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Dozens of rural communities are reaching a critical point with infrastructure at risk of crumbling. Many small towns can’t afford upgrades to things like water lines and sewers on their own. Limited funds leave some towns searching for solutions.

Childcare facilities around the state struggle with staffing and affordability. The challenges of finding and affording childcare seen across the state are worse in rural areas, where providers are scarce and wages tend to be lower. Legislators are assessing bills to subsidize childcare access.

At least once a week, an eye doctor flies across northeast Montana to reach patients who may be hundreds of miles from the nearest eye doctor. As the state's population ages, the demand for eye care increases, especially in rural communities.

Montana’s water operators are responsible for keeping drinking water clean and sewers running. But in rural towns, many are aging out of the workforce. Finding replacements for these operators caught between dedication and retirement hasn't been easy.

Canada is Montana’s largest trading partner. But, the ongoing U.S. trade war is putting pressure on that relationship. That's led to higher costs, shrinking markets and uncertainty for Montana farmers as they begin their planting season.

This year, 12 Native American legislators from across the state made up the Montana American Indian Caucus. The group was largely successful in passing policy with major impacts for tribal communities. "This session particularly felt that we were a force as the Montana American Indian Caucus," Rep. Tyson Running Wolf said.

MTPR's Ellis Juhlin reached out to listeners to find out what environmental reporting they wanted to hear more about. She sat down with MTPR's Austin Amestoy to share what she learned.

Montana’s Flathead Valley cherry industry relies heavily on migrant labor. This year, President Donald Trump’s immigration policies threw the industry into a new level of uncertainty. This year, workers hesitated to cross state lines.

A Montana couple is donating their multimillion dollar cattle ranch to preserve its conservation legacy and keep the land in the hands of locals. It's the largest ranchland donation in the history of Montana. The land sits among some of the state's best remaining habitat for threatened grassland birds.

Lincoln County was hit hard by flooding from winter storms in 2025. Records of major floods in the area date nearly 100 years. A closer look at that history shows decades of mitigation measures, plans and preparations that officials say prevented further catastrophe in December.