Tired of being one of the very last states to vote in primary presidential elections, Montana is again debating whether it should go to the polls in early spring or even late winter. Fear of missing out is a powerful thing, legislators weighing the issue this week concurred, but so is February ground so frozen it can’t be punctured with campaign signs. The discussion took place at the Legislature’s

Earlier this year, Montana passed a law allowing for the use of autonomous vehicles on the state’s roadways. Part of the bill — Senate Bill 67 — also gave the state’s Department of Transportation and Department of Justice some rulemaking authority over their use. “The intention of this legislation is to get all parties to the table to promote the safest ways to promote autonomous

The Department of Public Health and Human Services announced the launch of the annual Gifts with a Lift program, now in its 73rd year. This program, which is jointly coordinated with the National Alliance for Mental Illness-MT ensures every patient at the Montana State Hospital receives a gift this holiday season. Gifts with a Lift relies exclusively on the generous support of Montanans across

Montana’s utility regulation commission voted Tuesday, Oct. 21, to demote one of its members, Brad Molnar of Laurel, stripping him of his title as the commission’s president in a 3-2 vote. The vote came after weeks of strife and an hour and a half of debate about the procedures for dealing with disagreements among the Montana Public Service Commission’s elected commissioners and their

Montana’s agriculture leaders came out in opposition last week after President Trump indicated plans to import beef from Argentina as a method to decrease beef prices for the nation’s consumers. The Montana Stockgrowers Association noted, “As cattle producers, we not only know how to raise the most nutritious, high-quality meat in the world, we also know what it’s like to feed our families

A Poplar man who sexually abused a minor was sentenced last week to 54 months in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Jonathan Robert Walking Eagle, 23, pleaded guilty in May 2025 to two counts of sexual abuse of a minor. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that on January 24

A Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks hunter education field day for online students, will be held in Glasgow Friday, Oct. 10. This is likely the last opportunity for hunter education certification for the year. Consistent with FWP’s licensing laws, students who will turn age 12 by Jan. 16, 2026, or older, may take the online course and the requisite field day. Adults 18 and older may take the

Leading up to the COVID pandemic, Montana public schools were falling farther behind when it came to starting teacher pay. After the pandemic, inflation and cost of housing made starting to teach in Montana very difficult. But a new program, passed by the 2025 Legislature, has already boosted starting teacher pay and kept districts from struggling with open positions, according to school