’s safe to use on fires.  With me today is Joshua Murdock, outdoors and natural resources reporter at the Missoulian, who regularly covers wildfires and the Forest Service.  

Montanans of all stripes seem to agree on at least two things: They care deeply about conservation and public lands, and life here is getting worse.  Those were some of the key findings from a recent statewide poll conducted by the University of Montana. The results were released last Tuesday morning. With me today is Joshua Murdock, outdoors and natural resources reporter at the Missoulian. He reported on the poll results and has covered results of similar polls across the West.  

Colter Nuanez visits with former Missoulian beat writer Fritz Neighbor to reminisce Marc Mariani and Chase Reynolds, two of this year's inductees into the Montana Football Hall of Fame. Plus: Colter weighs in on the Montana State tradition of the No. 41 legacy number.

The Smith River is a crown jewel of Montana’s natural splendor, but a proposed copper mine at its headwaters in central Montana has many people worried about negative impacts to the river’s pristine waters. After years of litigation, the state Supreme Court approved a mine permit for the operation in February.  But, environmental groups also took the state to court over the mine company’s water permit — a key regulatory hurdle for mine construction and operation to commence.  On March 29, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Missoula over the mine as part of the court’s annual visit to the law school at University of Montana.  There’s no decision yet but a decision either way will set precedent in Montana and could have wide-ranging effects.  Billings Gazette Reporter Brett French has covered the mine extensively for years. But with me today is Joshua Murdock, outdoors and natural resources reporter at the Missoulian, who reported in person on the oral arguments before the Supreme Court.  

Missoula County is reeling from the announcements recently of two huge wood products industry businesses closing and laying off all employees.  Pyramid Mountain Lumber, the largest employer in Seeley Lake for 75 years, announced on March 14 it is permanently shutting down this spring. Less than a week later, Roseburg Forest Product’s Missoula particleboard plant announced it is permanently closing in May.  Combined, the two companies are eliminating 250 jobs. They are the last two remaining large wood products businesses in the county, and the closures mark the end of a 150-year-era of wood products as an economic driver in the county. With me today is David Erickson, a reporter at the Missoulian newspaper who’s been covering the news.  

The Great Burn is referred to as “one of the last best places” by wilderness and wildlife advocates, snowmobilers and mountain bikers. All of them revere the quarter million-acre jumble of peaks along the Montana-Idaho border.  But wilderness and wildlife advocates  — who have long pushed for bikes and snowmobiles to be banned from the area — now worry that new U.S. Forest Service plans could chip away at what they believe is the would-be crown jewel connecting the largest chain of wilderness in the Lower 48.  The issue is a tangled bureaucratic web ensnaring two national forests, two states, one Forest Service regional office, a variety of user groups and a history of conflicting management on one shared landscape full of animals who can’t see boundary lines on maps.  With me today is Joshua Murdock, the outdoors and natural resources reporter at the Missoulian, to help explain the issue.   

