Montana News & Current Events | Public News Service

Miles Community College is a small college in eastern Montana. (David Schott/Wikimedia Commons)

Monday, March 27, 2023

Report: Students Happy with College's 'Digital Transformation'

Digital learning has become the new normal for colleges since the pandemic, and a report finds community college students are largely satisfied with …

Blackfeet Community College is in Browning, Mont. in Glacier County near the Canadian border. (David Adamec/Wikimedia Commons)

Grant Boosts Student Parents at MT Tribal College

A grant is helping student parents at a college in northwestern Montana. The Aspen Institute has announced Blackfeet Community College and seven …

An increase in hunting has pushed some elk off public lands and onto private lands. (prochym/Adobe Stock)

MT Bills Could Improve Elk Management, Increase Hunting Opportunities

A package of bills in Helena is aimed at improving elk management in Montana. The six bills are bipartisan efforts from lawmakers, hunters and …

The Prairie Potholes region is considered some of the most important waterfowl habitat in North America. (DeVane/Adobe Stock)

Federal Funds to Conserve, Restore America's 'Duck Factory'

The Interior Department is investing funds in protecting what some call America's 'duck factory.' The Prairie Potholes are marshes and wetlands that…

Ranchers say imported beef hurts the market in the United States from local producers. (Laura/Adobe Stock)

USDA Rule Would Reform 'Made in USA' Meat Labeling

Ranching and agriculture groups say the federal government has taken a positive step in ensuring truth in labeling on meat from the United States…

The Gallatin River in southwest Montana is a tributary of the Missouri River. (melissadoar/Adobe Stock)

Montanans in DC Urging Protections for Iconic MT Rivers

Montanans are in Washington, D.C., to call for greater protections of some of the state's most iconic rivers. Anglers, business owners and river …

The pygmy rabbit occupies an estimated 10% of its historic range. (serikbaib/Adobe Stock)

Groups Call for Endangered Species Protections for Pygmy Rabbit

Advocates have filed a petition with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to save the smallest rabbit species in North America, the pygmy rabbit…

A diversity of lands exist in Montana, from forests to sagebrush. (Mark/Adobe Stock)

Preserving Wildlife, Climate Critical Topics for 2023 Farm Bill

As hearings on the 2023 Farm Bill begin, a push is on to ensure biodiversity is part of the conversation. A Senate hearing on the bill's conservation …

Legislation prohibiting ranked-choice voting will have its first hearing in Helena in the House. (Christopher Boswell/Adobe Stock)

Bill Would Ban Ranked-Choice Voting in MT Elections

Montana lawmakers are considering banning a way of running elections known as ranked choice voting. Under this election system, people rank their …

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. (dragonstock/Adobe Stock)

Study: Heart-Related Deaths Spiked in Pandemic's First Year

A new study finds cardiovascular-related deaths increased during the first year of the pandemic. American Heart Association data finds there were …

Montana lawmakers have attempted in past sessions to end medical aid in dying but failed. (vasanth/Adobe Stock)

Poll: Overwhelming Support for Medical Aid in Dying in MT

A poll shows in large numbers, Montanans support medical aid in dying. Under Senate Bill 210 in Helena, physicians could be charged with homicide if …

A $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation will help improve pedestrian and road safety in Kalispell, Mont. (digidreamgrafix/Adobe Stock)

Biden Admin Focuses on Rural U.S. with Infrastructure Projects

By Kristi Eaton for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Big Sky Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collaboration…

Properly designed crossings reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions by up to 90%, according to experts. (MierCat Photography/Adobe Stock)

Experts: Plan for Effect of Climate Change on Wildlife Crossings

Wildlife crossings could be a path to a future where the climate has significantly changed the planet. Wildlife and climate experts are urging …

In 2022, the state approved Habitat Montana funds to open up access to the Big Snowy Mountains in central Montana. (Forest Service Northern Region)

Up In Smoke? MT Bill Would Strip Conservation Program of Cannabis $$$

Montana lawmakers are reconsidering how cannabis revenue is distributed for a conservation program in the state. A bill in Helena could deprive the …

Montana Legal Services Association provides advice in civil cases across the state's 56 counties. (Bacho Foto/Adobe Stock)

Retired MT Attorneys Provide Pro Bono Legal Advice

For their next act in life, retired attorneys in Montana are providing free legal advice on civil matters over the phone. The Second Act Justice …

Many streams in Montana are seasonal, which can make them difficult to protect. (Robert Paulus/Adobe Stock)

Republican Challenge Could Strip MT Waterways of Protections

Republicans in Congress are calling for a repeal of Clean Water Act protections for waterways across the country, which could have a big impact on …

The Biochar Research Network Act would have set up as many as 20 biochar research facilities across the country. (K.salo.85/Wikimedia Commons)

