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Government
Government
Conservation Group Asks Cascade County to Pump the Brakes on Data Center Development
1 source · montana free press · 06:47
Members of the Golden Triangle Resource Council showed up to a Cascade County Commission meeting Tuesday carrying a petition with roughly 250 signatures, asking commissioners to temporarily halt data center development in the county and push the Montana Legislature to take a closer look at the industry's demands on water, power, and local infrastructure. The ask mirrors similar grassroots efforts that have surfaced in at least two other Montana counties in recent months.
Government
Two Mining Projects Near Helena Could Reshape Headwaters of the Little Blackfoot and Beyond
1 source · montana free press · 06:47
Two exploratory mining projects in west-central Montana's Little Blackfoot drainage are drawing attention from conservationists, local landowners, and state regulators, with critics warning that the proposals could threaten the headwaters of rivers that define the region's identity. The drainage, centered near Avon roughly 45 miles west of Helena, produced an estimated 300,000 ounces of gold during the 19th and 20th centuries and still bears the physical scars of that era — wagon-sized excavation pits and the ghost geography of a stagecoach route that once connected Helena to Blackfoot City.
Government
Federal Judge Strikes Down Biden-Era Mifepristone Restrictions, Montana Providers Among Plaintiffs
1 source · daily montanan · 06:47
A federal judge in Virginia ruled Thursday that the Food and Drug Administration failed to adequately justify restrictions it placed on mifepristone, a drug used in medication abortions, finding the Biden-era rules unlawful. Montana abortion providers were among the plaintiffs in the 2023 lawsuit that brought the case, alongside providers in Kansas and Virginia.
Government
Montana Lawmakers Headed to Chicago for National Legislative Summit
1 source · daily montanan · 06:46
State lawmakers and legislative staff from Montana are among the attendees expected at the 2026 National Conference of State Legislatures Legislative Summit, set for July 27 through 29 in Chicago. The annual gathering brings together legislators from all 50 states and U.S. territories to share policy research and hear from national speakers on issues ranging from budget and taxation to public safety and infrastructure.
Government
Montana Supreme Court Sets Briefing Deadline in State v. Walbridge Corrections Case
1 source · mt supreme court daily orders · 06:46
The Montana Supreme Court has ordered the Montana Department of Corrections to file an amicus brief in State v. J. Walbridge, case number DA 25-0268, on or before August 27, 2026. The court's order directs the department to weigh in as a friend of the court, a procedural step courts use when an agency has relevant expertise or a direct institutional interest in how a legal question is resolved.
Government
Independent Senate Candidate Seth Bodnar Picks Up VoteVets Endorsement as Race Takes Shape
1 source · daily montanan · 06:47
Independent U.S. Senate candidate Seth Bodnar added VoteVets to his endorsement list this week, a national progressive veterans organization that describes itself as the largest of its kind in the country. The endorsement is the latest in a string of backing from groups that typically align with Democrats, a dynamic that reflects the unusual positioning of Bodnar's campaign in a state that has trended sharply Republican in federal races.
Government
Helena City Commission Holds Administrative Meeting Tuesday at 5 p.m.
1 source · helena city development & infras · 06:47
The Helena City Commission has an administrative meeting scheduled for Tuesday, July 29, beginning at 5 p.m. The agenda and packet are available through the city's website ahead of the session.
Government
FWP Had a Full Week — and the Decisions It Made Will Be Felt for Years
edition · 09:01
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks made news multiple times this week, and the decisions add up to something worth paying attention to for anyone who hunts, fishes, or simply cares about public land access in Montana. FWP acquired Siskin Island, an 82-acre parcel on the upper Yellowstone River south of Livingston, opening a new public access point on one of the state's most storied rivers. At the same time, FWP proposed pulling back wolf hunting and trapping opportunities this fall after a new population model suggested the statewide count is lower than previously believed — a reversal after five years of expanding seasons. And the agency proposed releasing up to 50,000 pen-raised pheasants annually for youth hunting, even though its own data shows high bird mortality in the program. Layered on top of all this, the Trump administration rolled back federal critical habitat protections under the Endangered Species Act, leaving states like Montana to fill the gap — or not. Together, these stories describe a state wildlife agency navigating real tension between access, conservation, and political pressure from multiple directions, all in the same week.
