Montana Newscasts

A U.S. Senate committee advanced two bills Wednesday that aim to beef up law enforcement’s response to the missing persons crisis in Indian Country.

Two stonefly species found in Glacier National Park were listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act on Wednesday due to the impacts of climate change, according to a rule published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

A mandatory 35% fine that’s been on the books for certain drug cases since 1995 was ruled unconstitutional by the Montana Supreme Court.

The Environmental Protection Agency has put a stop to ‘Bag O’Slag,’ sandwich bags filled with mining waste sold by the Anaconda Chamber of Commerce.

An inmate at Havre’s Hill County jail died Sunday after a fight with another inmate.

The head of Montana’s Public Service Commission says he didn’t intentionally hide from the public the panel’s approval of a $6.5 million rate hike for NorthWestern Energy customers.

Flathead’s Bigfork High School has its first school resource officer in 11 years.

NorthWestern Energy is asking state utility regulators to sign off on the company’s request to increase their customers’ electric bills by $23.8 million for one year.

A debate between Montana Republican gubernatorial contenders is moving forward in Helena despite the absence of one of the candidates.

Gov. Steve Bullock will again miss the debate stage in his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. 

The State-Tribal Relations Committee is pressing Montana’s Congressional delegation to do more to increase public input and tribal consultation on the Keystone XL pipeline.

A journalism union based in Wyoming is criticizing executive leadership for recent layoffs at the Billings Gazette.

The mortality rate of grizzly bears in northwestern Montana has prompted a group of bear researchers to challenge whether the grizzly should be removed from federal protection. 

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission has decided to seek public input for easing crowding on the scenic Madison River in southwestern Montana.

The Lewis and Clark County Republican Central Committee has decided to postpone a gubernatorial candidate debate it had planned to sponsor in Helena later this month until all three candidates can attend.

Montana lawmakers are meeting for a week in January to study whether the state legislature should meet every year.

Former Madison County Sheriff Roger Thompson was found guilty of misconduct in Virginia City Thursday. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on perjury and evidence tampering charges.

First-time visitors to Yellowstone National Park become more frustrated by perceived crowding problems the longer they stay, according to a new National Park Service study.

Two more cases of lung injuries associated with vaping products were confirmed in Montana on Thursday.

The Montana Public Service Commission has approved a $6.5 million rate increase for NorthWestern Energy customers, less than 20 percent of the increase the utility initially sought. 

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is offering a reward for information about four trophy mule deer bucks poached north of Hardin. 

Lewis and Clark County will no longer have partisan elections for leadership offices. 

A fourth Republican is entering Montana’s primary race for secretary of state.

An early-morning fire burned a commercial building and two homes in West Yellowstone.