Montana has some of the largest intact grassland ecosystems in North America. And that same land is also cattle country. Collaborations and innovative techniques that try to bring biodiversity back – from the soil to the sky – are on the rise in Montana, finding a way to try to balance running cattle, saving birds, and maintaining the last of the prairie.
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Knapweed and leafy spurge don't have many fans in these parts. Nobody makes the drive from Texas to pose with them and post the photos on Instagram. Invasive species aren't usually something to celebrate, because they can wreak havoc on native ecosystems in ways impossible to undo. But other invaders have gotten a much warmer welcome. One listener wonders why some non-native species – like brown trout and rainbows – are so valued in Montana.
Montana Public Radio's newsroom has been recognized as among the best reporting in our region and in the country. MTPR received 18 local, regional and national awards from journalism associations for work done in 2025. On the music side, "Musician's Spotlight" was once again awarded Noncommercial Radio Program of the Year. Check out some of the award-winning stories.
Whether you’re in the crowd or listening from home, on the road or by the lake, we’ve got you covered from the opening note to the final encore, and beyond.
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This program features a tribute to composer and pianist Phillip Aaberg who passed away May 23rd of 2026. This episode features archival recordings of two Spotlight programs from past seasons. One is from a 2002 show produced by former program co-host Brian Kopper, and the second features host John Floridis' visit with Phil from 2013.
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This week on ‘The Write Question,’ host Lauren Korn speaks with Emily Haworth-Booth about motherhood and language in her debut novel, ‘Mare’ (Farrar, Straus and Giroux).
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It was an unseasonably warm first week of January. One late afternoon, as golden sunlight hid behind grey stratocumulus clouds hanging over the Clark Fork River, I came upon a Great Blue Heron.
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation on Monday. And, the U.S. and Iran have agreed to a "roadmap" to reach a final deal within 60 days.
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One of the world's leading brain research centers is shifting away from fruit flies and toward a tiny, transparent fish. The goal: to understand how brains control the behavior of an animal or human.