Government
Montana's Senate Race Is Getting Crowded — and Democrats Can't Agree on That
edition · 09:01
Montana's U.S. Senate race is shaping up to be one of the more complicated ballot contests the state has seen in years, and this week made that clearer than ever. The Montana Secretary of State's office confirmed that independent candidates have formally qualified for the ballot in both the U.S. Senate race and at least one other contest — a development that has Democrats publicly disagreeing about strategy. Democratic candidate Alani Bankhead and independent candidate Seth Bodnar both said this week they're staying in despite pressure from some quarters to clear the field. Meanwhile, a Helena district court judge narrowed — but did not dismiss — a lawsuit challenging the Montana Republican Party's loyalty oath bylaws, keeping that legal fight alive. Add in a separate story on mid-cycle redistricting being declared unconstitutional by legislative legal analysts, and it's been a week that suggests Montana's political landscape heading into the next election cycle is anything but settled. The Montana Secretary of State and Montana Legislature each appeared in multiple stories, signaling this political churn has staying power.
Government
The Ellsworth Saga Dominated the Courthouse — and Then the Judge Threw It Out
edition · 09:01
If you followed the Lewis and Clark County courthouse this week, you watched one of the more dramatic legal whipsaws in recent Montana political memory. The week opened with jurors convicting former Montana Senate President Jason Ellsworth of misdemeanor official misconduct — the culmination of a trial in which state procurement officials testified that Ellsworth pressured them to rush contracts around normal oversight. Then, days later, a Lewis and Clark County district judge threw out the verdict after it emerged that jurors had seen sealed exhibits they were never supposed to see. That means the conviction is gone, at least for now, and what comes next — retrial, dismissal, appeal — remains unclear. For Helena residents, the case is a reminder of how fragile a verdict can be when procedural errors creep in, and it raises real questions about whether the former Senate president will ever face a final legal reckoning. Ellsworth's name appeared across multiple daily editions this week, making him the dominant figure in local government coverage.
Government
New Wolf Population Model Prompts FWP to Propose Scaled-Back Hunting Season This Fall
1 source · montana free press · 06:47
After five years of steadily expanding wolf hunting and trapping opportunities in Montana, state wildlife managers are proposing to pull back this fall — and the reason is a revised population estimate that suggests there are significantly fewer wolves in the state than officials had previously believed. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks released the new figures as part of its annual wolf report Friday.
Government
FWP Acquires 82-Acre Island on Upper Yellowstone, Opening New Public Access Point
1 source · daily montanan · 06:47
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has acquired Siskin Island, an 82-acre parcel sitting in the Yellowstone River roughly 13 miles south of Livingston, opening a new stretch of public land to anglers, floaters, and other river users. The acquisition was completed this month and the island is now managed by FWP for public access.
Government
State Hiring Criminal Defense Investigators for Public Defender's Office
1 source · montana state jobs · 06:46
The State of Montana is accepting applications for Criminal Defense Investigator 2 positions with the Office of Public Defender, with openings listed at multiple locations across the state. The role supports attorneys in the public defender system by conducting investigations on behalf of clients who cannot afford private legal representation.
Government
House Passes Stopgap Spending Bill; Senate Expected to Rewrite It Before Oct. 1 Deadline
1 source · daily montanan · 06:46
The U.S. House passed a stopgap spending bill Tuesday that would fund the federal government through the fall, sending it to the Senate just ahead of the October 1 start of the new fiscal year. Without a funding bill in place by that deadline, agencies across the country — including those with a significant footprint in Helena, from federal land management offices to the Veterans Administration — would face a shutdown.