AI has come for the animals.  When the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks unveiled its 43rd annual photo issue of Montana Outdoors on Jan. 1, the magazine carried an explanation on page 1: Magazine staff, editor Tom Dickson wrote the magazine had gone to great lengths to verify that photos submitted for the issue were, in fact, photos.  Dickson's concern was that images produced by generative artificial intelligence — AI programs that create new material in response to a prompt — now often appear as realistic as actual photographs and could be submitted to the magazine for publication. On today's episode, Joshua Murdock, natural resources reporter for the Missoulian newspaper, discusses his reporting on AI-generated wildlife imagery.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the year comes to a close I thought it would be a good time to gather our team of outdoors writers and put a bow on it. I asked the reporters to send me some of their most important stories from 2023 so we could re-hash them for folks as the last episode of the year. So with me today is Rob Chaney and Joshua Murdock, from the Missoulian, Brett French from the Billings Gazette, and Duncan Adams from the Montana Standard. All familiar voices if you've listened to the show in the past. Some of these stories will also be familiar to habitual listeners. Topics we'll discuss today will be E-Bikes in National Parks, Snowbowl ski area, tribal Bison hunting outside Yellowstone, and Anaconda's urban mule deer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the podcast, a child, traveling alone, encounters hotel trouble, a young woman begins her healing journey thanks to a sexual assault victim’s advocate, a woman recovering from open heart surgery finds respite with a gruff nurse and post-avalanche, Missoula unites. Four storytellers share their true personal stories on the theme “The Kindness of Strangers”. Their stories were recorded live in person in front of a sold-out crowd on December 06, 2023, at The Wilma in Missoula, MT. Steve Rosbarsky journeys alone to the Junior Nationals tournament in Minneapolis. The absence of parental guidance sets the stage for a misadventure leading to trouble at a hotel. Stranded without a coach, an unexpected savior, Martin Martin, rescues the young athlete from a precarious situation. A series of escapades involving hotel ice baths, wheelchair races, and rooftop pool revelry culminate in a disciplinary showdown with the coaches. Steve calls his story “Three Days, Two Coaches, One Martin Martin“. Steve Rosbarsky was born and raised in Missoula Montana. He has two beautiful children, Lydia and Eddie. He is so grateful to his partner Gwen and the joy that he feels being the long-term parental type figure to Evani and Cecelia. Steve is also proud of his beautiful granddaughter Ronnie. He owns and operates a Taekwondo School here in Missoula. Steve is a sustainable project coordinator for Missoula Habitat for Humanity. He holds gratitude for all the moments this life has provided. Learn more about Steve at Missoula Taekwondo Center. Maria Merkley’s traumatic encounter, guided by her sexual assault victim’s advocate’s support, led to resilience and empowered her to begin her healing journey. Maria calls her story “The Advocate”. Maria LaDonna Merkley is a proud full-time single mother to her beautiful 18-month-old daughter, Sophia- LaDonna Merkley. Maria was born in Whitefish, Montana, and grew up in Hamilton, Montana, and has had the pleasure of calling Oregon, Arizona, and Washington states home. She is a full-time student at the University of Montana, working on her Bachelor’s degree with a major in Psychology and a minor in History, with a Secondary Education licensure. She hopes to share her love for traveling with her daughter and travel to all 50 states before Sophia is ten years old. Her long-term goal is to move abroad to live and teach anywhere there is a mild winter! In 2020, Mandy faced heart surgery complications, feeling alone in a hospital amid COVID restrictions. Mandy tries to put on a brave face for her family and friends and her emotions and feelings build inside her to a fever pitch. A gruff nurse, Keith, changed everything with empathy, teaching her to accept help and cherish human connection. Mandy calls her story “Open Heart”. Mandy Northcott is a mom, wife, pet parent, and general outdoors-loving 47-year-old woman.  She left the flatlands of Iowa for the mountains of Montana 25 years ago and hasn't looked back. Mandy has been a farmer, tree planter, grocery store clerk, stay-at-home mom, and non-traditional student, and now works as a medical coder and biller. She loves hot springs, African drumming, dog walks, deadheading flowers, gazing at trees, and the quiet time in the morning before everyone else is up. Currently, you will find her on the weekends cold dipping in the Clark Fork River and Rattlesnake Creek with like-minded souls. You can find Mandy on Facebook. Katrina Angelina Schull recalls a community’s resilience that shines post-avalanche. Strangers become neighbors, uniting in kindness and help, showing for Missoula’s strength to endure hardships. Katrina calls her story “Extraordinary Neighbors”. Katrina Angelina Schull is a born and raised Missoulian who initiated Amplify Film Group in 2009 after studying at the University of Montana. She later worked as a news reporter for KTMF ABC|FOX, focusing on crafting impactful narratives in positive media. Katrina embraces projects with enthusiasm and enjoys aviation, hiking, fishing, and Jiu-Jitsu outside of work. Katrina is committed to visual storytelling, extending her efforts to creative copywriting, and has initiated Be the Light International, supporting communities in need through her team’s work. You can learn more about Katrina and her work at Amplify Film Group.

