A U.S. District Court judge Thursday ordered the reinstatement of an oil and gas industry regulation that aims to lower harmful methane emissions. Environmental groups say it’s a win for states including Montana.

On Wednesday, Montana Public Radio aired a story about Senator Steve Daines’ visit to Missoula. In that story, we heard from two people who were critical of Daines for not sticking to his schedule, accusing him of trying to evade the public. Today, we were contacted by the Senator’s Chief of Staff, Jason Thielman, who thought it was important for listeners to know more about the people we heard from.

Montana ranks among the top three states in the nation per capita for traumatic brain injuries, according to industry workers and advocacy groups. Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, include strokes, brain infections, or a hit to the head that causes brain damage.

Two healthcare groups plan to ask Montana voters to continue the state’s Medicaid expansion in November, and to fund it with a higher tax on tobacco . The Montana Hospital Association and the American Heart Association filed ballot language today.

Missoula high school students marched in protest against gun violence Wednesday in Missoula, joining students across the country.

This story was updated at 2:20 PM Friday, Feb. 23, 2018 with the following editor's note: Today, we were contacted by the Senator’s Chief of Staff, Jason Thielman, who thought it was important for listeners to know more about the people quoted in the story below. Click here to read Mr. Thielman's comments. Montana Republican U.S. Senator Steve Daines made several stops in Western Montana today, including a brewery tour in Philipsburg.

Students in Helena are joining the March For Our Lives movement spurred by the slaying of 17 people at a school in Parkland, Florida last week. They met Wednesday night.

Now that Montana is a few months removed from a special legislative session called by Governor Bullock to balance the state budget , Montana Public Radio is checking in with Democratic and Republican legislative leaders to get their thoughts on what’s happened since they left Helena. Party leaders on both sides of the aisle have blamed each other for some of the results of cuts in state spending made amid the more than $200 million budget shortfall. The greatest public outcry is coming over the

At this point, there are at least nine people running to challenge Democrat Jon Tester and Republican Greg Gianforte in November. The parties will select their candidates in the primary elections in June. Between now and then, MTPR will be checking in with voters across Montana to hear what issues are important to them, and what they’re looking for in a candidate. Last week, Nora Saks chatted with some members of Montana Backcountry Hunters and Anglers at an event they held at Missoula’s

The primary race that will select political challengers for U.S. Democratic Senator Jon Tester and Republican Congressman Greg Gianforte is less than four months away. Between now and then Montana Public Radio is talking with voters about political issues that are important to them. On Valentine's Day last week, I drove around Great Falls to the bars where the town’s billiards league was racking up their weekly matches so I could find out what Great Falls voters were thinking about.