Helena Montana

A fire that began Thursday at the intersection of Highway 12 and Spokane Creek Road has led to evacuation orders for the west shore of Canyon Ferry Reservoir and Matt Staff Road in Helena.

The Black Sandy Fire burning in the hills north of Helena prompted about 30 households to evacuate this afternoon.

Around 30 Montana teens with disabilities from all over the state are in Helena this week for the Montana Youth Leadership Forum. The students practiced becoming the state’s next leaders during a mock legislative session.

A flash flood in Helena on Sunday carried debris downtown, swelled into some buildings and downed a few trees.

This week, Montanans celebrated the 50th anniversary of the state’s constitution in Helena. The two-day celebration came with a warning: the document’s legacy is not guaranteed.

The Montana Constitution turned 50-years-old this June. The people who wrote it, have studied it and created policy based on it are celebrating in Helena this week.

In Montana, there’s a new state requirement to test all K-12 schools for lead in water fixtures. Outdated and deteriorating plumbing infrastructure is a primary source of lead exposure, and young children under six years of age are particularly vulnerable.

Forest officials are asking people to avoid the Rodney Ridge trail during the burn, and be cautious around fire personnel and engines.

Shodair Children’s Hospital recently broke ground near its current campus on a new 25,000-square-foot building that will house a psychiatric outpatient clinic and medical genetics department.

The COVID-19 Omicron variant is forcing changes to contract tracing in the state. It's also amplifying staff shortages at hospitals.