It's no secret that glaciers in Montana and the world over are disappearing. But now a new study puts a number to the losses, at least for the Western U.S.  Of the West's 612 officially named glaciers, 52 no longer qualify as glaciers. That's according to a study released last month by Portland State University. The research, published in the journal Earth System Science Data, delineates a glacier as a slowly moving mass of ice with an area of at least 25 acres, and a snowfield a stationary area of snow and ice that persists all year. The study found 52 glaciers have been demoted to snowfields. Six of those 52 demoted glaciers are in Montana. With me today to talk again about receding ice is Joshua Murdock, natural resources reporter and Rob Chaney, managing editor of the Missoulian newspaper.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Oct. 13, news broke that the owner of Holland Lake Lodge has decided to cancel his controversial expansion and upgrade plans at the resort. He's ending his partnership with a large Utah-based resort company called POWDR and is trying to sell the lodge. It's huge news in Montana, as for the past year there's been quite a bit of an uproar as people protested the plan. You can't drive anywhere in western Montana without seeing billboards for “Save Holland Lake,” a group that's been criticizing the expansion plans. The whole saga involved threats of lawsuits and lots of heated public meetings. Exactly a year ago Dave Erickson of the Missoulian newspaper joined me as news broke on the expansion proposal and he's on this episode to cover all that's happened since last year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In October of 1991, an 18-year-old woman left California bound for Mexico on a bicycle, hoping to volunteer along the way. But after a sudden lack of contact with her family, loved ones started to wonder if something had happened during her solo trip. With her belongings being found in a spot near where she was last seen and a suspicious final witness on police's radar, everyone is wondering, what happened to her? This is the story of Jennifer Pentilla. BONUS EPISODES Apple Subscriptions: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/going-west-true-crime/id1448151398 Patreon: patreon.com/goingwestpodcast CASE SOURCES 1. Charley Project: https://charleyproject.org/case/jennifer-lynn-pentilla 2. The Missoulian: https://www.newspapers.com/image/351299569/?terms=jennifer%20pentilla&match=1 3. Doe Network: https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/302dfnm.html 4. Montana Press: https://www.montanapress.net/post/jennifer-pentilla-a-montanan-forever-lost-in-new-mexico 5. Tapatalk: https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/porchlightusa/1991-pentilla-jennifer-lynn-october-17-1991-t12090.html 6. Websleuths: https://www.websleuths.com/forums/threads/nm-jennifer-pentilla-18-deming-17-oct-1991.60427/ 7. Missoulian: https://missoulian.com/missoula-mom-hopes-appearance-on-maury-will-help-find-daughter/article_90d06bf6-0b15-50e5-bef3-838ebbb2d447.html 8. Cold Case Closure: https://web.archive.org/web/20150930041557/http://www.coldcaseclosure.com/montana-law-enforcement/chuy-vasquez/ 9. Socorro's Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/lcsun-news/name/socorro-vasquez-obituary?id=24412804 10. The Deming Headlight: https://www.newspapers.com/image/558679681/?terms=jesus%20chuy%20vasquez&match=1 11. NBC Montana: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=CzKIAScinZo 12. Daily Record: https://www.dailyrecord.com/story/news/2016/10/20/pentilla-case-25-years-unsolved/92478404/ 13. The Deming Headlight: https://www.newspapers.com/image/558596869/?terms=%22jesus%20chuy%20vasquez%22&match=1 14. The Deming Headlight: https://www.newspapers.com/image/558388962/?terms=jesus%20chuy%20vasquez&match=1 15. The Deming Headlight: https://www.newspapers.com/image/558288808/?terms=jesus%20chuy%20vasquez&match=1 16. The Deming Headlight: https://www.newspapers.com/image/558328954/?terms=jesus%20chuy%20vasquez&match=1 17. The Deming Headlight: https://www.newspapers.com/image/558570458/?terms=jesus%20chuy%20vasquez&match=1  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A little over a month ago, the world watched in horror as fast-moving flames leveled the idyllic oceanside town of Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui. The fire had started just that day but winds from a distant hurricane swept the flames into a firestorm that killed more than 100 people, making it the deadliest American wildfire in more than a century. Similar things happened around Montana this summer, thankfully with no deaths reported. But there were other similarities between them: A new fire grows rapidly, fanned by hot and dry winds, to quickly threaten a town. And that happened as Montana has seen a remarkably quiet season for wildfires by some measures. On this episode Joshua Murdock, outdoors and natural resources reporter at the Missoulian talks about the River Road East Fire outside of Paradise, Montana.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On September 1, the U.S. Interior Department announced that the last energy lease in the Badger-Two Medicine area had been relinquished. This piece of ground surrounded by the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness, was considered sacred to the Blackfeet. It was also considered so valuable by the Louisiana-based Solenex LLC energy company, they held onto the lease through seven presidential administrations, two federal court fights and 40 years of negotiations. When we last talked about the Badger Two-Medicine a year ago, it was on its way to a second round before the Washington, D.C. Court of Appeals.  