Montana News & Current Events | Public News Service

One-fifth of all Montana voters in the 2020 election were between ages 18 and 29, according to a New York Times exit poll. (auremar/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Youth Groups File to Stop New MT Election Laws Before 2022 Primary

Groups representing young people in Montana hope to stop a slate of election laws from going into effect before the state's primary in June. The …

Fifteen of the 20 wolves killed from Yellowstone National Park were shot after roaming into Montana. (alex/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Wolf Hunting Near Yellowstone Spark Distress for Wildlife-Related Businesses

The hunting of gray wolves from Yellowstone National Park has set off alarm bells for wildlife-related businesses in the region. Thirty businesses …

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that energy costs across the nation rose from 2020 to 2021, resulting in higher utility fees for many families. (Adobe Stock)

Support Available for MT Residents Facing Housing Insecurity

As Montana heads deeper into winter, state officials want folks to know financial support is available for those facing housing insecurity during the …

Some Native Americans living on Montana reservations travel more than 100 miles to polling locations. (Western Native Voice)

After Historic Struggle, Barriers Remain for Native American Voters

The road to voting rights for Native Americans has been long, but advocates for indigenous people hope to build on the momentum they've seen in …

The Montana Constitution was adopted in 1972 and is the second in the state's history. (pabrady63/Adobe Stock)

MT Constitution's 50th Anniversary: Opportunity to Reflect on Its Power

The Montana Constitution was ratified 50 years ago this year. A series of talks in Helena will observe the occasion by discussing the document…

Promoters of an event in Helena on the anniversary of the Capitol storming have ties to groups including the Oath Keepers. (Justin Brockie/Adobe Stock)

MT Group Warns of Far-Right Rally on Jan. 6 Anniversary

While vigils are planned in Montana to mark the January 6th Capitol riot aimed at overthrowing the results of the 2020 election, far-right extremists …

More than three dozen states require at least one civics course before students graduate. (goodluz/Adobe Stock)

Improving Civics Education Could Engage Future Voters

2022 is a big election year, but becoming a more informed voter starts before people are eligible to cast a ballot, with civics education. Although …

Donations to charitable nonprofits such as the Billings Public Library are eligible for a non-itemized deduction, now through Friday. (Billings Public Library Foundation)

Tax Deduction for Charitable Donations Expires Friday

There is still time to give to charity and claim a deduction on your taxes, whether you itemize or not, but the temporary pandemic-era deduction …

Among extremely low income households in Montana, about nine in 10 spend more than 30% of their income on housing. (BillionPhotos.com/Adobe Stock)

Build Back Better Act Could Help Address MT Housing Crisis, Advocates Say

Like many states across the country, Montana is facing a housing crisis. One organization says policies in the Build Back Better Act, still in …

Signers of a letter to NorthWestern Energy's chief executive want the company to move away from fossil fuels. (Winona Batemen)

Frustration Boils Over as MT Utility Doubles Down on Fossil Fuels

The clean-energy future needs to start now, according to some Montanans fighting to change the direction of the state's largest utility. Nearly 1,000…

Scammers use phony websites that look legitimate to steal people's information. (Atstock Productions/Adobe Stock)

Tips to Avoid Holiday Scams for Last-Minute Shoppers

Attention last-minute shoppers: stay vigilant as you complete your gift-buying. Scammers are lurking. Rebecca Barr - public relations and …

There are seven reservations in Montana spread out across the state. (Census.gov/Wikimedia Commons)

Push for Indigenous Representation as MT Redistricting Enters Next Phase

HELENA, Mont. -- Redistricting in Montana has moved on to a new phase, with the state's commission now tasked with drawing lines at the state level…

The three laws that advocates say restrict reproductive rights won't go into effect before the Montana Supreme Court makes a ruling, due to an injunction filed by District Judge Michael Moses. (Gayatri Malhotra/Unsplash)

Advocates: MT Abortion-Restriction Laws Hurt Rural Residents Most

By Claire Carlson for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Emily Scott for Big Sky Connection reporting for The Daily Yonder-Public News Service Col…

More than one in four people in a recent survey said when payments resume in February, they'll be paying at least one-third of their income toward student loans. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

Financial Tips as Student-Loan Payments Set to Resume Soon

GREAT FALLS, Mont. - Student-loan borrowers have had a reprieve from making payments during the pandemic, but that's set to end in 2022. Starting in …

Young people who are transitioning out of foster care could be spending the holidays without a support system. (Brian/Adobe Stock)

Aging Out of Foster Care System Presents Challenges for MT Youth

MISSOULA, Mont. - Young people who age out of the foster care program face unique challenges. Those challenges can feel especially acute and …

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed endangered-species protections for gray wolves in 2020. (Dennis Donohue/Adobe Stock)

Conservation Groups: Tribal Nations Should be Partners in Wolf Management

HELENA, Mont. -- To honor the Biden administration's steps toward greater ties with tribal nations, conservation groups are calling on it to list the …