Government
Bankhead and Bodnar Stay in Montana Senate Race Despite Pressure to Clear the Field
1 source · ktvh helena · 06:46
Both Democratic candidate Alani Bankhead and independent candidate Seth Bodnar say they're staying in Montana's U.S. Senate race, even as voices inside and outside the state's political circles push for one of them to step aside. The argument from those urging a dropout is straightforward: splitting the non-Republican vote in a four-way field — which also includes a Libertarian — makes it harder to unseat the GOP incumbent. Neither candidate is buying it, at least not yet.
Government
Judge Throws Out Ellsworth Misconduct Conviction After Jury Saw Sealed Exhibits
1 source · montana free press · 06:46
A Lewis and Clark County district judge has thrown out the guilty verdict against former Montana Senate President Jason Ellsworth after learning that jurors were exposed to sealed exhibits they never should have seen. Judge Christopher Abbott announced the decision Wednesday, saying he discovered that morning that the sealed materials — related to communications with a potential key witness — had reached the jury during deliberations in the official misconduct case.
Government
Trump Administration Rolls Back Endangered Species Habitat Protections, Leaving States to Sort It Out
1 source · daily montanan · 06:46
The Trump administration has issued a new interpretation of the Endangered Species Act that strips federal protections from critical wildlife habitat — a move that affects old-growth forests across the West, including areas relevant to northern spotted owl recovery, and that state wildlife agencies say they are not equipped to replace.
Government
Gianforte Opens Applications for Public Service Commission Vacancy in District 2
1 source · daily montanan · 06:46
Gov. Greg Gianforte is accepting applications for a temporary appointment to the Montana Public Service Commission, filling a vacancy in District 2, which covers south-central Montana.
Government
Helena Jury Convicts Former Senate President Ellsworth of Official Misconduct
2 sources · daily montanan · 06:46
A Lewis and Clark District Court jury found former Montana Senate President Jason Ellsworth guilty Tuesday night of misdemeanor criminal official misconduct, capping a trial that put the Hamilton Republican's handling of state contracts under a courthouse spotlight here in Helena.
Government
Great Falls' Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center Faces Uncertain Future as Full Staff Departs
1 source · montana free press · 06:47
The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls — the most-visited interpretive site along the entire Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail in Montana — is losing its entire full-time staff this year, raising questions about federal commitment to one of central Montana's most reliable tourism draws. Director Duane Buchi will retire in early September, and facilities manager Ray Tetrault, a longtime fixture at the center, is also retiring. A third full-time employee has already resigned.
Government
Montana FWP Proposes Expanding Pen-Raised Pheasant Program Despite High Bird Mortality
1 source · daily montanan · 06:47
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is proposing to release up to 50,000 farm-raised ring-necked pheasants per year for youth hunting opportunities — an increase of as many as 40,000 birds annually over the current program — even as the agency's own draft environmental assessment acknowledges that most of the pen-raised birds die quickly after release. The proposal goes before the Fish and Wildlife Commission next month.
Government
Helena City Commission Meets Monday Evening
1 source · helena city commission · 06:47
The Helena City Commission holds its regular meeting Monday, July 20, beginning at 6 p.m. The agenda and full packet are available through the city's website for residents who want to review items before the meeting.
Government
Trump Claims Election Infrastructure at Risk in Primetime Address; No Evidence of Broad Interference Offered
1 source · daily montanan · 06:45
President Donald Trump used a primetime address from the White House East Room on Thursday, July 16, to assert that U.S. election infrastructure is vulnerable to foreign cyberattacks, citing a batch of declassified documents while providing no direct evidence that interference had actually occurred in any recent election.
Government
Independent Candidates on the Ballot — and Montana Democrats Can't Agree on What to Do About It
1 source · ktvh helena · 06:46
The Montana Secretary of State's Office formally confirmed this week that independent candidates have qualified for the ballot in both the U.S. Senate race and the eastern congressional district race, setting up a complicated strategic calculation for state Democrats heading into the fall.
Government
State Officials Testify Ellsworth Forced Rushed Contracts Around Normal Oversight
1 source · daily montanan · 06:46
State procurement officials took the stand this week in the Jason Ellsworth trial, telling jurors that the former Senate president pressured them to bypass standard contracting procedures in ways they said were unusual and uncomfortable.
