Montana News

After a century of mining pollution that tinged their creek in orange, Belt residents are finally seeing clear water flow again. It’s one example in Montana’s long effort to clean up its abandoned mines with federal funds.

A Bozeman man arrested by immigration authorities last week has been ordered released after a federal judge found his detention likely unconstitutional.

Anaconda’s news outlet of 56 years published its final paper June 5. Days later, the community experienced its second fatal public shooting in a year. Former Editor-in-Chief of The Anaconda Leader spoke with MTPR’s Victoria Traxler about how that felt alongside the paper closing, and what comes next.

A partner in a proposed data center east of Missoula says he’s backing out of the project after robust public opposition. It’s a win for locals who rallied against it.

As much of the nation broils under a scorching heat wave, Montana is emerging from days of heavy precipitation and unseasonably cool temperatures. Experts say that could lower the fire potential in the state this summer.

By late 2027 Montana may have to shoulder more of the costs for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. If that happens, Montana’s only statewide food bank says the results would be devastating.

Missoula has a reputation for attracting all kinds of wayward characters, but it’s likely never hosted the driver of a pear on wheels — yes, we’re talking about the fruit. That changed in June with the arrival of a social media celebrity on a road trip for the ages.

As of July 1, Montanans on certain Medicaid programs will be required to work or volunteer 80 hours every month or file for an exemption. The state is among the first in the country to roll out work requirements under a federal law passed last year. But, officials haven't finished setting up everything they need to implement the new rules.

Domestic cats have lived with humans for thousands of years, but experts say there’s much we still don’t know about their genetics, health and behavior. An organization called Darwin’s Ark is asking Montanans to help crack some of those ancient secrets.

The death of a key administrator at the Montana Lottery is behind nearly $20m in misreported agency finances. That’s according to lottery employees following a state audit.

An atmospheric river in 2025 resulted in widespread wind and hail damage across Montana. Disaster relief funds for two eastern Montana tribal communities were recently approved. Federal disaster assistance for damage caused by severe storms last year is now available to Montana’s Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux tribes, and the Crow tribe.

Two years after former state Superintendent Elsie Arntzen switched Montana’s statewide student exam to a controversial new model, education officials have finally given it the green light — with some strings attached.

Heavily trafficked roads act just like a giant wall, blocking wildlife from safely moving across. Highways can cause fatal collisions for people and animals, and present conservation challenges as well. That’s a problem when you’re trying to get separate populations of grizzly bears to connect. Now, new research is identifying high-traffic roads that can make it impossible for bears to cross.

A Missoula jury in June unanimously found that Kalispell Public Schools retaliated against a former student and his father after they reported sexual abuse on the school’s wrestling team.

Grassland ecosystems are one of the most threatened in the world. Some of the last largest grasslands in North America, can be found here in Montana. Now, researchers are studying the birds that rely on these habitats to better understand their declines.

Montana Republicans gathered in Missoula this month to set their party’s rules and policy agenda. Lee Newspapers State Bureau reporter Seaborn Larson joined MTPR’s Austin Amestoy to share highlights from the convention.

Work on a southwest Montana tungsten mine is temporarily on hold following a judge’s order. Judge Luke Berger in Beaverhead County District Court in June suspended all authorized mining activities on the Calvert Tungsten Mine in the Big Hole River watershed.

All but 10 of Montana’s counties are considered “non-metropolitan.” This comes with challenges like aging infrastructure and dwindling services. At Montana State University’s Rural Summit in Townsend, researchers, government officials and rural advocates shared how they were addressing these shared challenges.

Missoula is the first, and only, city in Montana to manage parks without the use of pesticides. While the city has piloted this approach in several parks, some residents would like to see the efforts expand.

Prosecutors say Mark Ray Lock shot and killed the owner of Carmel’s Sports Bar and Grill on Saturday evening. The 61-year-old is charged with deliberate homicide and faces up to a century behind bars.