Helena Montana

Helena voters approved two school bonds by a few hundred votes, unofficial results showed Wednesday. A new high school, elementary school and extensive renovations are on the way.

Helena voters next month will decide the fate of a more than quarter-billion-dollar public school bond. District officials say their buildings are crumbling, and without new facilities or major improvements, students and teachers could be forced to make painful compromises. Helena Independent Record education reporter Sonny Tapia has been following the story and joined MTPR’s Austin Amestoy with more.

The City of Helena next week begins a two-month long hazardous fuels reduction project.. That means portions of some local hiking trails will be temporarily closed.

Memorial plans for former Montana Congressman Pat Williams are set and open to the public. Williams passed away Wednesday.

The day was abnormally rainy and cold for June in Montana, with clouds hanging low over Mount Sentinel, but that didn’t stop artists from setting up shop in long lines of white tents throughout Caras Park.

Helena Public Schools trustees voted to close its historic Hawthorne Elementary. The district cites the need to close a budget gap.

A woman is dead after allegedly threatening to kill a judge and staff in the Lewis and Clark County Courthouse Friday afternoon. A city spokesperson says officers shot and killed the woman, who was reportedly armed at the courthouse, when she failed to comply with their commands.

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries power everything from our phones and laptops to power tools and personal medical devices. But those discarded lithium batteries are also exploding in our landfills and starting fires. MTPR’s Edward O’Brien reports on Lewis and Clark County's efforts to address the problem.

The Environmental Protection Agency announced it will do additional cleanup of residential yards in East Helena that have been contaminated by lead.

The 30th annual Montana Pride took place in Helena over the weekend. Drag performances and story hours were able to proceed after a recent ruling blocked a new drag ban from going into effect. MTPR's Ellis Juhlin has more on the weekend and the legislation that could have changed it.