John Hooks

Everywhere you look in Montana, there are places to gamble. Odds are good you've seen machines in bars, liquor stores and of course, gas stations. How did Montana end up with so many "casinos," and what does it have to do with bingo? The only sure bet is that The Big Why team has the answers.

BLM to begin speedy review of central Montana gas pipeline plan. Flathead Lake dam operators aim to preserve water levels. Ag irrigation ends early on the Milk River.

Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road is expected to fully open to traffic June 16. Montana housing officials will reopen the waitlist for Section 8 rental assistance. A grizzly bear was killed near Seeley Lake while charging a person.

Butte residents Wednesday voiced their concerns on the possibility a new state women’s prison is built in town. The Department of Corrections has Butte on a shortlist of potential locations.

A state program lets Montana nonprofits design special license plates to help raise funds for their organization. There’s an option for any charismatic Montana animal, university sports team or social cause you want to support. There are also three versions of a 'Don't Tread on Me' plate. One listener wants to know why. MTPR's John Hooks has the story behind the state's 200 license plate options – including the most popular choice.

The number of Canadian tourists visiting the Flathead and Glacier regions this spring has declined compared to last year. That has industry leaders casting a cautious eye toward the summer.

State officials and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) this year gained sizable water rights east of Missoula. Last week, they solicited feedback from water users on how they intend to exercise that right.

Tourists contributed over $300 million to the state tax base and supported nearly 40,000 jobs in 2024. That’s according to a new report from researchers at the University of Montana. While that economic boost keeps most residents supportive of the industry, concerns about overcrowding are growing in gateway communities.

Here's a list of major bills from Montana's 2025 legislative session signed into law or left behind in the Legislature.

The future of Montana’s two Job Corps centers is at risk. That’s due to a proposal from the Trump Administration to eliminate the program in its entirety. The Job Corps provides education and trade apprenticeships to low-income Americans ages 16 to 24. Montana’s centers, in Darby and Anaconda, have a specific focus on forestry, conservation and firefighting work.