A proposal to federally recognize Montana’s Little Shell Tribe advanced a step in the U.S. Senate today. As lawmakers continue crafting the state’s budget, officials with Montana’s health department say the state’s Medicaid programs need more funds to keep up with caseloads. Montana has more U.S. citizens on the streets after the state added two extra naturalization ceremonies due to a large number of citizenship applications. The Montana Supreme Court has upheld the deliberate homicide

The U.S. Forest Service can hire firefighters this year after winning an exemption from President Trump’s civilian governmental employee hiring freeze. The state House is scheduled to debate a measure to stop the Montana State Hospital from releasing homeless, mentally ill patients into the streets or to homeless shelters. The Montana Senate has passed a bill that would increase the number of notices that must be made to people who are delinquent on their property taxes and make it clear that if

While Representative Ryan Zinke awaits a full Senate confirmation vote to become the next Secretary of the Interior under Donald Trump’s Administration, many Montanans are left wondering when that vote will actually happen. Former Montana Attorney General Mike Greely died Jan. 26 at his family cabin along the Missouri River. He was 76. Greeley served as attorney general from 1977 through 1988. A sixth Democrat has expressed intent to fill Montana’s House seat if Ryan Zinke is confirmed to lead

Montana’s senior senator has introduced three bills that he says would increase transparency and accountability in elections. A Senate committee has advanced legislation that would prevent patients from receiving huge bills from air ambulance providers that are not in-network with their insurance plans. Montana’s bitterly cold winter is hitting Northwestern Energy customers in the pocketbook. The Montana Legislature won't make any changes to a bill that Gov. Steve Bullock said disproportionately

A bill in the Montana House would eliminate the office of the Commissioner of Political Practices. Wildlife advocates say they'll fight the government's request to lift a 2015 injunction barring construction of an irrigation dam on the Yellowstone River in a legal dispute over the fate of the pallid sturgeon, a fast-disappearing, endangered fish. Montana Gov. Steve Bullock is using his veto power to recommend that the Legislature reduce the amount of money it approved for itself to operate this

President Donald Trump’s nominee to run the Veterans Affairs Department says there are no easy fixes for what ails that beleaguered agency. U.S. Sen. Steve Daines has been appointed chairman of the Senate's subcommittee on national parks. The Chairman of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes delivered the State of the Tribal Nations Address in the state Capitol today. A Montana legislative panel has approved a measure that would bar the public release of mug shots until after a person is

Republican Congressman Ryan Zinke advanced in today’s nomination vote for Secretary of the Interior, in the GOP-led Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Montana Senator Jon Tester today announced his opposition to former Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson’s nomination to be Secretary of State in the Trump administration. The House Taxation Committee will hear a bill Wednesday that would raise taxes for Montanans making more than $400,000 a year in taxable income.

The annual rally in support of keeping public lands publicly-owned at the state capitol today filled the building’s rotunda with chanting supporters. The Montana House on Monday endorsed a bill that would require the governor to reimburse the state for any use of the state airplane that includes campaign stops. Montana’s U.S. senators are split on the Trump administration’s temporary ban on travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries.

The Montana House has given preliminary approval to two bills that add whistleblower protections to the state's ethics code. State wildlife officials have killed four bighorn sheep after they mixed with domestic sheep south of Cascade. Montana's U.S. senators have asked the government for an emergency waiver from the REAL ID Act that requires driver's licenses to have security enhancements and be issued to those who can prove they are in the country legally. The public comment period on a

Proposals to loosen gun restrictions in Montana are being revived by Republican lawmakers who are undeterred that similar bills were shot down in past legislative sessions. Attorney general Tim Fox today said the city of Missoula cannot enforce an ordinance requiring a background check for most gun sales or transfers within city limits. The Montana Senate has rebuffed an attempt to strip a bill of language admonishing a judge for allegedly overstepping his authority.