Montana News

Tuesday’s near record mid-May heat will soon give way to what weather experts are describing as a wintery end-of-the-week ‘shock to the system.' A potent cold front is expected to sweep into western Montana this week, bringing gusty winds and potentially powerful thunderstorms.

Forensic anthropology helps people find and identify deceased loved ones. One Montana-based forensic scientist is aiding those impacted by the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Person crisis.

Mail-in ballots are en route to voters across Montana. For those who haven’t registered to vote, a judge preserved the Election Day deadline to do so.

Along the banks of the Clark Fork River, students are identifying all kinds of “macro-invertebrates” — aka, bugs — that live in the river. The data is one clue scientists use to determine the health of a watershed, along with other indicators like appearance and chemical makeup.

A new nationwide study of school cell phone bans found some improvement in student well-being, but no improvement in test scores.

A congressional candidate reenters the race despite allegations of sexual misconduct. A legislative candidate faces sexual abuse allegations. A GOP "dark money" PAC uses AI to disparage other Republicans. A battle between the A.G. and a county attorney ends up at the state Supreme Court.

If you've spent much time in Missoula, you've probably gotten turned around in the "Slant Streets" at least once. If you've lived there long enough, you've probably heard sensational tales of strife and betrayal surrounding the origin of the Garden City’s most geographically confused neighborhood. We're here to set the record straight. It’s the saga of the Slant Streets, on The Big Why.

More than six square miles of an aquifer under Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front has been removed from federal protections and slated for wastewater. The change comes despite overwhelming opposition from the local community.

A court case out of Louisiana temporarily halted Montanans’ ability to get abortion medications by mail. The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily halted that decision. A ruling by the high court against mailing medication would impact rural women the most.

In all but a handful of communities Tuesday, voters in western and central Montana soundly defeated their public schools’ requests to help pay for big expenses.

State Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy re-launched his bid for Congress. The Democrat from Box Elder had previously suspended his campaign after allegations of sexual abuse and harassment came to light last month. He cited poor health.

MTPR is airing interviews with candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR’s Austin Amestoy spoke with Kyle Austin, who’s a Libertarian running for the U.S. Senate.

Some state Medicaid services are on the chopping block due to a budget shortfall. The state health department estimates it will need at least another $7 million, but isn’t saying what services might be cut.

MTPR is airing interviews with candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR's Shaylee Ragar spoke with Tom Jandron, a Libertarian running for U.S. Senate.

MTPR is airing interviews with candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR's Victoria Traxler spoke with Michael Black Wolf, a Democrat running for U.S. Senate.

MTPR is airing interviews with candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR's Shaylee Ragar spoke with Michael Hummert, a Democrat running for U.S. Senate.

MTPR is airing interviews with candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR's Shaylee Ragar spoke with Alani Bankhead, a Democrat running for U.S. Senate.

MTPR is airing interviews with candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR’s Austin Amestoy spoke with Matt Rains, who’s a Democrat running for the western U.S. House seat.

The Roadless Rule is back on the chopping block. And what happens next could have really big implications for Montana, the region, and the country – for grizzlies, for other endangered species, and for entire ecosystems. What do we lose, or gain, when our bedrock environmental regulations go away, along with public input on how it all happens?

A Montana senator's push for the Trump ballroom could backfire at the polls. Threats of violence mar present-day politics. Prominent endorsements start to surface as the election gets closer. And a rising Democratic party star is headed to Butte to campaign for a proposed Montana ballot initiative.

MTPR is interviewing with candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR's Austin Amestoy speaks with Seth Bodnar, an independent running for U.S. Senate.

Surging fuel and fertilizer costs due to the Iran war are hitting Montana farmers hard this spring. This comes on top of cost increases for machinery, labor and gas already in effect. Local producers are coping with the financial strain and looking to legislation aimed at alleviating it, for both farmers and consumers.

Prominent Democrat Pete Buttigieg will stump for a Montana ballot initiative in Butte next month. The proposal aims to rein in corporate campaign spending. Buttigieg, a former presidential candidate, will hold a town hall in support of the "Montana Plan" on May 17. He says it could become a blueprint for other states.

MTPR is interviewing with candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR's Shaylee Ragar speaks with Reilly Neill, a Democrat running for U.S. Senate.

A new nationwide report shows Montana is one of just six states that doesn’t have a preschool program.

Trout Unlimited highlighted five towns across the country dedicated to improving water quality. At the top of their list was a small, southwestern Montana town - Philipsburg

About a third of Montana is public land. A new survey by the University of Montana’s Crown of the Continent and Greater Yellowstone Initiative suggests most Montanans want to keep it that way. Eighty-five percent of Montanans polled said they would support a ban on the sale or transfer of public land.