On this episode, Rob Chaney, managing editor of the Missoulian, fills us in on what has changed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you were a grizzly on the move, where would you go and how would you get there? As the federally protected bears roam farther each year beyond their recovery zones, more Montana communities are seeing grizzlies for the first time in decades. Eventually, wildlife managers hope that two separate populations centered around Glacier and Yellowstone national parks could connect. And the species' recovery plans target the bears expanding to other places, too. Now, a new study from the University of Montana shows how the animals might do that. With me today is Joshua Murdock, outdoors and natural resources reporter at the Missoulian.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The summer of 2003 pushed Glacier National Park's fire response to new frontiers. There had been many fires before, including some catastrophic events. But rarely did so many parts of the park get so threatened by so many different kinds of challenges. And rarely did firefighters attempt some tactics that proved essential then, but might not be possible now. Twenty years later, we look back at the fires of 2003 and what has changed. On this episode, Rob Chaney, managing editor of the Missoulian, re-visits the fire season and talks about what has changed since.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From trains and horses to snowmobiles and jet-skis, national parks have had to deal with disruptive technology in wild places. The latest controversy circles around the popularity of e-bikes. These battery-assisted bicycles make it possible for new crowds of tourists to attempt adventures they might have been too old, young, infirm or inexperienced to try before. That puts new pressures on the National Park Service, which has to evaluate e-bike impacts on wildlife and wild places, as well as what kind of resources and amenities the e-bikers need. With me today is Rob Chaney, managing editor of the Missoulian newspaper, who's traversed Glacier National Park via e-bike and pedal powered bicycles before. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ryan Tripp is the founder of the Lean Life Project; a 1 on 1 training program to help people reach their fitness goals. Ryan is a lifelong Missoulian who has tried just about everything until he found his niche in the online fitness coaching space. What Ryan has done for his clients goes beyond just their physical fitness that we're excited to share his knowledge and the lessons he has learned on his journey. You can find out more about Ryan and the Lean Life Project here https://www.theleanlifeproject.com

The Last Best Place has been discovered. Across the state, tourists and second-homeowners pull up alongside trucks with stickers of Montana's outline and the words: “WE'RE FULL.” They stroll through shops with coffee mugs, t-shirts and hats displaying similar sentiments. But the same tourists and transplants inject money into local economies, facilitating jobs and businesses. The tension, however, comes from the flip-side of growing visitation to the Treasure State: strain on emergency response, crowded recreation facilities, traffic and other overburdened infrastructure. And often, locals are left with the bill after visitors go home.  That double-edge sword of being a desirable outdoor recreation destination is known as the “amenity trap,” according to a new report from Bozeman-based Headwaters Economics. The report looks at the benefits and burdens faced by towns whose riches in outdoor recreation have brought a wealth of visitors too. With me today is Joshua Murdock, outdoors and natural resources reporter for the Missoulian and a former reporter at the Idaho Mountain Express in Ketchum-Sun Valley, Idaho, who recently wrote about the report.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Somewhere in Montana, it will happen. Many places, actually — maybe in your town. And it'll happen this summer. But nobody knows exactly when, where or how bad.  Wildfire is an inherent part of life in the American West. In recent years, a warming climate has increasingly led to larger and more destructive wildfires becoming more common. But that's an average trend over time.  So, what about this fire season? Will blazing infernos turn Montana into ash? Or will the state escape widespread devastation?  With me today is Joshua Murdock, the Missoulian's outdoor recreation and natural resources reporter. Joshua has reported on wildfires around Montana and the West for the Missoulian and other papers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The image went around the country in days: A man clinging to a broken chairlift 20 feet above the ground, one ski off, moments before he had no choice but to jump. What the image didn't show was that moments before, the man's 4-year-old son had fallen off the chair when it broke.  