Montana Public Radio

Eric Whitney

News Director

Eric Whitney is NPR's Mountain West/Great Plains Bureau Chief, and was the former news director for Montana Public Radio.

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Montana's Outdoors: Good For...Software Developers?

By • Sep 4, 2019
About 200 people attended the festival's business panel at the Wilma Theater in Missoula
Eric Whitney

Groups promoting the economic value of public lands in Montana held their third annual Last Best Outdoors Fest event to get their message out in Missoula yesterday.

The event brought bands, beer and information booths to Caras Park downtown, and a panel of business leaders to speak at the Wilma theatre.

"We aren’t just a place you can come visit, but we’re a place that you can come make a living," said Evan Tipton, who was on the panel.

New Fires In Cascade, Lake Counties

By • Sep 2, 2019
Posted on Cascade County Sheriff's Office Facebook page Mon. 9/2/19
Casecade County Sheriff's Office

Tester Fires Back After Trump Disses Wheat

By • Aug 14, 2019
Wheat
(PD)

Montana senator and wheat farmer Jon Tester is firing back after President Trump mocked the role of wheat in trade with Japan. 

BLM Approves Purchase Of 7,300 Acres Of Land Northeast Of Missoula

By • Aug 13, 2019
A Nature Conservancy representative points out portions of the land that make up the Clearwater-Blackfoot Project in the Blackfoot Valley. January 2015.
Christopher B. Allen / Montana Public Radio

The U.S. Interior Department approved a plan to purchase 7,300 acres of former private timber lands northeast of Missoula. 

The former Plum Creek Timber company property was acquired by The Nature Conservancy in 2014. And now, as part of a deal several years in the works, that non-profit is selling it to the Bureau of Land management for $5.6 million.

Daines, Gun Control Advocates Spar In Missoula

By & • Aug 12, 2019
Montana Sen. Steve Daines speaks during a City Club Missoula forum in Missoula, August 12, 2019.
Edward O'Brien / Montana Public Radio

Montana’s Republican U.S. senator maintained his opposition to gun control legislation during his appearance Monday at a Missoula luncheon.

Some in the audience vehemently disagreed with his position.

Montana Wildfire Roundup For August 6, 2019

By • Aug 6, 2019
A helicopter working the Horsefly Fire near Lincoln, MT, August 6, 2019.
Courtesy Andrea Malucky

Updated 3:50 p.m., August 6, 2019

The Snow Creek Fire is about 20 miles northeast of Condon in the Bob Marshall Wilderness area with spotting across the South Fork of the Flathead River.

The lightning-caused fire was called in August 2 at 10 p.m. and is burning 475 acres.

New Book Details Reporter's 30 Years In Montana's Political Trenches

By • Jul 31, 2019
The History Press

Mike Dennison has had a front row seat to Montana politics for three decades as a reporter for the Great Falls Tribune, Lee Newspapers, and now MTN News.

He's got a new book out about his experiences: Inside Montana Politics, A Reporter's View from the Trenches.

Montana Wildfire Roundup for July 30, 2019

By • Jul 30, 2019
North Hills fire briefing at the Helena Valley Community Center Monday, July 29
Corin Cates-Carney

Updated 4:50 p.m.

A little after 4 p.m. the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s office Facebook page announced a new evacuation due to a new wildfire for the Beaver Creek area near Nelson. It says a roadblock is in place at the York Bar preventing traffic from traveling north. Travel is still permitted east toward Vigilante Campground.

Montana Wildfire Roundup For July 29, 2019

By • Jul 29, 2019
A map of the North Hills fire area and associated evacuation zones, current as of the morning of July 29, 2019.
InciWeb

Updated 4:45 p.m., July 29, 2019

Lewis and Clark County Emergency Management says it will live-stream tonight's 6:00 p.m. public meeting on the North Hills Fire on it's Facebook page, and that Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation will, too. Click here to go to Lewis and Clark County Emergency Management's Facebook page.

Montana Wildfire Roundup For July 28, 2019

By • Jul 28, 2019
Map of the North Hills fire perimeter and evacuation areas, published 4PM Sunday here:https://bit.ly/2SJqZB1
InciWeb

Updated 10:03 p.m., July 28, 2019

For the North Hills fire, the Red Cross has opened a shelter at Helena First Assembly of God church 2210 Dodge Ave.

Duane Buchi, a spokesperson for the team fighting the North Hills fire says, “the weather treated us a little bit better today, not quite the same winds that we had (Saturday), and fairly moderate (fire) behavior.”

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