Montana State Fund has proposed a 5 percent average rate reduction for Montana businesses. If approved by the state, the new rates will take effect on policies beginning July 1. Montana State Fund is Montana’s only non-profit workers’ compensation insurance company, insuring 24,570 businesses and some 250,000 employees across the state of Montana. This year’s reduction follows a trend

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks hunter education in-person classes and field days for online students are being offered across central and eastern Montana. Several of these opportunities will allow of-age students to become certified to participate in the application process before the April 1, May 1, or June 1 big game application deadlines. Please note that more classes in more locations

Montana ranks seventh in the nation for the number of Olympic athletes by birthplace on a per-capita basis since 1924, placing the state behind Alaska and New Hampshire and ahead of New York and Rhode Island. A total of 58 Montana-born athletes have competed in summer and winter Olympic Games since the first Winter Olympics was held in 1924, according to an analysis by Montana Free Press using

State Sen. Jason Ellsworth, a Hamilton Republican who has been charged with official misconduct, has filed for election in House District 34, which is in southeastern Montana. That seat is currently held by Rep. Jerry Schillinger, a Republican who is chairperson of the Freedom Caucus. Schillinger has been in the Montana House since 2020 and was on the Appropriations Committee last session and

The first Fort Peck Montana Tournament of Kings is set For July 31-Aug. 1, with the possibility of an additional day Aug. 2. Registration for the salmon fishing event opens March 15. A mandatory rules meeting is set for July 30. Big payouts, live weigh ins and more are being promoted by the Glasgow Area Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture. A $200 fee covers both days for single entries.

Montana Rep. Troy Downing is the newest member of the House Committee on Natural Resources. The bipartisan committee oversees myriad subjects including American energy production, mineral lands and mining, fisheries and wildlife, public lands, oceans, Native Americans, irrigation and reclamation. “Montana is defined by its wealth of natural resources,” Downing said in a statement. “The