Gov. Greg Gianforte has announced the appointments of Chris Dorrington as director of the Montana Department of Transportation and of Sonja Nowakowski as director of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. “Chris Dorrington is a changemaker,” Gianforte said. “Bringing his previous experience at the agency and exceptional ability to lead, I have total confidence in him as he takes

The Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board held their regular full board meeting June 10 in Poplar. The board voted to approve the award of $130,000 to Interstate Engineering to develop complete and provide the Fort Peck Tribes with the Poplar Parks Project design and construction services. The board also approved Site Pro Construction for work for on the Tribal courts project for concrete paving,

An Amtrak train was struck by a white pickup attempting to cross the tracks June 15 near Culbertson. The accident occurred at a crossing near mile marker 650 on U.S. Highway 2. According to the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office, a call for service was received at 6:15 p.m. from a caller who reported that a vehicle hit the train. The driver was Thomas Oliver Riegerp, 27, a resident of North Dakota.

(This story is excerpted from Capitolized, a weekly newsletter featuring expert reporting, analysis and insight from the reporters and editors of Montana Free Press.) Tribal communities have for decades been an essential part of the voter base that gives Montana Democrats the ability to make competitive bids for statewide office. A close look at turnout figures for June 4 party primaries in