Kristine de Leon
Southwest Montana reporterkristine.deleon@mtpr.org
510-225-8231
Kristine de Leon covers Butte and Southwest Montana for MTPR. Before barging onto the radio, she worked as a newspaper reporter in Butte and eastern Oregon. She’s also had stints working as a digital producer for a TV news station and moonlighting as a coder/web developer. In her spare time, you might find her gravel biking, cross country skiing or attempting (fruitlessly) to reel in trout on the Big Hole.
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Public schools have been able to provide free meals to all students regardless of their families’ income because of waivers Congress passed at the start of the pandemic. But families could soon have to start paying for their kids’ lunches again as food prices rise. -
New data from the U.S. Census Bureau released Thursday show half of Montana counties reported more deaths than births from April 2020 to July 2021. -
It’s not easy being a rancher, and while some are giving up, others are trying to hold on in the face of stagnating cattle prices and industry consolidation. While retail beef prices are at record highs, cattle ranchers say those profits aren’t trickling down to them. -
A recent University of Montana tourism survey shows that more Montanans than ever think tourism is overcrowding the state and impacting their quality of life. -
A sea of green descended on Butte’s streets Thursday as the city’s famous St. Patrick’s Day Parade returned in full swing for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic shut it down two years ago. -
The Montana Supreme Court this week approved temporary rules that outline procedures for expunging or revising marijuana-related convictions. -
Copper prices have reached an all time high. On Monday the London Market Exchange and Comex listed copper at $4.90 per pound. -
Masks are no longer required at Butte public schools. Board members of the Butte School District voted unanimously Tuesday to make face coverings optional. A separate requirement for masks to be worn on school buses remains in place due to federal regulations. -
Butte-Silver Bow County is the latest local jurisdiction in Montana looking to add a local excise tax on cannabis sales. -
It takes speed, stamina and livestock savvy when it comes to auctioning cattle. And Steve Goedert is one of the best in the country.