Government
Montana Youth Climate Plaintiffs Ask Full 9th Circuit to Rehear Their Case
1 source · montana free press · 06:46
The young Montanans who sued to challenge President Donald Trump's 2025 executive orders expanding fossil fuel production are asking the full Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider their case after a panel ruling went against them.
Government
Helena City Commission Meets Monday Evening
1 source · helena city development & infras · 06:46
The Helena City Commission holds its next regular meeting Monday, July 20, at 6 p.m. The agenda and full packet are available for public review ahead of the meeting.
Government
Legislative Legal Analysts: Mid-Cycle Redistricting Would Violate Montana Constitution
1 source · daily montanan · 06:46
The Montana Legislature cannot legally redraw its own district boundaries between the regular ten-year redistricting cycles, according to a legal analysis from the Legislative Legal Services Office delivered to the State Administration and Veterans Affairs Interim Committee.
Government
Helena Judge Trims Lawsuit Against Montana GOP Loyalty Oath Rules
1 source · daily montanan · 06:46
A Helena district court judge has narrowed the scope of a lawsuit challenging sections of the Montana Republican Party's bylaws that require loyalty oaths from members and give the state central committee authority to remove members at will, according to attorneys involved in the case.
Government
Week One of Ellsworth Trial Ends With Jury Hearing State's Core Allegations
1 source · montana free press · 06:46
The first week of the criminal trial against former Montana Senate President Jason Ellsworth wrapped up Friday evening at Lewis and Clark County District Court in Helena, with jurors hearing the state's opening argument that the Hamilton Republican used his legislative position to steer government contracts for personal benefit.
Government
Montana's Data Center and Prison Stories Are Both About the Same Thing: Who's Watching?
edition · 09:01
Two seemingly unrelated government stories this week share a common thread — the question of whether Montana's oversight structures are adequate for the decisions being made in their name. An op-ed argued that the state is rushing toward data center approvals and the NorthWestern Energy merger without sufficient scrutiny, a concern that landed harder given that the PSC commissioner most skeptical of the NorthWestern deal, Brad Molnar, was suspended this week and can no longer vote on it. Meanwhile, Yellowstone County moved to seek a legal ruling on whether voters can weigh in on data center construction at all — a sign that the oversight question is being litigated not just in op-ed pages but in county commission chambers. On the corrections side, four Montana inmates have died in Mississippi this year at an out-of-state facility, and the state is now planning to move 50 women from Boulder's Riverside prison to Miles City — decisions being made under pressure from overcrowding with legislators pressing the Department of Corrections for answers. The Federal Election Assistance Commission going dark after the Trump administration removed all its members added yet another layer to a week in which the reliability of public institutions — at every level of government — was the dominant undercurrent. For Helena residents, the practical upshot is this: some of the biggest decisions affecting Montana's energy future and its incarcerated population are being made right now, with fewer watchdogs in the room than there were a week ago.
Government
Montana's Government Is Under a Cloud — And It's Not Just the Weather
edition · 09:01
If there's a through-line to this week's political coverage, it's accountability — or the lack of it. The Jason Ellsworth trial opened in Lewis and Clark District Court with dueling portraits of a Senate president who may have abused his office, and that courtroom drama ran parallel to the suspension of Public Service Commissioner Brad Molnar by Gov. Gianforte following misconduct investigations. Meanwhile, a Lewis and Clark County district judge raised serious constitutional questions about whether the Montana Republican Party can require loyalty oaths from elected officials — a ruling that could reshape how party discipline works in Helena for years to come. Throw in the ongoing uncertainty over who replaces Sen. Bankhead if he steps aside, and you have a week in which the machinery of Montana government creaked loudly in nearly every direction at once. For residents, the cumulative picture is one of institutions under stress: a PSC now short a commissioner just as a $15.4 billion NorthWestern merger ruling looms, a Legislature whose own ethics are on trial, and party structures whose legal foundations are being questioned from the bench. The Montana Public Service Commission and the Montana Legislature each appeared repeatedly in this week's coverage, and neither came out looking entirely steady.