Steven Ladefoged, owner of Montago Coffee, says conservation is important to protect Montana's $2.4 billion recreation economy. (Steven Ladefoged)

MT Businesses: Measures in Congress Crucial for Climate Action

HELENA, Mont. - Nearly three dozen Montana businesses are thanking U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., for his work on the infrastructure bill signed by …

The child tax credit provides families $300 a month for children younger than age six and $250 for children ages 6 to 17. (vetre/Adobe Stock)

Build Back Better to Provide Boost to MT Families, Supporters Say

HELENA, Mont. -- Supporters of the Build Back Better Act are touting the benefits it will bring to families in Montana and across the country…

Katharine Heyhoe is a climate scientist from Canada who now lives in Texas. (Ashley Rodgers)

Grassroots Family Ag Group Marks 50 Years in MT

BILLINGS, Mont. - A grassroots organization that stands up for family agriculture in Montana is celebrating 50 years this week - and looking toward …

A project to mitigate flood damage in Three Forks, Mont., is expected to cost $5 million. (CheriAlguire/Adobe Stock)

Infrastructure Bill's Passage Could Bring Flood Relief for MT City

THREE FORKS, Mont. -- The passage of the infrastructure bill in Congress could provide relief for a Montana community threatened by floods. Three …

The Freedom to Vote Act would make a number of changes to the law including creating a public holiday for election day. (yavdat/Adobe Stock)

Congress' Attempt to Open Up Voting Access Stalls

HELENA, Mont. -- States such as Montana have passed legislation some advocates believe could make it harder to vote. Meanwhile, measures at the …

Montana's redistricting commission has chosen a congressional map, with the possibility of small tweaks before it is finalized. (Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission)

Opposition from Tribes as MT Chooses Congressional Voting Map

HELENA, Mont. - Tribal nations and organizations say they're frustrated with the congressional map Montana's redistricting commission has chosen…

Conversation-minded candidates in six Montana cities won elections earlier this week. (caseyscalf/Adobe Stock)

Conservation Candidates Win in MT Elections

HELENA, Mont. -- Results are in, and conservation is one of the big winners from this week's elections in Montana. In municipal races across the …

The Rural Incubator Project for Lawyers is a 24-month fellowship program that places attorneys in rural areas to help low-income clients. (snowing12/Adobe Stock)

Rural MT Legal Aid Program Ranks Among Most Innovative Nationwide

HELENA, MT -- A legal services program in Montana has been selected as one of the most innovative justice programs in the country. The Rural Justice …

There are 20 crisis pregnancy centers in Montana, compared with six abortion-care clinics. (Lorie Shaull/Flickr)

Centers "Deceive" on Reproductive Health, Study Finds

HELENA, Mont. -- A new report investigates facilities that dissuade women from getting abortions. Known as crisis-pregnancy centers, the facilities …

The two Democratic commissioners on the Montana Districting and Apportionment Committee drew the group's 11th proposed map. (Legislative Services Division)

Native Americans Look On as MT Panel Eyes 2 Redistricting Maps

HELENA, Mont. -- Montana's redistricting commission is nearing a decision on how to draw its two congressional districts. Native American …

Calls for audits have swept across states after false claims the 2020 election was stolen from former President Donald Trump. (Lost_in_the_Midwest/Adobe Stock)

Zeal for MT Election Probe Stirs Concerns of Undermining Voter Confidence

HELENA, Mont. - Republican lawmakers in Montana want to investigate the 2020 election. Some are concerned this could weaken trust in voting. In a …

Ballot collection for absentee voters can be an important service in Montana because weather can be hard to navigate at election time. (Darylann Elmi/Adobe Stock)

Ballot Collection Law Could Affect Older Montanans' Ability to Vote

HELENA, Mont. -- A new law in Montana, which its backers said was designed to cut down on fraud, could instead make it more difficult for some …

Wolves had made a major comeback in the West, but wildlife managers say policies in Montana threaten to roll back that progress. (jimcumming88/Adobe Stock)

Wildlife Professionals Decry Direction of MT Management

HELENA, Mont. -- Wildlife managers and biologists in Montana are airing their frustration over how the state is managing its natural resources…

Democratic commissioners have proposed five maps for Montana's two congressional seats, and Republicans have proposed four. (olinchuk/Adobe Stock)

MT's Independent Redistricting Panel Dampens Partisan Conflict

HELENA, Mont. -- Montana's redistricting commission has released proposed maps for Montana's two new congressional seats, and the commission's …

A collaborative has proposed managing 200,000 acres of public lands along the continental divide near Helena, MT. (Lincoln Prosperity Group)

Diverse Groups Unite for Public Lands Proposal in MT

LINCOLN, Mont. - Residents in western Montana have proposed a unique approach to managing the landscape. The Lincoln Prosperity Group includes …

The grasslands of the West are critical habitat for migrating pronghorn. (hdsidesign/Adobe Stock)

Impacts from Imperiled Pronghorn Migration Routes Reach Beyond Species

HELENA, Mont. - Millions of pronghorn used to roam the West freely. But impediments like road and fences, as well as a changing climate, threaten the …

