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At the end of November in Montana, there were 51 openings for special education teachers, and a report on the state's teacher shortage last year identified special education as one of the top three critical shortage areas in Montana. At the same time, many Montana children need and benefit from the services that special education teachers provide, according to Leslie Rogers, assistant professor in the Montana State University Department of Education and an expert in special...
Cutting your own Christmas Tree is a great way to create lasting memories with family and friends. The Custer Gallatin Forest is offering tree permits in a variety of ways this holiday season. Permits are good Forest-wide on the Custer Gallatin National Forest, except at cabins, campgrounds, picnic areas, trailheads, wilderness, within 100 feet of main roads, streams, or wetlands, natural landmarks, timber sales and areas where trees have been planted for reforestation...
Muzzleloader heritage season opens on Saturday, Dec. 14, and runs through Sunday, Dec. 22. This season is for heritage muzzleloaders only; no other means of taking game, such as archery, is allowed. Note that some areas have elk shoulder seasons through Feb. 15, where firearms and archery equipment may be allowed. Hunters should also note that many of Montana's Block Management Areas (BMAs), even though they are open for upland bird or waterfowl through Jan. 1, are not...
The number of acres enrolled in Block Management, a hunting access program managed by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, has continued its gradual decline despite efforts to bolster landowner interest in the program. Hunters have been tracking revisions to Block Management, hopeful that changes to the landowner reimbursement payment structure authorized by the last two Montana Legislatures can reverse flagging participation in the program and help alleviate concerns about...
Fresh off a reelection win, Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte has proposed that Montana lawmakers adopt a two-year state budget that prioritizes further tax cuts alongside investments in public safety and education. The proposal represents a starting point for budget negotiations that will occur in and out of public view through the 2025 Legislature. Highlights of the $17.9 billion proposal include a top-bracket rate cut for state income taxes and a homeowner property tax relief...
Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen said roughly 4,900 new businesses registered with the Secretary of State's Office in September, while almost 5,500 more registered in October, according to the Montana Business Economic Report. In total, more than 10,000 new business registrations were filed in September and October. "Several new customers visited our office to register their business in the last two months, while many more took advantage of our 24/7 online filing system. Our team was honored to serve them all in...
As Montanans prepare for holiday shopping this Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Attorney General Austin Knudsen is sharing a reminder to stay vigilant and be aware of common scams, which usually increase this time of year. “Scammers will be looking to take advantage of unsuspecting Montanans doing their Christmas shopping online. Please, stay vigilant and trust your gut. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Attorney General Knudsen said. “Don’t let bad actors wreak havoc on your holiday season.” Attorney...
The summer of 2024 presented another active fire season, especially across Southeastern Montana and Northwestern Wyoming. The Remington Fire started in late August 2024 in Sheridan County, WY, and burned thousands of acres, quickly crossing into Montana. In response to this large, fast-moving fire, affecting many cattle producers in the area, the Montana Stockgrowers Foundation (MSF) reactivated its Wildfire Relief Fund, to raise funds to assist landowners in their recovery and rebuilding. As a 501(c)(3), MSF provided a...
Governor Greg Gianforte recently announced Montana’s unemployment rate reached its 40th consecutive month of unemployment at or below 3.4%. In October, Montana’s unemployment rate was 3.3%, while the national rate was 4.1%. “Since 2020, Montanans have consistently said they want pro-jobs, pro-family, pro-business policies,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Working with the legislature, we’ve delivered. We must build on our momentum by help hardworking taxpayers keep more of what they earn, recruit new investment, and create more good-p...
Eastern Plains Economic Development Corporation (EPEDC) is pleased to announce the availability of a $200,000 grant from the Montana Department of Commerce, provided under the Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund Grant Program. This grant offers crucial funding for businesses in the EPEDC region-including Dawson, Prairie, Fallon, Carter, and Wibaux counties-that are seeking to enhance operations or embark on new ventures. This grant aims to fuel economic growth in eastern...
Montana Department of Revenue staff told a legislative committee Monday that next year's reappraisal cycle could produce a partial repeat of last year's jarring tax spike as the state's surging real estate market continues to translate into higher residential taxes. The department expects the market value of the average Montana residential property to be reappraised at 21% higher when it completes next year's reappraisal cycle. A staff economist said Monday that if the Legisla...
The trend of milder weather continued for hunters passing through southeast Montana check stations Sunday. Hunter traffic was a bit slower than average, but harvest rates were a mixed bag. Hysham check station Overall the number of hunters passing through the Hysham station was down. Although harvest was down, hunters seemed to be enjoying the pleasant weather, and most hunters had an opportunity to harvest an animal. A total of 107 hunters came through, which is about 30...
To celebrate our hunting heritage in Montana, Gov. Greg Gianforte launched the third annual Youth Hunting Story Contest in August for Montana youth and apprentice hunters ages 10 to 17. The deadline to enter the contest is Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. To enter the contest, hunters must submit a story of no more than 500 words and a photo from their 2024 hunt. Hunters must be Montana residents and licensed hunters or apprentice hunters between the ages of 10 and 17. Eligible entries include harvesting any legal game, furbearer...