Biochar's Rise on Farms Could Help Capture More Carbon

By Lisa Held for Civil Eats. Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Big Sky Connection, reporting for Civil Eats/Solutions Journalism/Public News …

Gov. Greg Gianforte gave his second State of the State address Wednesday. (Montana Public Affairs Network)

Gov. Gianforte Proposes Tax Cuts in State of State Address

Gov. Greg Gianforte delivered his State of the State address to the Montana Legislature Wednesday night, discussing his plans for the state's hefty …

Housing and rental prices have skyrocketed out of many people's reach during the pandemic. (Aisyaqilumar/Adobe Stock)

Native Americans Moving Off the Rez Face Discrimination in MT

Native Americans in Montana face a slew of challenges to finding housing off reservations - including discrimination. A tight housing market in the …

Unlike other states, which decided on this issue through ballot initiatives, medical aid in dying was legalized through the state Supreme Court in Montana. (CameraCraft/Adobe Stock)

MT Bill Aims to End Medical Aid-in-Dying Options

A bill in the Montana Legislature would roll back access to medical aid-in-dying options at the end of someone's life - access that has been guarantee…

Lowering top wires on fencing to 40 inches or lower decreases the chances of animals becoming entangled as they jump over. (F&J McGinn/Adobe Stock)

Study Locates Fences in SW MT for Sake of Migrating Wildlife

Migrating wildlife can struggle with the extensive fencing throughout the West, and a new study is filling in the gaps on where these fences are in …

More than 78,000 Montanans who received Pell grants were eligible for up to $20,000 in student debt relief under President Biden's loan forgiveness program. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

MT Student Borrowers Await Fate of Loan Forgiveness Program

About 120,000 Montanans qualified for the Biden administration's student loan forgiveness program, but the program's future is still in limbo…

Children are feeling the effects of an increase in online harassment. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

Tools for Parents as Harassment Permeates Online Spaces

It can be challenging for parents and caregivers to shield their children from bigotry and hatred online, but there are a few tips they can follow…

High rates of survival and reproduction have allowed the bison population to increase by 10% to 17% every year. That's 10 times faster than the human population grows worldwide, according to the National Park Service. (Adobe Stock)

Group Rallies to Protect Montana Constitution

The new year begins with the prospect of big changes to the Montana state Constitution that have been drafted by GOP lawmakers and opposed by conserva…

Montana Republicans will have a supermajority during the 2023 legislative session and could propose changes to the state Constitution. (spiritofamerica/Adobe Stock)

Facing Criticism, Group Forms to Educate Public about MT Constitution

Fifty years after its creation, and under increasing criticism from some lawmakers, an organization has been created to increase awareness of the …

Republicans won a supermajority in the Montana Legislature, but one Democrat was able to flip a state House seat. (Jon/Adobe Stock)

Dems Urged to 'Keep It Local' to Succeed in Rural US

Democrats have struggled to turn 'red' rural areas 'blue' across the country for years. But some left-leaning candidates won in 2022, raising the …

The Habitat Montana program is managed by the state Fish, Wildlife and Parks agency. (fwp.mt.gov)

MT Gov's Budget Zeroes Out Cannabis Revenue for Conservation Program

Conservation and hunting groups are concerned about Governor Greg Gianforte's decision in his proposed budget not to distribute revenue from recreatio…

Montana landowners and hunters have butted heads in the past about how to best manage the state's elk population. (kojihirano/Adobe Stock)

MT Trust Proposed to Enhance State Lands, Waters

With Montana lawmakers looking at a large budget surplus, a group of hunters, scientists and landowners is asking them to consider creating a trust …

There's a long history of mining across the Canadian province of British Columbia. (davidrh/Adobe Stock)

Tribes Say BC Mine Waste Threatens Water, Way of Life

Tribal representatives from across the Northwest are flying into Washington, D.C. this week to discuss how mine waste in British Columbia is …

Between 2010 and 2020, enough methane was vented on public lands to serve about 675,000 homes, according to the Bureau of Land Management. (FreezeFrames/Adobe Stock)

BLM Methane Flaring Limit Could Go Further, Group Says

The Biden administration has proposed a rule to limit methane flaring from oil and gas development on public lands. The rule would impose royalty …

A photo from the top of the berm near the Smurfit-Stone site shows how close the Clark Fork River is. (Lisa Ronald/American Rivers)

Tour of Former Mill Site Underscores Dangers for MT River

Community members and conservation groups recently toured a former paper mill because of urgent concerns that the site poses a threat to a nearby Mont…

Conservation-minded lawmakers face an uphill battle in the Montana Legislature, where Republicans will control more than two-thirds of seats in 2023. (Galyna Andrushko/Adobe Stock)

A Green Wave Seen in MT Election?

