Edward F. O'Brien
General Assignment ReporterEdward O’Brien first landed at Montana Public Radio three decades ago as a news intern while attending the University of Montana School of Journalism. His first career job out of school was covering the 1995 Montana Legislature. When the session wrapped up, O’Brien was fortunate enough to land a full-time position at the station as a general assignment reporter.
Feel free to drop him a line at edward.obrien@umt.edu.
(406) 243-4065
-
State lawmakers heard testimony last week on the connection between wildfires and skyrocketing insurance rates. Average insurance premiums for a typical Montana homeowner increased by 10% from 2021-2024. -
This past winter was defined by historic warmth in the Rockies. Long-term spring forecasts look similar – warmer and drier than normal. -
State legislators received an update Wednesday on the goals of the federal government’s effort to streamline wildfire fighting resources. The Wildland Fire Service unifies operations previously managed by several federal agencies. -
Jew Mountain sits in rugged country on the BItterroot National Forest east of Painted Rocks Reservoir. One listener was curious about how the mountain got its name. The search for an answer revealed some family ties, a slice of history and a deeper story about geography, genealogy and why words matter. -
Montana Republican Sen. Tim Sheehy joined Capitol Police as they ejected a man protesting military action in Iran from a committee hearing. Sheehy ran to help the officers remove Brian McGinnis, a Marine Corps veteran and Senate candidate. During the scuffle, McGinnis’s arm appears to snap. -
The spring-like weather that’s gripped Montana since before Christmas shows almost no signs of going away. -
The University of Montana hopes to hire its next president by spring. The university system’s top leader concedes it’s an ambitious timeline, but is confident all building blocks are in place to make it possible. -
University of Montana President Seth Bodnar’s resignation announcement Wednesday sent shock waves across the state. It also led to more questions than answers.
-
Montana Highway Patrol Troopers are now accepting Mobile IDs, an optional and new alternative to traditional driver’s licenses. -
Hydrologists are calling Montana's first snowpack report of the year “a tale of two snowpacks.” There's plenty of snowpack in the high mountain ranges, but lower elevation areas are below average.