Senate and House Republicans, selecting leaders who will preside over the 2025 Legislature, chose Senator-elect Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, as Senate president and Rep. Brandon Ler, R-Savage, as speaker of the House in caucuses Tuesday. The GOP holds majorities in both chambers for the eighth straight session of the biennial Legislature. Democrats chose Sen. Pat Flowers, D-Belgrade, and Rep. Katie Sullivan, D-Missoula, as minority leaders of their respective caucuses. The full...
Republicans have swept the Montana Public Service Commission election, winning each of the three seats open this cycle and maintaining the GOP's domination of the commission. Commissioners are tasked with balancing the financial health of investor-owned utilities with the interests of their customers, who cannot shop for other providers. During this election cycle, voters in many of Montana's largest cities - Billings, Missoula, Bozeman, Butte and Helena - were asked to...
Though he was born in New York City, spent some childhood years in Texas, and lived much of his adult life in Wisconsin, D.J. O'Malley was the quintessential Montana cowboy both in substance and style. Dominick John (D.J.) O'Malley, also known as Dominick White, the N Bar N Kid, and Kid White, was born in New York City in 1867 to a Civil War veteran father who died from his wounds when D.J. was small. His mother remarried a soldier, Charles White. The family was posted to...
Harold Arvik was born in Park Rapids, Minnesota in 1943, and is well known for being half Norwegian and half Swede and all that those titles entail! He grew up on a small dairy farm near Park Rapids and dreamed of being a real cowboy in Montana. As soon as he graduated high school, he and a buddy headed west to see about that dream. The friends landed in Custer, Montana, and Harold took a harvest job on a sugar beet farm. On that farm Harold met his future wife, Belva, who...
Republican Troy Downing has won Montana's eastern U.S. House race by a wide margin over Democrat John Driscoll. Returns Wednesday morning showed Downing with a 66% vote share, or 174,247 votes. Driscoll, with 89,545 votes, or a 34% vote share, got the most bang for his buck. The Democrat was determined to spend less than $5,000 on the election. On Wednesday, Downing told Montana Free Press he is already lobbying Republican House leadership for committee assignments and a...
Whoever wins the race for Montana's Superintendent of Public Instruction in the general election on Nov. 5 - Republican Susie Hedalen or Democrat Shannon O'Brien - they will inherit an office in disarray. A recent legislative audit of the Office of Public Instruction, which the superintendent leads, found more than $67 million in questionable spending of federal education funds, including one school district that used the money to buy massage chairs for the teachers' lounge. "...
Tom Lawrence Special to the Nation's Center News BILLINGS, Mont. - A third trial date has been set for Sterling Brown, the Camp Crook man charged with murdering a Montana man. Brown, who has been charged with murdering Isaac Carrier at his Fallon, Mont., home on Jan. 23, 2023, is now set for trial on Aug. 11-22, 2025. The case was originally set for March and then scheduled to start on Sept. 30, but it has been pushed back once again. In addition, the trial has been moved...
The Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame & Western Heritage Center (MCHF & WHC) recently announced their 17th class of inductions into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame. The inductees were chosen from a field of candidates nominated by the general public. Inductees are honored for their notable contributions to the history and culture of Montana. "The Hall of Fame exists to honor those who have made an impact in their part of the state and represent Montana's authentic Western heritage...
With political polarization strengthening across the country, even the races far down on Montana's ballot are feeling the heat of identity politics. The state auditor is arguably the lowest-ballot race there is, but the position is responsible for supervising the state's insurance and securities industries and investigating fraud. Two years ago, Republican Jim Brown mounted a campaign for the state Supreme Court, trying to secure a spot on the high court by stressing his...
With early voting already begun in Montana, the League of Women Voters of Montana offers voters a nonpartisan election resource: VOTE411.org. This “one-stop shop” for election information provides Montana voters with simple, accessible tools to help them navigate the voting process. VOTE411 provides personalized candidate information, voter registration details, polling place locations, and other helpful election information for all voters nationwide. “From local ballot initiatives to important state races, it is crucial vote...
The annual open enrollment period for Medicare D and Medicare Advantage plans start October 15, 2024 and ends December 7, 2024 to change your plan effective January 1, 2025. The plan you are currently enrolled in should send you a packet of information in October regarding the plan’s benefit for 2025. Each year Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans can restructure their benefits. They are allowed to change their premium cost, deductibles, copayments and what drugs they will cover. If you are happy with the plan you have, j...
Many Americans express concern about how the political system is or is not working, but Montana voters will get a chance to change up the way elections are run in a way supporters hope will benefit more moderate candidates. The changes are included in two separate constitutional amendments, CI-126 and CI-127, on this fall's ballot. CI-126 would amend the Montana Constitution to change the voting process to a "top four" primary election. This means that all candidates...