Candidates supporting conservation efforts held strong in last week's election in Montana. While Republicans captured a supermajority in the state …

More than 800 health-care providers across Montana signed a letter opposing LR-131. (fizkes/Adobe Stock0

Montanans Reject 'Born-Alive' Measure

A Montana measure that would have implemented harsh penalties for medical providers who did not give life-sustaining care to newborns was voted down l…

Displaying flags associated with the LGBTQ community is a protected action under the Fair Housing Act. (Michael/Adobe Stock)

Fed Housing Protections Against LGBTQ Discrimination Could Change

The Biden administration banned housing discrimination based on a person's sexual orientation and gender identity, but the gain in protections for …

After the 2020 Census, Montana added a House seat in the U.S. Congress. Its two seats are up for election on Tuesday. (Iryna/Adobe Stock)

Group Works to 'Get Out the Vote' for Indigenous Montanans

Election Day is almost here, and one organization wants to ensure indigenous folks in Montana know how they can cast their ballots. Ta'jin Perez…

A survey from this summer found 12% of Montana families

As MT Families Struggle, Child Tax Credit Payments Touted as Solution

A program that sent money to families with children helped pull millions out of poverty early in the pandemic, including about 211,000 kids in …

People with medical debt were two to three times more likely to be unable to pay bills such as rent or utilities and experience higher rates of eviction, according to Kaiser Health News. (Adobe Stock)

Tackling the Roots of Medical Debt for Health Literacy Month

More than half of Americans said they are worried about getting surprise medical bills they cannot afford, and consumer advocates said one way to …

Little Big Horn College in Montana is one of 32 fully accredited Tribal Colleges and Universities in the United States. (Photo courtesy lbc.org)

Native Americans Urged to Vote with Higher Ed in Mind

Montana is home to seven tribal colleges and universities. Higher education leaders for Indigenous populations say they hope to see strong turnout …

For two years, Shodair Children's Hospital worked with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, to accomplish a land purchase. The proceeds will help Shodair fund construction of a new children's hospital. (Adobe Stock)

MT Land Board Acquires Large Property for Public Use

The Montana Land Board has approved acquiring a new piece of land to become a Wildlife Management Area. In a four-to-one vote, the board acquired …

In a recent report, Sierra Club scored utilities for their climate-friendly pledges only slightly better than in its 2021 report. (bilanol/Adobe Stock)

NorthWestern Energy Among Utilities with Long Roads to Cleaner Power

Utilities across the country are making climate pledges - but they're not necessarily backing them up, according to a new report. The Sierra Club …

Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge, located in northeastern Montana, was established in 1935. (Danita Delimont/Adobe Stock)

National Refuges Hailed as 'Sanctuary to Wildlife'

National Wildlife Refuge Week may be over, but public lands are important to animals and plants year-round. There are about 600 wildlife refuges …

With voting booths often located far from home, absentee ballots are a way many Native Americans in Montana vote. (The Toidi/Adobe Stock)

MT Election Laws That Created Barriers for Native Americans Struck Down

A Montana District Court has struck down three election laws which would have created voting barriers weeks before the midterm election. Two of the …

A 1990s meeting on elk management in Montana helped create an incentive program for landowners that still exists today. (DJ_38/Adobe Stock)

Report Offers Recommendations for MT Elk Management at 'Crossroads'

After a gathering of hunters, landowners and wildlife managers, a new report draws some conclusions on how Montana can better manage its elk …

About 18,000 Montana kids will experience the loss of a family member by the time they're 18. (Africa Studio/Adobe Stock)

MT Hosts Conference on Supporting Grieving Children

A touring conference from the National Alliance for Children's Grief comes to Montana this week. The event will be in Whitefish on Tuesday. The …

Nonprofit organizations employed nearly 30,000 Montanans in 2019. (Artur/Adobe Stock)

Workers at MT Nonprofits Feel Burden of Ramped-Up Demand

The work of some nonprofit organizations has only increased with the pandemic and the needs that have come from it. An author and expert in the field …

Because of its population increase over the past decade, Montana will have two congressional districts this year instead of one. (Svetlana/Adobe Stock)

MT Native Org Getting Folks Registered to Vote

Today is National Voter Registration Day, and one Native American rights organization in Montana is ensuring people are ready to vote in November…

The midterm general election this year is on Nov. 8. (mybaitshop/Adobe Stock)

Nonprofits Mobilize Ahead of November Midterm Election

Nonprofit organizations are ramping up efforts to get out the vote for the election in November. The student-led Montana Public Interest Research …

Miles Community College is in the eastern Montana town of Miles City, which has population of less than 9,000. (David Schott/Wikimedia Commons)

Virtual Learning Shrinks Distances for MT's Rural Students

Montana's big landscapes and sparse populations present a challenge to colleges and universities. But the internet is shrinking distances for the …

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