Montana Democrats are trying to decide who will be their party's nominee to challenge Greg Gianforte for the state's lone seat in the U.S. House. That'll be a big challenge for the five candidates campaigning to win the nomination in June's primary election, because there are significant splits in the Democratic party in Montana and nationwide.

Before it passed, all three members of Montana’s congressional delegation praised at least some aspects of the federal omnibus spending bill . But in the end, only Democrat Jon Tester voted for the bill, which President Trump signed into law earlier today.

Caseworkers in Montana’s foster care system are now receiving additional training and consultation on their work with extreme childhood trauma. Sheila Hogan, director of Department of Public Health and Human Services, says the new education program, which kicked off in February, will allow the state’s child welfare workers to seek advice from health care professionals on some of their most challenging cases.

A new law passed last year aimed at easing overcrowding in Montana’s jails isn’t rolling out as fast as some state officials had hoped. But it could be put into effect in the coming months. The new pretrial release plan would allow the state to let some people, who are not a risk of skipping their trial or committing another crime, to stay out of jail.

A proposal in Congress to ban mining near Yellowstone National Park appears to have been dealt a significant setback.

There will be no more so-called "fire-borrowing" from the U.S. Forest Service if the big federal spending bill Congress is working on passes. Both of Montana's U.S. Senators confirmed today that the spending bill expected to be voted on this week fundamentally changes how America pays to fight wildfires .

An advisory council to the governor is considering a change to Montana's law on predicting drought conditions, following the historic 2017 fire season that caught state officials by surprise. This time last year, Governor Steve Bullock’s Drought and Water Supply Advisory Committee did not expect drought to be an issue for Montana in the warmer months of 2017. The committee sent their annual report to the governor last April when streamflows were high and spring rain was falling.

After denouncing one of its candidates last week, the Montana Green Party has received commitment statements from five remaining candidates running for congressional and state legislative seats.

Republican candidates running to challenge Democratic Senator Jon Tester are holding their first primary debate of the year this Thursday at Montana State University. The debate will be hosted by the College Republicans at MSU and will run from 6 - 9 p.m. in Ballroom A of the Strand Union Building. Democrats have so far held four debates with their candidates seeking to run against Republican incumbent Greg Gianforte , for Montana’s seat in the U.S House.

Sally Mauk, Chuck Johnson and Rob Saldin discuss The Green Party's possible role as election spoiler; dissect the new campaign ads; and weigh in on press censorship in the Flathead, Sheriff Clarke's urgent call to anger, and Joe Biden's lament of the degradation of the Oval office. Listen in now on "Campaign Beat."