Climate Change

After winning a landmark climate case at the state level last year, a group of young Montanans are taking the fight to the federal government. They presented their arguments to a judge in Missoula last week.

Plaintiffs suing the Trump administration over its energy policies argue the executive orders to boost fossil fuel development jeopardize their health. A federal court in Missoula heard arguments in the case this week.

Montana homeowners have two more weeks to apply for property tax rebates. The rebate tops out at $400; Gov. Greg Gianforte is creating a task force to focus on boosting energy development in Montana. A new report focuses on how climate change is impacting our health.

State utility regulators have rejected part of a petition to consider climate change in their decision-making; State regulators deny petition to for higher selenium standard in Lake Koocanusa; A Missoula homeless shelter closed last week as pandemic funding ends.

The Trump administration wants to repeal greenhouse gas regulations that limit emissions for cars and a variety of other sources. State law prevents Montana from having air pollution standards stricter than the federal government.

Temperatures can vary widely across a city, even in the same neighborhood. As the climate heats up, volunteers in Missoula are mapping hot spots in their community.

As the song says, “don’t go chasing waterfalls” — unless you’re a research team looking for an elusive bird that only nests in the “splash zone.” MTPR’s Ellis Juhlin recently joined one such group on a scouting trip.

The Montana Supreme Court last year ordered state environmental regulators to redo their assessment of a power plant near Laurel. The new report is out, but environmental advocates aren’t happy.

A new report suggests Montana’s drought could deepen significantly this summer. Already, 60 percent of Montana is in moderate to extreme drought. Another 15 percent is abnormally dry. State officials have agreed to release water from Silver Lake to improve flows to the Clark Fork

If you’ve driven along Flathead Lake in the summer, you’re familiar with the rows of cherry trees and roadside stands selling the bright red fruit. But last year, a freeze in January killed nearly all of the summer crop. Growers say this year will be better.