Jonathan Windy Boy

Daines is out, Alme and Bodnar are in. Flint is in, Zinke is out. Sheehy is in ... a scuffle in the Senate. Just another week in Montana politics.

A recent poll has good news for Montana Sen. Steve Daines' re-election chances. A longtime Democratic legislator enters the eastern district Congressional race. A new nonpartisan political group forms to elect "principled candidates." And past and present Montana politicians have opposing takes on the State of the Union

A Democratic state senator from Box Elder entered the race for Montana’s eastern congressional district. Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy has been a state legislator since 2003. He’s a member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe and has long focused on issues like Native language preservation, state-tribal relations and child welfare.

This year, 12 Native American legislators from across the state made up the Montana American Indian Caucus. The group was largely successful in passing policy with major impacts for tribal communities. "This session particularly felt that we were a force as the Montana American Indian Caucus," Rep. Tyson Running Wolf said.

Trump rule exempts Colstrip plants from new air pollution rules; The Montana Senate has endorsed a bill to reauthorize a law that keeps Native American children involved with child protective services with native families; The Lolo National Forest has a new supervisor.

Legislation with major impacts for Montana’s tribal communities is headed closer to the governor’s desk. Democratic Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy carried two bills designed to bolster accountability between state and tribal agencies; A Flathead County district court judge announces another run for the Montana Supreme Court.

Legislators have voted forward bills on property tax relief, Medicaid expansion, judicial oversight and more.

Two Montana educators and a state lawmaker filed briefs in support of a new law seeking to create a system of public charter schools in the state.

Public comment on new rules for Montana’s Indian Language Preservation Program closes August 18. One state lawmaker is taking issue with part of the proposal.

Montana tribes are closer to gaining more authority in a state program designed to preserve Indigenous languages.