The Missoula International Airport says President Donald Trump’s rally near the airport on Thursday probably won’t affect inbound and outbound commercial flights.

As President Trump’s visit to Missoula Thursday energizes both his supporters and protestors, a caretaker for Mt. Sentinel says using the hillside’s iconic 100-foot tall, white “M” for political messaging causes damage to the mountain.

Backers of a Montana citizen's initiative that would add new mining regulations say a foreign-owned company is illegally bankrolling an industry campaign against the proposal. In a complaint Tuesday to the Federal Election Commission, sponsors of Initiative 186 alleged campaign law violations by the Montana Mining Association, Sandfire Resources and others.

An event to counter President Donald Trump’s planned rally at Missoula’s airport Thursday, Oct. 18 focuses on getting out the vote. Missoula Rises is organizing the “Love Trumps Hate” rally which runs from 2:30 to 6 p.m. that same day at Playfair Park, about seven miles from the airport.

Campaign finance reports released yesterday show that combined spending by candidates in the U.S. Senate race in Montana has topped $20 million. Incumbent Democrat Jon Tester is outspending Republican Matt Rosendale at nearly a five-to-one clip this election cycle. Tester’s spending is the most by any one campaign in a race for the U.S. Senate in Montana history.

Democrat Kathleen Williams ’ campaign raised roughly double the amount of her Republican opponent Greg Gianforte since the start of the July. That’s according to initial campaign finance reports submitted by the campaigns Monday.

On Monday afternoon, Democratic Congressional hopeful Kathleen Williams greeted a group of about 30 supporters gathered in the basement of Donivan’s Restaurant in downtown Anaconda. “Hi everyone. People are voting! Isn’t that cool? This is exciting," said Williams.

Governor Steve Bullock was in Whitefish Monday stumping for a ballot initiative to fund Medicaid expansion through increased tobacco taxes .

There’s been a slight change of venue for President Donald Trump’s rally in Missoula on Thursday, October 18. It will now be held at Minuteman Aviation which is just west of the Missoula International Airport’s terminal. The event was originally scheduled to be held next door at Neptune Aviation.

Competing visions of the American West were on display at competing events in Whitefish Saturday. People rallied for their ideas about tribal sovereignty, public lands and constitutional rights.