While recent rains are part of a reason for some optimism surrounding this year’s wildfire outlook, it could “turn on a dime” officials warned during a seasonal briefing. Gov. Greg Gianforte, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Director Amanda Kaster, and representatives from other state, local and federal agencies gave the update to the governor on Tuesday, June 2.

A state senator has suspended his property tax cap ballot initiative just two weeks before signatures come due, alluding to pushback from key stakeholders. Martinsdale Republican Sen. Wylie Galt, former speaker of the House and member of a prominent landowning family, announced in a Monday, June 8, press release that the effort was being halted following “feedback from businesses, public

Attorney General Austin Knudsen has relaunched Montana’s existing human trafficking hotline and announced the state will be utilizing a new application and website that will allow Montanans to report suspected human trafficking online. The new reporting platform – Simply Report – will make it easier for the public to report suspected cases and improve law enforcement response times following

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has quantified some of the impacts of poaching in the state from 2025 with an uptick in reported poaching cases and fines leveraged against defendants compared to 2024. In a report by TIPMONT, the state’s program that encourages the public to report poaching crimes by offering reward payouts to informants who help lead to convictions, the state authorized $28,100

406-371-3559 $14.25 per week

Research in the Montana State University College of Agriculture received continued support from the Montana Fertilizer Advisory Committee last month, advancing knowledge around soil acidity, water use efficiency, new crops and more. The committee annually awards funds that are collected through an assessment on commercial fertilizers. Those funds support research and education focused on soil

A new initiative to cap local property tax increases at 2 percent was rolled out Monday, March 23, by Republican legislator Wylie Galt of Martinsdale. The initiative would amend the state Constitution to cap property tax increases by all local governments at 2 percent, except for increases related to property improvements, like a new deck, or new property such as newly built homes. The cap applies

The Montana Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for more than $2.7 million in federal funding available through the Specialty Crop Block Grant program. The purpose of the program is to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Montana. Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, peas, lentils, dried fruits, as well as horticulture, nursery crops, and floriculture.