Montana State University

Briefs: The lower Big Hole River is under a full fishing closure due to drought and heat; Jefferson County Commissioners have appointed a new legislator to an open seat. Montana State University says it will continue providing Native American cultural programs thanks to a renewed $2.4 million grant.

Wally McRae – cowboy poet, Colstrip rancher, lover of literature and the land - died last weekend at the age of 89.

Montana’s two largest universities are bracing for a gravitational shift in how college athletics are regulated. A pending court settlement is expected to allow schools to pay student athletes for the first time.

The U.S. Department of Education is investigating Montana State University for allegedly violating civil rights by partnering with an organization that historically promoted diversity in doctorate programs.

Montana’s public universities conduct hundreds of millions of dollars in scientific research each year, and the bulk of that money comes from the federal government. Some on campus are rallying to support research amid the uncertainty and possible loss of funding.

Montana’s public universities believe they’re in compliance with recent Trump Administration orders banning diversity practices in higher ed. At least one campus is quickly combing through its departments to make sure that’s the case.

The Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is once again underway in Missoula. The annual event spotlights real life stories, some with international flavor and plenty from right here in our own backyard. MTPR's Austin Amestoy sat down with the director of a film recounting the dramatic days before, during and after the 2022 Yellowstone floods.

Montana wildlife officials this week announced that surveys of fish populations in the Upper Missouri Basin showed minimal signs of infection; Director Paul Green is leaving his role at the head of the Commerce Department, effective immediately.

Farming and ranching combined generate billions of dollars in revenue and employ tens of thousands of Montanans. They’re also on the cusp of a generational sea change. One listener wants to know how young people are being encouraged and prepared for life as a farmer or rancher.

The flagship campuses of the Montana University System report strong enrollment and retention rates.