It happened at Montana Snowbowl ski area just north of Missoula, back in March. The incident sparked an outcry from the community and prompted the U.S. Forest Service to investigate the safety and operations of Snowbowl. And it's spurred questions about why Montana deregulated chairlift safety in the late ‘90s.  With me today is Joshua Murdock. He's a reporter at the Missoulian who covers outdoor recreation, natural resources and land management agencies like the Forest Service. He's been following the situation at Snowbowl and investigated chairlift safety there and more broadly in Montana. He's also an avid skier, including at Snowbowl and other small ski areas around the West. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Freight train derailments in the U.S. have come under increasing scrutiny since a train carrying hazardous materials derailed and burned in East Palestine, Ohio, in early February.  Montana is no stranger to freight train derailments. In 1996, a train derailed near Alberton and released chlorine. Some residents still live with health problems from chemical exposure. And, just this past Sunday, April 2, a freight train derailed near Paradise, spilling thousands of beers into the Clark Fork River.  With me today is Joshua Murdock, a reporter at the Missoulian. He reports on outdoor recreation, natural resources and the environment. He was at the site of Sunday's derailment and is reporting on the incident.  He's also spent hours interviewing Missoula author Ron Scholl, a leading expert on chemical spills from train derailments who says that Alberton holds lessons for East Palestine.  Josh has also reported on how hazardous materials transported by train are largely kept secret from the public, including from the communities they pass through. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a hallmark trait of bears, a characteristic known even by small children: bruins hibernate through winter. Except, this year around Missoula, many of them aren't. From neighborhood “trash bears” to near-city grizzlies feeding on frozen roadkill all season — plus, rural grizzly tracks spotted amid a frigid and snowy February — bears in west-central Montana are active in greater number and frequency than normal for this time of year. On this episode is Joshua Murdock, the Missoulian's outdoors and natural resources reporter. He's been reporting on all sorts of unusual bear activity in recent months, including this. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the suit-and-tie version of a grizzly bear hunting season, with the federal government announcing it will consider petitions from Montana and Wyoming to remove the grizzly from Endangered Species Act protection and state legislators scrambling to make new laws and policies to exert local control of the big bears.  But a lot of fine print stands between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service review and a future grizzly trophy hunt. The apex predator has made big gains since the ESA gave it threatened status in 1975. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the act itself. Ranchers and hunting outfitters report increasing encounters with big bears in the woods, and they fear for their livestock and lives. So do hikers and tourists, who thrill to the chance of seeing a grizzly in the wild. Wildlife managers must envision how to handle an animal that doesn't pay attention to boundaries, jurisdictions or laws.  On this episode is Rob Chaney, managing editor of the Missoulian newspaper, and Tom Kuglin with the Montana State News Bureau.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For almost three-quarters of a century, the start of ski and snowboard season was marked by the Warren Miller Film Tour that fall. The narrated films, shown around the country and world, have documented the evolution of skiing and the rise of snowboarding across multiple generations. But for the first time, a new Warren Miller Film won't actually be filmed this year. On this episode, Missoulian newspaper reporter Joshua Murdock, who writes about outdoor recreation and is himself an avid backcountry and resort skier shares the down low on this news.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Across the West, federal and state land management agencies are strategically logging, thinning and burning forests with the goal of making them more resilient to uncontrolled wildfire, as well as diseases. But conservationists and wildlife advocates worry the work will harm grizzly bears and other federally-protected species that call those habitats home. In Western Montana, three projects from different agencies have drawn criticism and lawsuits from stakeholders that say the work will damage grizzly bear habitat.  With me today is Joshua Murdock, the outdoors and natural resources reporter at the Missoulian, to talk about the projects and people's concerns.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our first storyteller is Jim Harte.  Jim has always loved film, ever since he was a boy. When the distributors forget to send the second reel of “Wild in the Streets”. Jim gets creative in the way that he avoids giving refunds. Jim calls his story “More Than a Movie”

