Montana’s minimum wage could be increased to $12.06 an hour if a bill introduced to the House Monday, Feb. 24, passes. Rep. Kelly Kortum, DBozeman, introduced House Bill 484 to the House Business and Labor Committee Monday. Supporters said the state’s current $10.55 rate doesn’t match the cost of living, but opponents disagreed and said the increase could increase inflation. Patrick

Poplar’s boys’ basketball squad upset Harlem, 66-55, in the opening round of the District 2B tournament in Glasgow on Wednesday. The Indians, the sixth seed of the tourney, gained a 19-13 lead in the first quarter and then outscored the Wildcats by a 16-4 margin during the second period. Early in the second quarter, four points by Kaniel Ricker and a basket by Keilen Erickson off a fantastic

Poplar’s girls’ basketball team came up short against Fairview, 47-40, during second round action at the District 2B tournament on Thursday. Fairview gained leads of 11-6 in the first quarter and 24-14 at the half. The Warriors were able to increase their advantage to 42-27 in the third quarter. Braelyn Nordwick scored 23 points to lead the Indians. Mattie Ayers added nine points.

Frazer lost by an 80-26 margin against Circle in the third-place game of the District 3C girls’ basketball tournament in Wolf Point on Saturday. The Bearcubs received good scoring from Baily Beston in the first quarter, but Circle gained a 31-7 lead. The Wilcats moved ahead 5413 at the half. Baily Beston led the Bearcubs with 14 points. Maci Fourstar-Sibley added five points. Also

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has released a final environmental impact statement analyzing potential environmental impacts from the statewide management of gray wolves. Issuing the final EIS is a key step in a process that started in 2023, when FWP originally released the draft EIS. The draft EIS was made available for public review and comment from Oct. 20, 2023, through Dec. 19, 2023, and again

The new license year opens March 1, which means that is the day you can buy your 2025 hunting, fishing and conservation licenses and begin applying for permits and special licenses. The deadline to apply for deer and elk permits is April 1. Applications for most species — deer, elk, antelope, deer B licenses, elk B licenses, antelope B licenses, moose, sheep, goat and bison — can be made