Government
Montana Democratic Party May Not Be Required to Name Senate Replacement if Bankhead Steps Aside, Lawyers Say
1 source · daily montanan · 06:47
A group of Montana lawyers has released a legal analysis concluding that the Montana Democratic Party would not be obligated to nominate a replacement candidate if Alani Bankhead withdraws from the U.S. Senate race. The finding cuts against the party's own reading of state law and adds a new wrinkle to an already complicated political situation.
Government
Record Heat Bakes Eastern Montana as Ranchers Scramble to Protect Livestock
1 source · montana free press · 06:47
Eastern Montana shattered heat records during the week of July 10, with temperatures in the Glendive area pushing into territory that caught even longtime ranchers off guard. The extreme heat has forced rapid changes to daily routines for people and animals across the region.
Government
Op-Ed: Montana Rushing Toward Data Center and NorthWestern Deals It May Regret
1 source · daily montanan · 06:47
A commentary published this week argues that Montana is on the verge of two consequential blunders — approving a wave of data center development and moving forward with the NorthWestern Energy merger — without fully accounting for the long-term costs to ratepayers and the state's energy grid.
Government
Four Montana Inmates Have Died in Mississippi This Year as Legislators Press DOC on Overcrowding
1 source · daily montanan · 06:47
Four Montana inmates have died at the Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility in Mississippi in 2026, bringing the total number of deaths among people in Montana Department of Corrections custody to 14 this year. Legislators pressed DOC officials this week for answers about capacity, conditions, and the state's continued reliance on out-of-state beds.
Government
Ellsworth Trial Opens With Dueling Portraits of a Senate President and His Power
1 source · daily montanan · 06:47
Attorneys delivered opening statements Wednesday in Lewis and Clark District Court in the trial of Jason Ellsworth, the former Montana Senate president who faces charges of abusing his office for personal gain. Ellsworth sat at the defense table at the Lewis and Clark County Courthouse as each side laid out the competing versions of his conduct that jurors will spend the coming days weighing.
Government
Feds Move to Hand Grizzly Bear Management to Montana and Neighboring States
1 source · daily montanan · 06:47
The federal government announced Tuesday it intends to shift management authority over grizzly bears in the lower 48 states to the individual states where the animals live, a move that would end decades of federal primacy over one of Montana's most politically charged wildlife species. Governor Greg Gianforte was on hand south of Bozeman for the announcement, standing alongside Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and the governors of Idaho and Wyoming as the proposal was unveiled.
Government
Molnar Suspension Casts Shadow Over $15.4 Billion NorthWestern Merger Ruling
1 source · daily montanan · 06:47
The suspension of Montana Public Service Commissioner Brad Molnar has introduced a legal fault line into the proceedings over a proposed $15.4 billion utility merger — one that a group participating in the case argues could invalidate any decision reached without him. The argument, raised formally this week, puts the PSC's pending merger review in an uncomfortable position: move forward and risk a ruling that gets thrown out, or wait on a personnel dispute that shows no signs of quick resolution.
Government
Three Independent Candidates, Including Former UM President Bodnar, Cleared for November Ballot
1 source · daily montanan · 06:47
Montana Secretary of State officials confirmed Wednesday that three independent candidates for political office have submitted enough valid signatures to appear on the November general election ballot. Among them is Seth Bodnar, the former University of Montana president who is running for the U.S. Senate seat in a three-way race that already includes the Republican and Democratic nominees.
Government
Judge Questions Whether GOP Loyalty Rules Can Bind Elected Officials Under Montana Constitution
1 source · montana free press · 06:45
A Lewis and Clark County district judge signaled Monday that new Montana Republican Party rules requiring loyalty oaths from officeholders may run headlong into the state Constitution — and that the governor himself could be among those on the hook.
Government
State Sen. Ellsworth Goes to Trial Tuesday on Misconduct Charge
1 source · montana free press · 06:47
Criminal trial begins Tuesday for state Sen. Jason Ellsworth, the Hamilton Republican charged last December with official misconduct — a misdemeanor — after the Montana Department of Justice accused him of using his senate seat to steer a state contract toward a longtime friend.