Long gaps in public access sites make it difficult for people to access the lower Yellowstone River for short trips. (Lower Yellowstone River Coalition)

Funds Aim to Increase Recreation on Lower Yellowstone River, Eastern MT

MILES CITY, Mont. -- An investment in public access along the lower Yellowstone River is poised to open up recreation for eastern Montana. Montana …

Election day this year is Nov. 2. (bizoo_n/Adobe Stock)

Montanans Encouraged to Get Engaged on Voter Registration Day

HELENA, Mont. - Tuesday is National Voter Registration Day and organizations across the country are encouraging people to make sure they're signed up …

Rachel Winn, right, says her new van should be handicap accessible for her son by November. (Rural Dynamics)

Program Helps Montanans with Disabilities Afford Assistive Tech

HELENA, Mont. - It can be hard for people with disabilities to afford the assistive technology they need to perform daily activities. A program in …

Solar jobs could be an avenue for Montana workers in coal-dependent sectors. (anatoliy_gleb/Adobe Stock)

Upcoming Summit Explores Clean Future for MT Energy

HELENA, Mont. - An event coming up soon looks at the prospects for clean energy in Montana. The Energy Future Summit will be held virtually Oct. 1…

The oil and gas industry has more than 800 approved permits to drill in Montana, according to Wild Montana. (kat7213/Adobe Stock)

Calls for Reform as Oil, Gas Leasing on Public Lands Resumes

HELENA, Mont. -- Conservation groups in Montana are calling on the federal government to overhaul oil and gas leasing on public lands. President Joe …

Sen. Jon Tester helped craft an infrastructure package that won over 69 senators in August. (Carlos M. Vazquez II/Department of Defense)

Montanans Visit Tester's Offices to Urge Support for Climate Policies

HELENA, Mont. -- Montanans are delivering a message to the offices of Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., across the state today: Support bold investments in …

Since Native Americans protested the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2016, multiple states have passed laws restricting protests. (Hrag Vartanian/Adobe Stock)

Anti-Protest Laws Could Jeopardize Native American Religious Rights

HELENA, Mont. - State legislatures across the country have passed laws criminalizing an essential part of civic participation in a democracy - …

Preparing for a doctor's visit is an important part of ensuring children feel comfortable there when they arrive. (Jaren Wicklund/Adobe Stock)

Guide Helps Kids of All Abilities Make Choices in Doctor's Office

MISSOULA, Mont. -- A doctor's office can be an intimidating place for children. A new guide from Montana can help kids of any ability advocate for …

A recent poll finds 68% of Montanans have struggled to pay a medical bill, even while they had health insurance. (Valeri Luzina/Adobe Stock)

Poll: Montanans Eager to See Health-Care Costs Go Down

HELENA, Mont. - As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, Montanans are thinking about the quality of their health care, according to new research. A poll …

The Senate's infrastructure bill was passed 69-30, but split Montana's senators. (Christopher Boswell/Adobe Stock)

MT Conservationists Hail Congress' Moves on Climate, Infrastructure

MISSOULA, Mont. -- Montana conservationists are praising a bipartisan infrastructure bill passed in the Senate as key for addressing the changing …

Native Americans living on reservations sometimes have to drive hours to get to a polling location. (Nathaniel Gonzales/Adobe Stock)

Bill in Congress Could Reshape Native American Voting Access

HELENA Mont. - A measure introduced in Congress could lower barriers to voting for Native Americans across the country. The Native American Voting …

Protecting chickens from bears is one of the top reasons people have used the Electric Fence Incentive Program. (Russ Talmo)

Electric Fencing Incentive Program Provides Bear-Prevention Tool

MISSOULA, Mont. -- Got a grizzly problem? A Defenders of Wildlife program is helping folks deter bears from their property, by reimbursing …

Montana allows voters to track their ballots online. (The Toidi/Adobe Stock)

High Marks for MT Vote-By-Mail, Early Voting – Obstacles Remain

HELENA, Mont. - Montana earns points in a new report for providing access to early voting and vote-by-mail, but the achievements come with a major …

Pronghorn populations migrate more than 200 miles between Montana and Canada. (Sue Smith/Adobe Stock)

Fence Mapping Project Helps Wildlife Move Across West

MISSOULA, Mont. - Wildlife is being fenced in across the West, and researchers are now mapping these lines to understand how they affect animals…

Families with children under age 6 could get up to $3,600 through the federal Child Tax Credit this year. (tomertu/Adobe Stock)

Child Tax Credit Lifts MT Families Out of Poverty, Backers Say

MISSOULA, Mont. - More than 200,000 Montana families are seeing extra money in their bank accounts because of the extended federal Child Tax Credit…

Montana and 14 other states use an independent commission to draw legislative districts. (Natalia Bratslavsky/Adobe Stock)

MT Prepares to Draw Regained House Seat

HELENA, Mont. -- With detailed census data being released this month, the work to draw Montana's new congressional district will begin in earnest …

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