The U.S. Forest Service has faced budget and staffing cuts under the Trump administration, and a new analysis shows those cuts are impacting how much land the agency is able to treat to prevent wildfires.

It’s tempting to assume Montana’s summer wildfire season is going to be severe following our windy, dry and warmer-than-average winter. The official outlook released last week, however, paints a more nuanced picture.

The Montana Republican Party worked this primary season to oust several of its own members from the state Legislature. The party took issue with moderate candidates it saw as being too willing to work across the aisle with Democrats. With the dust from this month’s primary election settled, Lee Newspapers State Bureau reporter Seaborn Larson joined MTPR’s Austin Amestoy to share results of the intraparty battle

5,700 miles and an entire ocean separate Helena High School from its “sister school” in southern Japan. But, the two became a little closer in a special ceremony this June.

Mental and behavioral health services like in-person support during a crisis or substance use treatment might soon become more accessible in the state. Montana is among 10 states participating in a federal program that will provide the funding needed to expand this care.

Federal officials released the final rules for Medicaid requirements this week. Hiding among the nearly 400 pages of regulations is a significant change that could make it harder for Montanans to stay on the public health insurance program.

A federal appeals court rejected a suit filed by 22 young Montanans that challenges several executive orders signed by President Trump in early 2025.

Montana’s tribes are losing their native languages. At least three Indigenous languages in the state are considered critically endangered. One summit is working to change that.

Bloomberg News called it “the Montana Miracle:” a suite of pro-housing laws signed by Gov. Greg Gianforte in 2023 designed to make it easier and cheaper to build in the Treasure State. After years of intense work and public outreach, city planners carrying out those laws have all completed their plans. But, they say it’s too early to tell whether they’ll make a “miraculous” difference.

The University of Montana this past semester terminated one of its oldest graduate programs — a master’s degree in literature. The English department, students and UM faculty pushed back to no avail. Administrators say they had to make hard choices for the university’s future. But those choices have left some students wondering if they were heard at all.