Jeff Pattison

Two candidates are vying for the open District 1 seat on the Public Service Commission. This district is the biggest in the state by land and covers much of eastern Montana, from the Rocky Boy’s Reservation to Glendive and Miles City. MTPR’s Clayton Murphy speaks with Keila Szpaller, deputy editor of the Daily Montanan, about the race and what this election may mean for Montanans.

When a siphon blew out on the St. Mary Canal last month the link between thousands of Montanans and an important water source was broken. Estimates from government officials and irrigators say there's enough water to get the Hi-line through the short term. But farmers fear an economic disaster for the region if a fix doesn't come next year .