An infectious disease lab in western Montana is joining the worldwide effort to study a coronavirus that originated in China, has infected over 28,000 people and killed more than 560. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for the Great Falls, Helena, Butte, and Bozeman areas. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials are proposing extending the wolf hunting and trapping seasons in northwestern Montana.

Montana’s U.S. Senators split their votes along party lines, as expected, on the two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. The speaker of the Montana House is conceding the Legislature will likely do nothing to sanction a state representative for his comments about socialism. Coal mining in the top U.S. coal-producing region was down sharply at the end of 2019 compared to the year before.

Gallatin County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to offer up to six weeks of paid parental leave to county employees.It’s the second Montana county to offer the benefit. The Environmental Protection Agency has announced that it is removing a portion of a former wood-treatment facility in Montana from its list of Superfund sites, despite concerns. Montana’s two U.S. Senators indicated they’ll split their votes along party lines on articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.

House Minority Leader Casey Schreiner dropped out of the race Monday, leaving just two candidates running in the Montana Democratic primary race for governor. The Montana Republican Party has condemned a comment made by Billings state Rep. Rodney Garcia, who said the U.S. Constitution calls for people who identify as socialists to be jailed or shot. On Monday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency removed part of a former wood-treating operation in northeast Bozeman from a list of the nation

Montana's Judicial Standards Commission filed a complaint against a Billings judge Friday, alleging she violated rules of conduct while running for office in 2018. A Montana prosecutor is pursuing criminal charges against three Crow tribe officials involved in an attempt last year to oust the tribe’s chairman. Montana’s U.S. Senators have split along party lines on the question to call witnesses in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.

It may be winter but fire danger around Montana could spike this weekend when a system with strong winds, dry conditions and possible record highs for parts of Montana blows in on Saturday. Yellowstone National Park officials say the coyote that attacked and injured a cross country skier Tuesday has tested negative for rabies. The unidentified 43-year-old woman was bitten by a coyote while skiing in the Canyon Village area.

A Montana school district looking to combat an anticipated budget deficit of more than $1 million has announced it will provide early retirement incentives to roughly 40 veteran teachers. Earlier this month, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock's administration raised concerns that a legislative audit of the Medicaid program might impact the state's bond rating and its ability to finance infrastructure work. Nearly 170 volunteers turned up Wednesday morning to search for a missing Great Falls woman who

The Environmental Protection Agency says another Libby Asbestos Superfund Site unit is ready to be delisted. Plans for construction of the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline inched forward last week with several approvals at the federal and state levels. Montana saw wage growth in 2019 but an economic slowdown is expected in coming years, according to University of Montana researchers.

The Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians celebrated the tribe’s recently won federal recognition in Great Falls this weekend. State and Federal wildlife managers are offering a first-of-its-kind summit on grizzly bear education in Helena this week.

Montana Public Radio evening newscast for January 24, 2020.