The nine candidates in Montana’s new Western congressional district — a jagged ‘C’ encompassing Glacier County, Kalispell, Missoula, the Bitterroot Valley, Butte and Gallatin County — are as ideologically varied as the population they seek to represent. Which candidate can unlock House District 1’s political identity?
Posted inEnvironment
Forest Service tentatively approves Crazy Mountain land swap
The U.S. Forest Service announced that it has tentatively approved a land swap several years in the making involving more than 15 square miles of land located in two Montana mountain ranges.
Posted in2024 Elections
Joel Krautter and Ric Holden join ranks of Republicans interested in Montana’s eastern U.S. House seat
The ever-growing field of Montana Republicans interested in running for the state’s eastern U.S. House of Representatives district now includes six potential candidates.
Posted inHealth Care
Montana ban on gender-affirming care for minors temporarily blocked in court
A state district court judge in Missoula has blocked Montana’s ban on medical care for minors with gender dysphoria from taking effect while a lawsuit over its constitutionality continues, finding that the new law appears to have “no rational relationship to protecting children.”
Posted inLocal Government
Will Bozeman learn from Missoula’s urban camping mistakes? Or is it the other way around?
Missoula’s leaders, struggling with their own complex homelessness issues, are likely to view Bozeman’s tenuous approval of an urban camping ordinance as a green light to move forward with restricting the same activity.
Posted inState Government
Montana Supreme Court sides with Knudsen, kills tax cap initiative
The Montana Supreme Court upheld Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s decision to block a proposed ballot initiative that could have asked Montana voters to place a hard cap on property tax collections next year.
Posted inState Government
Republican legislator sues Gianforte administration over tax bill
Sen. Brad Molnar, R-Laurel, alleges the Montana Department of Revenue has miscalculated a school funding equalization tax, meaning he and other property owners will overpay.
Posted inDemographics
How many Montanans were born in Montana?
Census data collected in 2022 indicates the state still has a majority Montana-born population — for now.
Posted inState Government
Legislative audit describes lack of trust, communication between FWP headquarters and game wardens
The audit, which was completed at the request of the bipartisan Legislative Audit Committee, highlighted communication issues, waning morale and concerns about a lack of trust between the agency’s headquarters in Helena and the 90-plus wardens working throughout the state.