What does it take to become leader of the pack? For wolves in Yellowstone National Park, research shows it might be exposure to a cat-centric parasite. A recent study by University of Montana and Yellowstone biologists found a remarkable thing about toxoplasma gondii– a single-celled parasite that can survive in almost any warm-blooded animal but only reproduces in felines. It turns out that wolves infected with toxo, as the biologists nickname it, appears to turn wolves into risk-takers. That means they're more likely to disperse to other packs, and WAY more likely to become leaders of new packs than uninfected wolves.  The study adds to a growing body of evidence indicating that some parasites may have a real ability to change minds – including human minds.  On this episode, Rob Chaney, editor of the Missoulian newspaper discusses theseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each fall as winter nears and cold temperatures descend on Hyalite Canyon near Bozeman, water that weeps from the cliff bands lining the canyon walls freezes into bulging layers of ice with translucent hues of white, yellow and blue. And each year, that frozen water allows human to defy the gravity that pulled the water out of the rock in the first place.  If, of course, they're willing to climb it. Many are. And fear is sometimes the best motivator to keep climbing, but there are a lot of things about ice climbing that go well beyond the simple act of climbing up a vertical frozen waterfall.  On this episode is Joshua Murdock, the outdoors and natural resources reporter at the Missoulian, and a rock and ice climber himself. He spent four days at the Bozeman Ice Festival, climbing a bit but mostly reporting and photographing different aspects of the event. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Glacier National Park's namesake ice fields attract millions of visitors a year. Many wonder if they're making a funeral visit. Predictions that all the glaciers in the park will melt by 2030 or sooner have been floating around for a couple decades. That deadline now looms less than a decade away.  What would happen if Glacier Park's glaciers disappeared? And what are some people thinking about as ways to save polar and glacial ice through the emerging field of geoengineering?  On this episode, Rob Chaney, editor of the Missoulian newspaper, talks about work being done to keep glaciers around the world from shrinking.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Badger-Two Medicine region nestles between the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Glacier National Park and the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. It also lies in legal limbo after the latest court decision re-opened a fight over energy drilling rights that's been going on for three decades. On September 9, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ordered the Department of Interior to re-instate a federal lease and drilling permit to Solenex LLC. That lease covers about 10 square miles of the Badger Two Medicine, and the permit potentially opens it to road-building for drilling rigs to explore for oil. Last week, the coalition of environmental groups and Blackfeet cultural organizations returned to court seeking to overturn Leon's latest order. It's a back-and-forth routine that's gone on since the 1980s. And while many thought the matter settled at the end of the Obama – and then Trump – administrations, it now appears to live on through the Biden administration. On this episode, Missoulian reporter Josh Murdock and Managing Editor Rob Chaney recount the history of the Badger-Two Medicine legal fight and why this place is important.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bears have been in the news a lot lately, because they've been getting into a lot of things lately. As drought continues its grip on western Montana, berry crop failures are sending desperately hungry black bears into human environs with unusual frequency and boldness.  This means that conflict-prevention measures are more important than ever, especially in places that may not be accustomed to the hungry bruins.  And grizzlies as always are making front page news as fall sets in when we see the most human-bear conflicts annually. On today's episode, Joshua Murdock, the outdoors and natural resources reporter at the Missoulian, talks about why this summer and fall have been especially tough for bears. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In early September news broke of a plan to re-develop Holland Lake Lodge. The proposal seeks to remove 10 aging structures and add 32 new buildings, including a new 28-room lodge, a new restaurant and 26 new cabins near the lake. Originally built in 1924 and last updated in 1947, Holland Lake Lodge Inc. owns the buildings but leases about 15 acres of land from the U.S. Forest Service to operate under a special permit. The proposal has drawn the ire of many and lead to countless letters to the editor and online campaigns against it. On this episode Dave Erickson of the Missoulian newspaper helps make sense of what the future may hold for the north side of Holland Lake.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Luke out on assignment, Mike and Brint have the new Missoulian beat reporter, Lucas Semb, in on the pod.  Lucas is just a few weeks on the job, recently married, and just moved over to Missoula from Pensacola.  Our chat starts with Lucas about his background, his experiences so far here, and some general [&hellip The post Griz Fan Podcast – Bye week, Idaho, and guest Lucas Semb appeared first on Montana Mint - The greatest website north of Wyoming..

