Jeri Toavs filed for the position of county clerk of district court and county superintendent of schools because she wants to continue in the roles she has held since 2014. Toavs was hired by retired clerk of district court Patricia A. Stennes to be her deputy clerk of court in 1999. When Stennes retired in June of 1014, Toavs was appointed clerk of district court/county superintendent of schools

Former Roosevelt County employee Dan Sietsema has filed for the position of Roosevelt County commissioner. The office is currently held by long-time commissioner Gary Macdonald, who is retiring. Sietsema was the second candidate who filed for the position. Dean Mahlum has also filed. Sietsema served as the county’s Disaster and Emergency Services coordinator for 30 years before retiring

New polling results released Wednesday, March 6, show Democratic Sen. Jon Tester with a narrow, but statistically insignificant, lead over Republican Tim Sheehy in a theoretical matchup eight months before Election Day, and also that Gov. Greg Gianforte has a neutral approval rating as he starts his re-election bid. The Emerson College Polling/ The Hill poll also shows former President Donald

This story is adapted from the MT Lowdown, a weekly newsletter digest containing original reporting and analysis published every Friday. Montana’s K-12 school system plays an essential role in this state — as essential as any of the many public institutions covered by Montana Free Press. It’s also an expensive endeavor, with districts across the state spending, according to data from

Republican Congressman Matt Rosendale said on Friday he will not seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives – another twist in a two-month saga in which the eastern Montana representative has announced his run, and departure, in two federal races. Rosendale announced his decision to drop out of the 2nd Congressional District race on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying that a rumor

Sunshine Week is March 10-16, and this year, there’s an even greater need for you to get involved. Sunshine Week annually celebrates freedom of information laws in every state. It also salutes efforts by good government advocates and journalists to use and ensure the effectiveness of those laws to get the information we need as self-governing citizens. The name is a play on the commonsense

Several watercraft inspection stations begin operation in early March to check snowbird boat traffic returning from mussel-positive areas such as Lakes Mead and Havasu. Boat owners coming to Montana must have their vessel inspected for aquatic invasive species at a Montana watercraft inspection station prior to launch. Watercraft inspection stations are Montana’s first line of defense to

Each year at this time, newspapers across the nation recognize Sunshine Week as a reminder of the importance of transparency in government. The duty of newspapers include making sure government agencies follow open meeting laws including public notices. In Montana, we’re fortunate that the Freedom of Information hotline, 406-4428670, is dedicated to keeping the operations of government in

In a move that spells savings for businesses across the state, Montana’s Largest Workers’ Comp Insurer has announced a significant 10 percent reduction in rates, following a successful 5 percent reduction in 2023. This marks a remarkable milestone, with rates having decreased by more than 60 percent since 2007. Friday’s announcement by Montana State Fund’s Board of Directors signals