Austin Amestoy
Morning Edition Host and ReporterAustin graduated from the University of Montana’s journalism program in May 2022. He came to MTPR as an evening newscast intern that summer, and jumped at the chance to join full-time as the station’s morning voice in Fall 2022. He also hosts MTPR's podcast "The Big Why," where he joins other MTPR reporters in answering listener questions about Montana.
Austin grew up in Laurel, Montana, and loves covering all things state politics, policy and beyond. In his free time, Austin enjoys creative writing, watching and critiquing films, and long walks through Fort Missoula.
He is best reached by emailing austin.amestoy@umt.edu.
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Montana’s frontier days were stuffed with gold, greed and political corruption — and all three played a part in drawing the state’s western boundary with Idaho. A listener wants to know how that squiggly line came to be. Find out now on The Big Why. -
A three-person crew walked away unharmed from a medical helicopter crash in Lincoln early Tuesday morning. -
Last school year, the state implemented a new standardized test designed to make sure students are meeting state and federal requirements. But teachers say the rollout has been a mess. -
Montana was one of the last states in the nation that allowed schools to disenroll students with disabilities once they turned 18, according to nonprofit Disability Rights Montana. Advocacy director Tal Goldin says the organization sued the state earlier this year to end that policy. It won this month when Montana opted to settle the suit. -
Helena voters next month will decide the fate of a more than quarter-billion-dollar public school bond. District officials say their buildings are crumbling, and without new facilities or major improvements, students and teachers could be forced to make painful compromises. Helena Independent Record education reporter Sonny Tapia has been following the story and joined MTPR’s Austin Amestoy with more. -
NorthWestern Energy announces merger with a South Dakota utility company; Health officials confirm Lewis and Clark County measles case; Montanans can now use a digital driver's license*. -
The Environmental Protection Agency says it’s halting a program that could have helped low-income Montanans reduce their power bills. The “Solar for All” program, which helped homeowners buy and install solar panels, was eliminated by the President's tax and spending bill. -
This week, we’re tackling more of a “big where” than a why. A listener wants to know, where does our recycling go in Montana? -
Last month, a Missoula native became the youngest woman to swim the length of Flathead Lake. The 28 mile swim took Bella Seagrave from Somers to Polson. -
A Missoula middle-school Lego engineering team won national recognition this summer for their big idea to clean the Earth’s oceans. MTPR’s Austin Amestoy visited the students at the Western Montana Fair to learn more.
