Montana News
Comprehensive coverage of Montana’s statewide news—politics, environment, communities, and culture—delivered with trusted reporting and a local lens.
Calls to end intraparty fight mount after bitter GOP primary season
Some Republicans believe results of the legislative primary mean it’s time for the Montana Republican Party to men…
Montana Democratic Party challenges changes to voter ID laws
HELENA (AP) — The Montana Democratic Party has asked a judge to overturn a law that ends Election Day voter registration and another that requires college stud…
Montana transgender athletes bill amended amid funding worry
HELENA (AP) — Montana lawmakers amended Tuesday a bill that would ban transgender athletes from competing in school and college sports according to the gender …
Montana Supreme Court justices appear before lawmakers
HELENA — All seven Montana Supreme Court justices made virtual appearances Monday before a joint legislative committee investigating alleged bias in the judici…
Suspects in Billings homicide die in apparent murder-suicide
BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — Two persons of interest in a homicide in Billings last week died in an apparent homicide-suicide near West Yellowstone, the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office said.
Montana governor approves ending same-day voter registration
HELENA (AP) — Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed measures Monday to end same-day voter registration and require additional identifying information from those w…
Miners' union backs shift from coal in exchange for jobs
WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation's largest coal miners' union said Monday it would accept President Joe Biden's plan to move away from coal and other fossil fuels …
Students protest Montana bill to ban transgender athletes
HELENA (AP) — Students, transgender people and allies from across Montana gathered Monday in front of the state Capitol to protest a bill that would ban transgender athletes from competing in school and college spo…
Grizzly mauling near Yellowstone kills backcountry guide
WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont. (AP) — A Montana backcountry guide has died after he was mauled by a large grizzly bear just outside Yellowstone National Park who was …
Chronic wasting disease test developed by scientists
BILLINGS(AP) — Scientists have developed a new way to test live animals for chronic wasting disease that holds promise for one day detecting the illness in the…
Judge sides with conservationists in sheep grazing dispute
BILLINGS (AP) — A federal judge on Friday sided with conservation groups who said allowing domestic sheep to graze in a mountain range along the Idaho-Montana border as part of a government agriculture program coul…
High court takes up case on virus relief funding for tribes
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case that will determine who is eligible to receive more than $530 million in fed…
Member of Montana Freemen from 1996 standoff dies in prison
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A member of the anti-government Montana Freemen who took part in the extremist group's 81-day armed standoff with FBI agents 25 years ag…
Montana lawmakers oppose more death penalty drug options
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Seven Republicans joined Democrats in the Montana Senate to kill a bill that would have given the state more latitude in selecting drugs to carry out lethal injections, as companies restrict ac…
Governor signs bills defending campus free speech in Montana
HELENA (AP) — Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed Thursday two bills that supporters say aim to protect freedom of expression and association on public universi…
Environmental group sues over protections for 20 species
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — An environmental group filed a lawsuit Thursday alleging the federal government has failed to act on petitions to protect nine species un…