Montana News

Campaign Beat: Daines keeps his head down; Selling Trump's economy

Sen. Daines files for reelection, and raises eyebrows over his association with a controversial State Department nominee. Montana's incumbent congressmen stand by Trump's economic policies, but do voters? Will he or won't he? Former UM President Seth Bodnar has yet to announce his political ambitions.

Laurel residents raise concerns about mental health facility, public input laws

Laurel residents have been raising concerns about city and state transparency in selecting Laurel for a new facility that would treat criminal defendants before they stand trial. What’s required of the government when it comes to public input isn’t straightforward.

Candidates file for office ahead of June 2 primary elections

Although some 2026 candidates have been campaigning for months, the official registration period opened this week. Political hopefuls have two weeks to turn in their paperwork.

Report: Inflation has outpaced state school funding since 2021

New analysis from Montana legislative staff shows the state’s share of school budgets has gone up in dollar amount over the last two decades. But due to inflation, the value of that money has stayed almost exactly the same as it was in 2008.

EPA repeals air filtration requirements for power plants

The EPA Friday repealed standards for limiting toxic mercury, arsenic and lead that come out of power plants. The Colstrip power plant in Montana is one of the highest emitters of these cancer-causing chemicals.