Government
Federal Election Assistance Commission Goes Dark After Trump Removes All Members
1 source · daily montanan · 06:49
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission — the federal agency created after the 2000 election debacle to set voting system standards and administer Help America Vote Act funds — has no members as of this week after President Trump removed its remaining commissioners. The move has election administration watchers across the country, including in Montana, asking what it means for the machinery of the 2026 midterms.
Government
Gianforte Suspends Public Service Commissioner Brad Molnar for One Year
1 source · ktvh helena · 06:45
Gov. Greg Gianforte suspended Public Service Commissioner Brad Molnar for one year Thursday following independent investigations that found evidence of unlawful conduct, including sex discrimination and retaliation. Gianforte acknowledged in a letter to Molnar that the action is unprecedented in state history.
Government
Yellowstone County Seeks Legal Ruling on Whether Voters Can Weigh In on Data Center Construction
1 source · daily montanan · 06:48
The Yellowstone County Commission directed its county attorney this week to seek a legal judgment on whether a citizen-led initiative requiring voter approval for future data center construction is legally valid. The move puts Yellowstone County at the center of a debate playing out in communities across the country as tech giants eye Montana's cheap land and power infrastructure for massive server facilities.
Government
State to Move 50 Women From Boulder's Riverside Prison to Miles City Facility
1 source · montana free press · 06:48
The Montana Department of Corrections plans to relocate approximately 50 women currently housed at Riverside prison in Boulder to Pine Hills Correctional Facility in Miles City, the agency announced Thursday. The move would affect a notable slice of the state's roughly 370 incarcerated women and represents a significant reshuffling of where the DOC houses its female population.
Government
Gianforte Suspends PSC Commissioner Molnar for One Year Following Misconduct Investigations
1 source · daily montanan · 06:48
Gov. Greg Gianforte suspended Public Service Commissioner Brad Molnar for one year Thursday after independent investigations concluded there was evidence of unlawful conduct, including sex discrimination and retaliation. The suspension marks one of the most significant disciplinary actions taken against a statewide elected official in recent Montana history.
Government
Montana's Legal Bills Keep Growing as Courts Push Back on State Policy
edition · 09:00
Two separate court rulings this week put the state of Montana on the losing end of significant legal disputes — and the price tags are adding up. A district court judge ordered the state to pay more than $1.3 million in attorneys' fees after Montana's gender-affirming care ban was struck down, while a Lewis and Clark County District Court judge temporarily blocked the Montana Republican Party's newly adopted bylaws after a group of fellow Republicans sued to stop them. Separately, a federal court weighed in on immigration arrests in ways that directly challenged state and federal enforcement practices. The cumulative picture this week is of a Montana government — and a state party — caught in an unusual moment where legal challenges are coming from multiple directions at once, including from within their own coalition. For Helena residents, the $1.3 million attorneys' fee order is the most tangible line item: that's general fund money going to opposing counsel, at a moment when the legislature has been scrutinizing every budget category. Gov. Greg Gianforte, who logged 20 mentions this week, was also in the news for a cabinet shuffle, tapping Mark Blasdel to lead the Department of Administration as Misty Ann Giles departs.
Government
State Ordered to Pay $1.3 Million in Attorneys' Fees After Gender-Affirming Care Ban Struck Down
1 source · daily montanan · 06:47
A Montana district court judge has ordered the state to pay more than $1.3 million in attorneys' fees and costs to the legal teams that successfully challenged Senate Bill 99, the 2023 law that banned gender-affirming care for transgender minors. The fee award follows a ruling that found the law unconstitutional.
Government
State Eyes Pine Hills Conversion to House Overflow Female Prison Population
1 source · daily montanan · 06:47
The Montana Department of Corrections announced Thursday it is exploring the conversion of Pine Hills Correctional Facility in Miles City into an adult female prison, a move driven by mounting overcrowding in the state's women's corrections system. The department said it is looking at both relocating some female prisoners to the facility and potentially renovating the Miles City campus to accommodate the population long-term.