Montana’s Medicaid expansion program, which provides more than 93,000 people in the state health coverage, expires in just over a year. Campaigns are now underway to stop that from happening and to lobby support for the health care program.

Americans had until midnight Wednesday to file their taxes this year. Next year, they’ll be filing under the tax cuts signed into law by President Donald Trump. Montana’s Republican U.S. House Rep. Greg Gianforte is pretty excited about that.

Governor Steve Bullock launched a statewide tour today to, in his words, "highlight the health and economic benefits of Medicaid" in Montana. At Missoula’s Providence Hospital, Bullock cited a University of Montana economic analysis released last week that says the Medicaid expansion Montana launched in 2015 will pay for itself . It found that expansion offsets other state agency costs, and yields economic benefits that exceed state spending on Medicaid expansion .

The band Pearl Jam is embarking on a brief, four city North American tour that includes a show in Missoula. Part of the proceeds from the concert will go to a get-out-the-vote effort in Montana. The band’s founding member, bassist, Montana native and part-time Missoula resident Jeff Ament sat down in our studios with Sally Mauk to talk about that – and about music and politics.

A group called Free and Fair Montana is urging voters to oppose the so-called “bathroom ballot” initiative that would require people to use public restrooms and locker rooms that align with the gender on their birth certificate rather than the gender by which they live and identify.

In less than two months, Montana voters will head to the polls to select challengers for U.S. Democratic Senator Jon Tester and Republican Congressman Greg Gianforte. Between now and the June 5 primary , Montana Public Radio is talking with voters about political issues important to them. I hung out at a pro-gun rally in Kalispell’s Depot Park this weekend to hear what’s on voters’ minds.

On the same day Second Amendment advocates demonstrated at state capitols across America, an unaffiliated pro-gun rally in Kalispell drew about 200 people this weekend. Speakers at the locally organized "Rally For Our Rights/Pro-Gun Rally" in Kalispell’s Depot Park said they spoke for a section of America’s youth that’s been overlooked as the media covers a swell of anti-gun sentiment following a deadly school shooting in Florida.

Flathead County Republicans hosted their annual Lincoln Reagan Brunch at the county fairgrounds on Sunday. Amid old-timey camp songs, against a backdrop of a swimming pool-sized American flag, half of the men hoping to win the Republican nomination to challenge Senator Jon Tester in the upcoming midterm primaries sat down for a candidate forum.

Democratic candidates are divided on health care; a new no-frills campaign ad; some candidates soften their stance on gun control; money can buy political happiness; and remembering former Montana Senator and U.S. Rep. "Doc" Melcher. Learn more on this episode of "Campaign Beat," with Sally Mauk, Chuck Johnson and Rob Saldin.

Former Montana Democratic U.S. Senator John Melcher died Thursday. Melcher’s daughter Joan, says her dad died peacefully at his home in a chair overlooking Missoula’s Rattlesnake Creek. His 35-year political career included seven years in the House and two terms in the U.S. Senate.