With Luke out on assignment, Mike and Brint have the new Missoulian beat reporter, Lucas Semb, in on the pod.  Lucas is just a few weeks on the job, recently married, and just moved over to Missoula from Pensacola.  Our chat starts with Lucas about his background, his experiences so far here, and some general [&hellip The post Griz Fan Podcast – Bye week, Idaho, and guest Lucas Semb appeared first on Montana Mint - The greatest website north of Wyoming..

Jermain Charlo was a 23-year-old Indigenous mother of two boys who disappeared from Missoula, Montana in June 2018. There is little information known to the public about the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. What we do know is that the last person to see Jermain on the night she disappeared was her ex-boyfriend and the father of her two sons. He had a history of abusing Jermain and was previously convicted for domestic violence against her. Jermain was an enrolled member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of Flathead Nation. Her disappearance has become well-known within the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement. The Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women | An organization dedicated to spreading awareness about violence against Indigenous women and advocating for solutions to solve the systemic and inter-generational issues that perpetuate cycles of violence against Indigenous women. Listen to the Stolen: The Search for Jermain podcast. There are pieces of information in this episode that derived from Connie Walker's reporting on Jermain Charlo's case. _________________________ Patreon Request a Case YouTube Channel Goodpods: Leave a review! Podchaser: Leave a review! Music: "Poisoned Rose" by Aakash Gandhi _________________________ Sources: • "The Unsolved Casefile: Where is Jermain Charlo?" Court TV. 2021 September 1. • "How Jermain Charlo's Disappearance in Montana Has Become a Flashpoint for Epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women." Oxygen. Dolak, Kevin. 2021 April 27. • "The search continues for Jermain Charlo, two years after her disappearance." KRTV. Miller, Katie. 2020 June 17. • "Family continues fight for justice in Jermain Charlo case." NBC Montana. Brewster, Brady. 2021 March 19. • "Jermain Charlo still missing after a year." NBC Montana. Garcia, Nicholas. 2019 June 16. • "Judge vacates trial for Michael Defrance." KPAX. 2021 September 17. • "Ex-boyfriend of Jermain Charlo appears in court." Great Falls Tribune. Nerbovig, Ashley. 2021 August 5. • "Trial date vacated in Michael Defrance case, Jermain Charlo's loved ones keep searching." The Missoulian. Buchli, Zoe. 2022 August 19. • "Jermain Charlo's ex-boyfriend arrested on firearms charge." The Missoulian. Buchli, Zoe. 2021 August 2.