MTPR is interviewing candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR's Victoria Traxler speaks with Michael Eisenhauer, an independent running for Montana’s eastern district U.S. House seat.

From the slopes of Whitefish, researchers are using ski resorts to gather valuable data – and seeds, that could help restore forests. In some regions of Montana, over 90 percent of whitebark pines have died.

The U.S. Forest Service wants to reserve timber harvests from three national forests in Montana for processing at local lumber mills. It’s relying on an 80-year-old law to do so. Montana Free Press environmental reporter Amanda Eggert has been following the plan for a “sustained yield” of timber from three national forests in Montana and joined MTPR’s Austin Amestoy with more.

Kids living in abusive homes or who are going through the court system sometimes don’t have anywhere to stay. When that happens, specialized youth shelters care for them, but beds can be full.

Business owners in rural Montana say inflation and high fuel prices, combined with the Canadian tourism slump is hitting their bottom lines. The Montana Department of Commerce reports Canadian spending in the state dropped nearly 20 percent between 2024 and 2025.

Montanans are being told to eat less fish in some areas of the state. A new report from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality says high levels of PFAS are present in fish in the Fort Peck Reservoir, the East Gallatin River, the Missouri and the Clark Fork, among other locations.

Democrats are fighting with independents, Republicans are fighting with Republicans. A debate between two House candidates is more lovefest than contest. A House candidate's son tangles with a Bozeman rabbi. And a new campaign ad hopes an anti-war message will resonate with voters.

Archival footage of Apollo 11 and a documentary on the court case that legalized interracial marriage are just two of dozens of student history projects judges will weigh at Montana’s National History Day competition. It’s a statewide program that encourages students to research events and people that changed history.

There are many reasons why no woman has been elected to federal office in Montana since Jeannette Rankin. But it largely begins with deeply rooted beliefs about where women belong and who should have power. Montana women say the challenges Rankin had to overcome are still largely present today. Learn more from them on this episode of The Big Why.

MTPR is interviewing candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR's Shaylee Ragar speaks with Troy Downing, a Republican running for Montana's eastern U.S. House seat.

Snowpack in the West typically reaches its peak in early April but that hasn’t happened this year. Drought persists, setting up conditions for wildfires and low water supply. This warm, snowless winter points to a warming climate and trouble for Montana farmers.

MTPR is interviewing with candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR's Shaylee Ragar speaks with Brian Miller, a Democrat running for Montana's eastern U.S. House seat.

Democrats competing for Montana’s open U.S. Senate seat met on the debate stage for the first time in Helena. The widening wealth gap is one of the top issues in they discussed.

Montana has one of the highest youth suicide rates in the U.S. The kind of psychiatric care kids need after a suicide attempt isn’t always available in-state. Many families are forced to send their child to a facility across the country. A new program near Bozeman hopes to make that less common.

Democrats seeking their party's nomination for the state's U.S. House seats met in Helena last weekend to debate. The eastern district candidates covered many issues, including how they each plan to address health care costs. In the western district debate, candidates traded sharp criticisms over union backing and 'dark money.'

Youth on the Rocky Boy's Reservation now have a new hub to learn, play and even receive health care. Doors to the The Good Life Lodge opened in late March after 5 years of work.

A Democratic candidate drops out of the race after allegations of sexual abuse. Rep. Ryan Zinke criticizes President Trump and a Republican candidate. And Democratic House candidates take swipes over dark money and data centers.

MTPR is interviewing candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR's Shaylee Ragar Ragar spoke with Al Olszewski, a Republican running for Montana's western U.S. House seat.

MTPR is interviewing candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR's Shaylee speaks with Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen, a Republican running for Montana's western district U.S. House seat.

MTPR is interviewing candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR's Austin Amestoy speaks with Ray Curtis, a Republican running for Montana's western U.S. House seat.

MTPR is interviewing candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR's Victoria Traxler speaks with Sam Lux, a Democrat running for Montana's eastern U.S. House seat.

State Senator and U.S. House candidate Jonathan Windy Boy is accused of sexual abuse and has suspended his campaign, according to the Montana Democratic Party.

A spike in rent across Montana during the pandemic coincided with the rise of tenants unions in the state. These organizations of renters have sought solutions from property managers for rent hikes and maintenance backlogs, among other issues. Montana PBS reporter Matthew Standal joined MTPR’s Austin Amestoy with more.