Jordan Linn Graham, 22, admitted she got cold feet before committing murder eight days after her marriage last summer. Her husband, Cody Johnson, 25, fell to his death off a cliff July 7 in Glacier National Park.By Sasha Goldstein - New York Daily NewsThursday, March 27, 2014A nefarious 22-year-old newlywed who shoved her husband of eight days off a majestic Montana cliff was sentenced to 30 years in prison Thursday for her grisly crime.Jordan Linn Graham faced up to life in prison for second-degree murder after she admitted to pushing Cody Johnson, 25, off the side of a popular hiking trail July 7 in Glacier National Park.He fell 200 feet to his death. Johnson's body was found July 11 after Graham - who claimed she didn't know where he'd gone - said the area was on her husband's bucket list.U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy insisted the Kalispell woman - who repeatedly lied and changed her story about what had happened - never apologized for the murder and showed zero remorse, the Missoulian reported.“She was a normal person, at least on the surface,” the federal judge said in handing down the sentence, which includes no possibility of parole. “But how does a normal person kill her husband of eight days?”Days into her criminal trial in December, Graham and prosecutors reached a deal where the young woman would plead guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for a three decade sentence.But on Tuesday, Graham got cold feet and requested a new trial, claiming the agreement was “illusory” and a “hollow formality” after she read a memo that prosecutors called the killing premeditated and asked for a sentence of 50 years to life in prison.Molloy denied her request for a new trial and stuck to the terms of the plea, giving her the agreed-upon 30 years behind bars.An emotional Graham told the court she has “no answers” for “why I didn't make different decisions.”“It was a moment of complete shock and panic,” the tearful 22-year-old said, according to the Missoulian. “I have no other explanation.”Graham originally told investigators her new husband left unexpectedly with friends from out of state, and she even sent an email from a mythical “Tony” saying Johnson was never coming back.But investigators quickly saw through her tale and learned she'd actually had cold feet shortly after tying the knot.Graham eventually relented, telling the authorities she and Johnson had had a fight while walking The Loop trail and that she'd shoved him, harder than she had planned, to his death.Here's how and where you can find Homicide Worldwide Podcast.To help support the show, find us on Patreon: patreon.com HWW is now on Discord: https://discord.gg/F9cMyf7JFJTo our amazing listeners. If you are listening to us on apple podcasts? (and even if your'e not) Please! take few minutes and leave a 5 ⭐️ review. It'll really help out the show. If you have a show suggestion? please email us at: homicideworldwidepodcast@gmail.comAnd you can always find us on twitter: https://twitter.com/HWWP10Thank you for your continued support of Homicide Worldwide PodcastSupport the show

Greg looks at the Big Sky from a stylistic and betting standpoint, examines the rosters of every team in the conference with Lance Hartzler of the Missoulian and Mid Major Madness, & Greg gives his projected order of finish for the Big Sky for the 2022-23 season! Podcast Highlights 2:25-Betting trends & styles of the Big Sky 14:25-Examination of every Big Sky roster with Lance Hartzler 46:05-Greg's projected order of finish for the Big Sky See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1988, an 18-year-old woman hit the road in Colorado to visit her family in Montana. But when she never arrived, police began their search for her in Wyoming and gathered some incredibly bizarre witness sightings. Sightings that only added more questions when her body was found soon after. This is the story of Lisa Kimmell, also known, as the Lil Miss Murder.  BONUS EPISODES patreon.com/goingwestpodcast CASE SOURCES 1. Unsolved Mysteries Episode: https://unsolved.com/gallery/lisa-kimmel/ 2. Ranker: https://www.ranker.com/list/lisa-marie-kimmell-facts/rachel-souerbry 3. Casper Star Tribune: https://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/crime-and-courts/victims-family-shares-their-anger-as-dale-wayne-eaton-sentenced-to-life/article_96a099f9-e547-5672-bd9a-6f1bd1b4b471.html?mode=comments 4. K2: https://k2radio.com/no-death-penalty-in-brutal-casper-lil-miss-murder-rape/#google_vignette 5. Death Penalty Info Center: https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/news/bungled-resentencing-of-wyomings-only-active-death-penalty-case-revictimizes-victims-family 6. Crime Vault: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5DV-DKhqhA 7. The Missoulian: https://www.newspapers.com/image/352283324/?terms=ricky%20kimmell&match=1 8. Crime Buzz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ5uxP9uL9E 9. Eaton vs. the State of WY: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/wy-supreme-court/1438693.html 10. Background on Dale: http://maamodt.asp.radford.edu/Psyc%20405/serial%20killers/Eaton,%20Dale%20Wayne.pdf 11. Casetext: https://casetext.com/case/eaton-v-wilson 12. Casper Star Tribune: https://www.newspapers.com/image/349755856/?terms=lisa%20marie%20kimmel&match=1 13. Billings Gazette: https://www.newspapers.com/image/411965577 14. Casper Star Tribune: https://www.newspapers.com/image/467450900 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices