Montana Highlights

• Montana Highlights – July 15, 2025 +

  Billing’s attorney Emily Jones’s has been appointed to the Judicial Standards Commission. Jones is a University of Montana graduate as well as an appointee to the Montana Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

  An 180-room hotel, event center, public plaza and riverfront trail has been announced by Missoula city officials and representatives from Averill Hospitality. The site, known as Riverfront Triangle has sat vacant for decades, despite multiple redevelopment attempts. The Missoula Redevelopment Agency signed three agreements related to the $100 million project. One of the documents included one for the sale of a city-owned lot to Montana-based company Averill Hospitality, which is developing the project. 

  NorthWestern Energy is continuing its project to deploy wildfire smoke detection cameras across Montana. The company has installed 20 of the cameras over the past two years. These cameras use AI technology to check for potential causes of fires by assessing dust, haze, smoke from clouds, or other components that may be confused as smoke. NorthWestern Energy collaborated with fire responding agencies, dispatch centers, and emergency managers on selecting camera locations.

  The state and U.S Forest Service inked a new 20-year shared stewardship agreement on a bid to expand logging in the forests of northwestern Montana. The Shared Stewardship Agreement between Montana and the federal Forest Service will aid in forest restoration, wildfire risk reduction and sustainable timber production.

  Montana’s state parks saw bigger crowds in 2024. Visitation neared the record set during the pandemic years. The state’s annual park visitation report was published last month by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. The estimated 3.2 million visitors to Montana’s state parks falls about 150,000 short of the all-time record set in 2020. It is a 20% increase from before the pandemic, and nearly double the visitation levels from a decade ago.

  President Trump signed an executive order recently to increase entrance fees for international visitors to national parks. The idea was put forward by the Property and Environment Research Center based in Bozeman. The order directs the Department of the Interior, under Secretary Doug Burgum, to raise fees on foreign tourists.

  Upper Missouri Waterkeepers, a conservation group concerned about water quality in the Gallatin River has filed a lawsuit against the Montana Department of Environmental Quality concerning the agency’s approval of a Big Sky subdivision’s septic system. The lawsuit, filed in Gallatin County District Court, challenges the constitutionality of DEQ’s recent approval of phase two of the Quarry Subdivision. DEQ applied Montana’s new exemptions for nutrient pollution discharges to reach the approval.

  Immanuel Living, an independent living community has broken ground on The Lofts at Buffalo Hill, a 39-residence expansion of its campus in Kalispell.  The new residence project is sold out. The contractor is Swanke Enterprises. The project should be complete in 2027.

  Between 2008 and 2020, nearly 30,000 reported collisions involving large animals occurred in Montana. The collisions resulted in 54 human fatalities. The Common Ground Project a nature-based retreat and outdoor experience group estimates the incidents cost $212 million annually. The Project highlighted the dangerous and expensive repercussions of wildlife collisions, identifying I-90 in Mineral County as a hotspot. Data from I-90 between Drummond and Jens, showed a collared grizzly bear attempted to cross the highway 46 times, failing each time due to traffic. Another example is the Paradise Valley, where the 55-mile stretch between Yellowstone National Park and Livingston sees about half of all accidents involving wildlife. 

  The Kalispell City Council is starting the process of replacing outgoing City Manager Doug Russell. Russell was named city manager of Lakewood, Washington recently. He is expected to step into his new job on Aug. 25. A subcommittee of Council members will be formed to facilitate the search for a new city manager.

  The Montana Department of  Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) has released the Summer 2025 Montana Drought Outlook Report. According to the report, many regions in Montana are entering the fifth consecutive summer with abnormally dry or drought conditions. Exceptionally dry and hot conditions last fall greatly depleted soil moisture.

  Mountain Prime Steakhouse, a new downtown Kalispell restaurant will occupy the former Community Action Partnership building at 214 S. Main St. The restaurant is owned by Tuyen Tran. Kalispell City Council has approved an accessory casino at the location. Many restaurants and bars build accessory casinos to recoup the price tag of a state-issued liquor license. Licenses are selling for around $1.5 million. 

  NorthWestern Energy electric customers will get a temporary rate reduction for the next couple billing cycles. NorthWestern and the Montana Consumer Counsel agreed to temporarily settle on a reduced rate as an ongoing quasi-judicial case is being adjudicated by the Montana Public Service Commission.

  The Carter County Museum in Ekalaka has announced two major funding gifts. The museum has received a generous $100,000 gift from the Bank of Baker and a $300,000 award from the State of Montana Historical Preservation Grant. These funds mark a step toward realizing the museum’s plan to nearly triple its size. This would allow the museum to bring the vast majority of its rare and world-class collections out of storage and be put on display.

  Benefis Health System’s plan to turn a Helena fast food building into an outpatient clinic is well underway. Plans are for a fall opening.

  Attorneys for Missoula County have filed a denial of certain claims made by the Rhino bar in a civil lawsuit that alleged a breach of contract over alcohol sales at the Zootown Festival. Missoula County claims that the Rhino breached its obligations to seek and obtain Missoula County’s consent for retaining the Top Hat as a subcontractor to help with alcohol catering. Missoula County claims that as a result of the breach, the Rhino has foregone any benefit of the catering agreement. The County is also seeking damages in an amount to be proven at trial. The County is also seeking costs and legal fees that result from the Rhino’s alleged breach.

  Work will begin ahead of schedule on Monday, July 14, in downtown Missoula to construct several fences along the Milwaukee Trail between Beartracks Bridge and the Madison Street Bridge to limit access to areas vulnerable to erosion. After constructing the wooden barriers, workers will do restoration work along 19 parts of the riverbank while building out five hardened access points at more popular areas, The area has more than 93 river access points with more than 630 linear feet of river bank erosion.

  A former drop-in center for Helena’s unsheltered will be remodeled into Montana High School Association office space. Plans for the 631 N Last Chance Gulch building, owned by Seeley Building LLC, show a two-story building with eight offices, a conference room and a shipping area. The building used to be the home of Our Place, run by Good Samaritan Ministries.

  The Montana Department of Transportation has restored the eastbound and westbound Hardin Rest Areas on Interstate 90. The rest area, located at mile marker 476 between Billings and Hardin, is now open to the public.

  The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) Director Chris Dorrington and Governor Greg Gianforte joined the Bigfork community for the opening of the recently completed Bigfork bridge. The bridge first opened to the public in 1912, and over time, experienced corrosion and other issues due to its age.

  West of Bozeman, the headquarters for Simms Fishing products at Four Corners will also become home for other outdoor brands. Simms was acquired by Vista Outdoor Products in 2022, which later spun off several of its brands into Revelyst. Headquarters where Simms produces waders and other gear will now be  home for: Blackhawk manufacturing, Stone Glacier, Bushnell, Camp Chef and Primos. Roger Hutchinson, vice president for operations for Revelyst, said the plan is to relocate Stone Glacier next door to the Simms River’s Edge store.

  According to a recent survey by Cheapcarrental.com, Bozeman is the most expensive destination in the United States to rent a car. The most affordable rental car in Bozeman averages around $156 per day. At the Bozeman airport, Enterprise, the least expensive rental car was $190 a day. The Bozeman airport processes around 7,000 rental cars per day on peak weekends. A 4% sales tax on rental cars, that means Bozeman airport car rental generates about $5 million in state revenues.

• Montana Highlights June 15, 2025 +

  The Yankee Doodle Tailings storage pond needs additional capacity to store tailings from the Berkley Pit and the Continental Pit. Without the permit amendment, Montana Resources would run out of tailings storage around 2032. Montana Resources mines copper and molybdenum in Butte.

  Sally Schwartz and her sister Cassie have recently opened Dilly Dally Donut Bar. The shop is located between the Frontage Road and Interstate 90 east of the Main Street interchange. The shop will be open Friday through Sunday.

  Reynolds Market is celebrating 100 years of service in 2025. The family-owned business has become a community staple in Glendive, Sidney, Baker and Glasgow. Each of the store’s four locations will celebrate the occasion. Frank “F.T.” Reynolds of Dubuque, Iowa, opened the grocery in Glendive in 1925.

  Miles City City Council has officially awarded 24 contracts for construction of the city’s new fire hall. The awarded contracts even managed to come in under budget. The complete awarded bid package came to a value of $4,723,789. In addition to the material for the project, which was previously put out to bid with the contract being awarded to Jackson Contracting, the total value of the project comes to $5,309,650.

  Weyerhaeuser, which manufactures lumbers and plywood in Kalispell and medium-density fiberboard in Columbia Falls, has completed the Energy Smart Industrial Strategic Energy Management program. When Weyerhaeuser began the program, it set a goal to reach 2% in energy savings per year.  Weyerhaeuser has more than doubled this goal, achieving 4.24% in energy savings.

  Fire and Dough is one of the Flathead valley’s newest food trucks. Owner Jacob Gonzalez serves Neapolitan-style pizza at various locations. The pizza is baked in a wood-fired oven at a high temperature with a short cooking time.

  Registration is open for the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce’s Lemonade Day sixth annual Lemonade Day that takes place on Saturday, June 21. Youth in kindergarten through eighth grade can learn about business by launching a lemonade stand.  Participants will engage in a curriculum covering business concepts such as budgeting, marketing, product development, and customer service.

  Longtime Great Falls legislator Ed Buttrey has been selected to lead one of the state’s most influential industry groups, the Montana Hospital Association. Buttrey, who has served as a Republican member of the Montana State Legislature since 2011 in both the Senate and House, will take the helm on July 1. The Montana Hospital Association represents more than 80 hospitals and health care facilities statewide.

  The owners of Gallatin Valley Mall, soon to be renamed Gallatin Crossing have announced the planned cost of $50 million-plus redevelopment has been divided into phases. The mall completed the demolition of a significant portion of the mall’s east side to make room for a medical pavilion. In 2023, Montana’s first Whole Foods Market opened on the site. The Gallatin Mall Group has revealed the names of eight new retailers. The list includes Arhaus, Lululemon, Pandora, Sephora, Anthropologie, Free People, Lovesac and Madwell. More tenants will be announced later.

  The Red Lodge Pea Cannery, located at the northern end of the town, is getting a new lease of life as a center to house art and installations. The location will also house poetry and writing spaces, and a cafe and a bookstore. The building opened in 1911 as the Red Lodge Brewing Company.

  Custer County Commissioners have added an assistant county fire warden position to the Custer County Rural Volunteer Fire Department.

  3B Bagels is opening soon in Missoula at 403 N. Higgins.

  The Bargain Corner, a local thrift store in Missoula has closed. It was located at 200 S. California Street.

  Residents and several commissioners voiced opposition recently to having a Montana women’s prison built and operated in Butte. The opponents say the prison would rely on county services and infrastructure without paying property taxes. The Montana Department of Corrections said the prison would create about 100 full-time jobs in Butte.

  The Yellowstone Airport has opened its newly constructed terminal. The 10-year, $46 million project completely revamped the airport. The airport sits on the western edge of the world’s first national park.

  Data from about 40,000 people was stolen by hackers during a February cyber attack on Lee Enterprises, which owns five newspapers in Montana. The Iowa-based media company said the data breach included first and last names, as well as Social Security numbers.

  The 49th Annual Montana Range Days will be held from June 23 to 25 at the Custer County Event Center in Miles City. Since 1977 Montana Range Days became the state’s premier rangelands education event.

  Montana’s unemployment rate remained unchanged and near its record low at 2.7 percent in April, continuing the historic 46 consecutive months of unemployment at or below 3.4 percent and seven consecutive months below three percent. Montana has the third lowest unemployment rate in the nation, behind South Dakota and North Dakota.

  Duties placed on Canadian lumber entering the U.S. could eventually help Northwest Montana markets. There’s a misconception that the recent tariffs against Canadian goods extend to lumber products. The U.S.-Canada lumber market is governed under a separate and oft disputed softwood agreement that places duties on Canadian lumber. The duties are supposed to keep Canadians from dumping subsidized lumber onto U.S. markets. 

  The federal government has given green light to a long-delayed expansion of Signal Peak Energy’s Bull Mountain’s coal mine near Billings. The expansion of the underground mine, has been repeatedly delayed by court orders finding that the federal government’s environmental impact statement was inadequate. In 2024, the Bull Mountains mine produced 7 million tons.

• Montana Highlights May 15, 2025 +

  Glacier Office Furniture has opened in Evergreen, MT. Glacier Office Furniture offers development solutions for office spaces with an emphasis on chair ergonomics.

  Ben Dorrington will take over the position of executive director of the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce this summer when current director, Connie McCubbins, retires.  Dorrington has set goals of economic growth and creating community-driven spaces.

  The Kalispell Chamber of Commerce has reported various signs about Canadian tourists no longer visiting the Flathead. Canadian tourists  have long been one of the most significant sources of visitors to northwest Montana. Across the state, hotel bookings by Canadians have dropped by 71%.

  Midwest Pyschiatric has opened in Sidney. The home of Midwest Pyschiatric is Bismarch, ND.

  On June 23rd-25th, Miles City will host Montana Range Days. During Montana Range Days, youth and adults of all ages will gather to celebrate and learn about the rangelands which cover more than 70% of the state. The main event will be held at the Custer County Event Center at the Eastern Montana Fairgrounds.

  Edward Jones financial advisor Jerry Hughes of Sidney was named among the Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors in 2025. He ranked No. 24 in MT.

  The Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research at the University of Montana is promoting a new initiatives aimed at using an untapped resource – Big Sky Country at night. In Montana, there are already two designated dark sky sites in Glacier National Park and Medicine Rocks State Park, both certified by the International Dark Sky Association. There are more opportunities to explore the night sky in Montana than just its parks

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  The Kempton family opened the hotel located on Terry’s Spring Street on or about June 15, 1902 with a total of eight rooms and a large café. Due to an increase people traffic to Terry because of the Northern Pacific and Milwaukee Railroads, hotel building underwent an addition to the east plus remodeling to accommodate with added amenities. The updates took place between 1906 and 1910.

  April White and Robert Pope are the new owners of the Silver Dollar Bar in Fairfield. After an interior remodel they hope to open by Memorial Day weekend under a new name, Tumbleweed Bar and Grill.

  The Bozeman restaurant Dave’s Sushi has settled its lawsuits with seven food poisoning victims. The settlement amounts to plaintiffs are confidential, though court documents show each claim exceeds $75,000. It has been reported that the total claims far exceed the restaurant’s insurance policy limit.

  Tom McGree, chief development officer at Ascent Bank, has been named MoFi’s 2024 Montana Small Business Lender of the Year, recognizing his commitment to small-business owners across the state. In 2024, small businesses referred by McGree received nearly $1 million in financing from MoFi. The loans helped entrepreneurs who couldn’t access traditional financing.

  A study this summer aims to track high temperatures across the City of Missoula and other nearby towns in search of data on heat waves and to identify area “hot spots” that can be mitigated by officials in the future. Missoula County, the City of Missoula and Climate Smart Missoula are coordinating with National Weather Service employees to conduct the study with citizen volunteers. The project will be the first of its kind in Montana.

  2026 will be the 100 hundred year anniversary of the Mystic Lake Hydroelectric Project which supplies energy to south central Montana including Billings for Northwestern Energy

  The owners of the Tap Club, a restaurant and taphouse in Missoula have announced that the business has been purchased by Town Pump, a Butte-based company that operates convenience stores, gas stations, casinos, truck stops and hotels. The Tap Club opened in the fall of 2023 in the old Perkins location. The final day of operation under the Tap Club name was Saturday, May 10.

  The Home2 Suites by Hilton Kalispell, an extended stay hotel owned by The Hotel Group, has 107 rooms. It’s located at 454 Rivers Edge Loop, near the intersection of U.S. 93 and Rose Crossing. The hotel includes all-suite accommodations with full kitchens and flexible living areas. The hotel includes a heated indoor pool, outdoor fire pit and grilling patio, and fitness and laundry rooms. 

  The Montana Department of Commerce has presented the 2025 “Tourism Destination of the Year” award to the Lewistown Area Chamber of Commerce’s Charlie Russell Chew-Choo dinner train. The Charlie Russell Chew-Choo has been a tourist attraction for visitors in Central Montana and a source of revenue for Lewistown as well. The line has been operating since September of 1914. The Charlie Russell Chew-Choo travels on a spur track, built between 1912-1913, connecting Lewistown and Great Falls through the upper Missouri River Breaks.

  An asbestos screening clinic in Libby, Montana, has been shuttered by local authorities. The closing follows a court order to seize the clinic’s assets in order to pay off a judgment to BNSF. The railway prevailed in a 2023 lawsuit alleging the clinic  owed them $3 million because it fraudulently made some patients eligible for government benefits when it knew they were not sick. The railway challenged the validity of over 2,000 diagnoses by the clinic and 337 were ruled false.

• Montana Highlights April 15, 2025 +

  Whitefish Mountain Resort saw over 400,000 skier visits during the 2024-25 season. This is the fifth year in a row that the mountain has tallied more than 400,000 skier visits. The resort set a new record for skier visits between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day with this year’s almost 62,400 skier visits were counted. Next season’s passes are already on sale.

  The Pine Hills Youth Correctionl Facility is doing something it hasn’t done in more than 90 years. The facility will return Pine Hills to its mission as a juvenile-only facility. The change was announced by the Montana Department of Corrections on March 21.

  Paddlefish anglers will see a some changes to the regulations issued by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks 2025. Among the changes to this year’s paddlefish regulations are concerning hooks, one treble hook per line plus forward forward-facing sonar.

  Princess and Buck is a new boutique which recently entered the downtown Kalispellmarket. The shop is owned by Beth Kornick and Kyle Waterman. The name, Princess and Buck, came from two historic businesses in downtown Kalispell.  The store features a range of items, gifts and clothes from the Flathead Valley.

  Construction on a new fishing access site near Sportsman’s Bridge in Bigfork is expected to begin this spring. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks have approved plans to construct a boat ramp, parking lot and pit latrines. Once complete the new facility will make way for the reconstruction of Sportsman’s Bridge.

  A total of 30 breweries competed in 22 beer categories at the second Montana Beer Awards.

  The Montana Folk Festival in Butte will be July 11-13. Admission is free to all performances during the three days of the festival, although organizers urge attendees to donate up to $35 for a family.

  Federal agencies informed Missoula County officials recently that two of its grants have been discontinued, which could eliminate up to three positions and halt some work around energy efficiency and case management. The county lost a $1 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency and Partnership Health Center lost the remainder of a $1.8 million grant from the Centers For Disease Control.

  Emily Garza has opened a branch of Onyx + Ivory Boutique. a women’s clothing boutique, in Miles City.

  Helena’s liquor distillery, Gulch Distillers, will be expanding into a location. The new spot will be at 4 W. Lawrence St., between Queen City Ballet and the Gold Bar. It will have tasting rooms and a bottle shop on the main floor. They are also adding a new space in the lower level that will serve as a bottling facility. Once the new space is completed the business will close public access to their facility at 790 Front St. expand the space to production.

  Miles City officials are focusing on finding funding to possibly reopen at least one of its recreational water features. The Wibaux Park splash pad, froggie pool and the Riverside Park Oasis are in danger of not opening this summer due to budget shortfalls. Funding for the three recreational sites was cut for the 2025 fiscal year as the city needed to balance its 2025 budget.

  A Missoula official working on a cross-country passenger rail line that would pass through Montana called on Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy to restore multiple federal grants for the project. The Department of Transportation has placed some grants under review. These reviews could slow down an infrastructure project related to the rail line.

  Research conducted at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton has identified several mosquito-borne illnesses that can cause encephalitis circulating in Montana.  The findings are detailed in a report published in Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal. Several viruses that can cause encephalitis (brain swelling) and are unfamiliar to most physicians are circulating in Montana mosquitoes. 

  Construction is expected to start next month on the new, 6,100-square-foot VA clinic in Lewistown. A survey showed the need for a larger VA facility in Lewistown. The current plan is for the outpatient clinic to begin operations in the spring of 2026. There are nearly 800 veterans in the Lewistown area who are enrolled with the VA.

  For the second year in a row, the home of Montana State University has been ranked the No. 1 college town in America, according to the website RentCafe.com. Bozeman’s ranking was based on a combination of factors, including the affordability and quality of education available at MSU, the town’s highly educated population and an abundance of nearby natural amenities. The website also notes that Bozeman is home to numerous startup companies and major employers, who provide students with internship and career development opportunities.

• Montana Highlights April 1, 2025 +

  35 Montana Tech students toured production facilities in the Bakken oilfield of eastern Montana and North Dakota to learn about energy production. The tour included stops at rigs, a shop, and a pumpjack. Continental Resources, Kraken Resources, and Liberty Energy gave tours of their operations.

  January’s Economy at a Glance shows a 16.8% increase in airplane enplanements, and a 46.8% increase in sales tax distribution for Williston when compared to January of last year.

  The Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation has announced a $15 million grant to support construction of the Butte CommUNITY Hub. The grant will be awarded over three years, with another potential $2.5 million in matching funds.

  Montana State University has announced a gift of $4.8 million from the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation. The gift allows MSU to reach its goal of raising the $22.5 million in private donations needed to move ahead with constructing an on-campus facility for the Gallatin College MSU.

  A new Amazon distribution warehouse in south Kalispell has begun construction. The one-story building will be approximately 28,000 square feet. It is located on United Drive near Fred’s Appliance. The project is valued at $15.5 million. The contractor is Dick Anderson Construction.

  Flathead Childcare has expanded into new child care facilities in Whitefish and Columbia Falls. Mishael Jelley owns Flathead Childcare alongside her brother, Mark Vogel. The mission of Flathead Childcare is to create a warm, engaging environment where kids can learn through hands on play, experiences and meaningful connections. The new Columbia Falls location is in the basement of the Columbia Falls United Methodist Church in a space that was formally a different child care facility. The new Whitefish location is at Bright Minds.   

  Ben Gould is the new group sales manager at Discover Kalispell. Gould plans to lead efforts by Discover Kalispell to bring in conferences, reunions, tour groups, sports events and more. He expects to work closely with business and industry partners to promote Kalispell as a travel destination.  

  Improvements to the viaduct in Whitefish over the BNSF Railway tracks have long been identified as a way to improve the link between the north side of Whitefish and downtown. The project had been budgeted at $700,000 in the city’s street fund. The roughly $250,000 overage comes from engineering costs and city-provided streetlights. The project includes improving the bike and pedestrian lanes on either side of the viaduct, installation of decorative streetlights and landscaping components. 

  Italy, France and Spain are among the top five exporters of wine to the United States. Trump made his threat to Europe’s alcohol industry after the European Union announced a 50% tax on American whiskey expected to take effect on April 1. France’s industry, whose wine and spirits exports to the U.S. are worth 4 billion euros ($4.3 billion) annually. President Trump has threatened a 200% tariff.

  The City of Red Lodge is updating it’s Growth Policy and is opening a 30-day public comment period prior to the Planning Board and Zoning Commission Public Hearing on April 9 at 5:30 p.m. The City Planning Board and Zoning Commission is inviting the public to provide written comment up to the hearing date, as well as have the option to attend the hearing on April 9th to provide verbal comment. The Growth Policy is an important planning document for purposes of providing a blueprint for managing future growth that preserves the City’s heritage while accommodating new growth.

  Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument will undergo temporary operational changes in 2025 as the park begins its updating key infrastructure. The ongoing Visitor Center construction and the roadway improvement projects are currently under way. The park plans to be closed Monday through Thursday, starting April 28 through fall of 2025. It will  remain open Friday through Sunday, and for the Battle of the Little Bighorn anniversary June 25-26. Visitors should check www.nps.gov/libi for the latest updates.

  Heelstone Renewable Energy, LLC, a wind development company has announced plans to erect 50 to 70 wind turbines in the county over the next few years. This project would add to the 42 wind turbines already planned by NextEra Energy, LLC. Heelstone’s Dawson Wind Farm is to cover parts west of Glendive north of Interstate 94. North Carolina-based Heelstone currently operates more than 80 solar energy projects nationwide.

  The city of Choteau won the “Best Tasting Water” award at the Montana Rural Water Systems Conference March 12-14 in Great Falls. Choteau’s potable water is sourced from groundwater. The city’s water system serves 721 households and businesses.

  The Lewistown City Commission has declined to issue a retroactive emergency declaration for January’s snowstorm, opting not to mill roughly $17,000 in taxes on city residents. The decision came after the commission learned that a retroactive declaration would not provide the city with the ability to recoup any funding from the state. Montana Disaster and Emergency Services office has informed that the city would have had to show that it both did not anticipate expending the funds it would request and that it did not have an appropriation of funding up to the level of that expenditure in order to receive state disaster assistance.

  Judith Landing State Park officially belongs to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, after the title was transferred in February. The State Parks and Recreation Board approved new rules related to hunting and trapping on the property. The 109-acre park was donated by the American Prairie non-profit. FWP’s is getting the property ready for public use.

  The Flathead Conservation District and Friends of Montana Rivers and Streams have filed an appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of a home built on private land along the banks of McDonald Creek in Glacier National Park. Once the home was largely built, the Flathead Conservation District, ordered it removed. The decision was made due to private complaints about the structure.

  Montana’s unemployment rate fell to 2.8% in January, the lowest since September 2023, continuing the record of 43 consecutive months of unemployment at or below 3.4%. Montana’s unemployment rate was 1.2% lower than the national unemployment rate, which is 4%. Newly revised estimates released each year in March show Montana’s unemployment rate averaged 3% in 2024. Annual employment estimates show that Montana added 3,000 jobs in 2024 for a growth rate of 0.5%. The labor force reached a record high of 579,000 in 2024, growing 0.8% over the year.

  Developers are proposing to build a hotel in downtown Bozeman on a vacant lot near Bozeman Creek and several popular businesses. The hotel is proposed for 240 East Mendenhall Street, between north Bozeman and Rouse avenues. The lot is currently used for parking, and is directly behind the restaurant Open Range. Developers are proposing a six-story building, with a rooftop bar and landscaping and patio space adjacent to Bozeman Creek.

  Conflux Brewery and Taphouse in downtown Missoula has been listed for sale for $5.75 million. The restaurant and brewery was built in 2018. The property includes an all-beverage license with catering, in addition to furniture, fixtures, and equipment.

  Coal from the Spring Creek Mine is shipped by rail to power plants in Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota and Washington, as well as internationally to Japan and South Korea.

  The Glendive KXGN-TV Channel 5 broadcasting station prepares for both the building and the station’s eventual sale to new ownership, station employees have begun selling  memorabilia dating back to 1957.

• Montana Highlights March 15 2025 +

  The Yellowstone Business Coalition, formed in 2016, representing more than 400 businesses and landowners in Paradise Valley, Gardiner and Livingston, is mobilizing in response to recent Yellowstone National Park staff reductions. These layoffs could affect both park operations and the local economies that depend on them. The coalition initially came together to protect the local economy from two proposed gold mines near the northern entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone maintains around 300 permanent employees and hires more than 200 seasonal workers each year.

  Seven years ago Andy and Kailey Armor opened Compass Chiropractic in Whitefish. Demand for the chiropractic practice has grown, leading to the February opening in downtown Kalispell. The new location is located on 1st Ave. E in Kalispell.

  The nonprofit ski area, Bridger Bowl, rolled out a master development plan to the community in recent weeks. The plan includes ideas such as increased snowmaking, more parking, base-area improvements, new lifts and night skiing. When it comes to a plan for future development options at Bridger Bowl some skiers are concerned with keeping the feel of Bridger Bowl.

  Montana FWP has released a draft environmental assessment in order to solicit comments about a new campground slated for an area near the Gunner’s Ridge trailhead. It is about 1/2 mile into Makoshika State Park. The campground will add 16 RV sites with electric hookups, four primitive hiker and biker tent sites, day-use facilities, latrines and a playground to the lower half of the park. Construction on the project is tentatively expected to begin between the middle of May or early June this year, with completion planned for this fall.

  The Williams County Commission has approved a conditional use permit for Ramsey Hill Exploration to construct and operate a frac sand facility. The facility will be located in the Hofflund Township. The processing facility’s purpose will be to aid in oilfield production by locally storing frac sand needed for operations. The property spans approximately 1,109 acres, but Exploration Company made it clear it only intends to utilize 593 acres of the land.

  A study commission in Butte-Silver Bow County wants the current commission to consider big changes in the way local government is run here. They are suggesting a city manager position overseeing day-to-day operations of the county. Voters did authorize a study commission in 2024. Nine people were elected to serve on the commission. The group has through most of 2026 to decide on what, if any, changes it wants to see in local government. Recommendations will go before voters in the November 2026 election.

  The Helena Public School District is considering multiple proposals for long-term planning and dealing with aging school facilities. One plan would potentially close Hawthorne Elementary at the end of the academic year.

  At a Feb. 25 board work session held at Bryant Elementary School, some community members spoke up about their worry regarding the possible closing of a neighborhood elementary school, Hawthorne.

  Toyota of Helena has announced plans to move the dealership to 3135 Prospect Ave. Some work to the old Nissan location. There will be a complete Toyota dealership in about 10 weeks.

  Highway 55, a Butte burger restaurant, closed in early January less than a year after it opened. The owner is searching for a new tenant for the practically brand new building on Harrison Ave. Butte-Silver Bow County designated more than $240,000 in taxpayer funds toward the project.

  A new coffee stand called Glacier Peaks Bagels and Espresso is opening in Missoula. It will be located in front of Westside Lanes bowling alley.

  VIM & VIGR, a Missoula-based company that sells compression leg wear, is building a new 14,000-square-foot warehouse near the Wye. Company founder Michelle Huie recently announced the expansion, stating the need for a larger space.

  Opportunity Bank of Montana has opened a new branch location in Missoula.

  Tractor Supply Co. is planning Helena and Butte locations. Both set to open in November. They will be TSC’s ninth and 10th locations in Montana. The Tennessee-based company sells power tools, pet supplies and the titular tractor parts and accessories plus other farm items.

  A new journal focusing on the economic and entrepreneurial trends that shape Northwest Montana’s business communities will make its debut in April. Hagadone Media Montana is launching Insights with an eye toward connecting the economic hubs that are Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Sanders and Mineral counties.  This five-county region is home to more thousands of businesses and a growing labor force with 200,000 consumers.

  The City of Miles City Public Service Committee voted to recommend a change to the city ordinance that deals with liquor liability coverage at city parks. The committee voted unanimously on recommending the revision to the City Code of the City of Miles City, Section 17-114, and requiring liability insurance in specified amounts prior to issuance of a Park Use permit.

• Montana Highlights March 1, 2025 +

  A private home on the banks of McDonald Creek in Glacier National Park can remain standing. The court ruled in favor of John and Stacy Ambler of San Diego, who built a house on a slice of land on lower McDonald Creek. Once the home was largely built, the Flathead Conservation District, responding to a host of complaints about the structure, found the home was in violation of the Montana Streambed Protection Act and ordered it removed. The court ruled the conservation district lacked authority to enforce state law inside of Glacier National Park. 

  Amazon is hiring workers for its future facility in Belgrade. People seeking the position need to be able to lift up to 49 pounds. Schedules may include 40-hour weeks, 30- to 36-hour weeks or 20 hours or less with the option of working additional hours if needed. Pay per hour is $18.50.

  Field & Stream Bozeman will open it’s hotel in Bozeman in May. The old Holiday Inn at 5 Baxter Lane, just off Interstate 90, was renovated as the new Field & Stream Bozeman. The hotel will have 179 rooms and suites are available for booking at an introductory rate for $289 per night. Summer rates will range from $400 per night to $800 per night.

  Snowpack monitoring done by federal agencies shows above average amounts of snow in and around Lewistown. Amounts range from 167% of normal in the Snowies to around 137% of normal in the Little Belts. The National Weather Service does not measure snowfall at the Lewistown Airport.

  Clydesdale Creamery opened in Whitefish in September, offering menu items from over-the-top milkshakes to a scoop of ice cream. The shop also features a full coffee bar, fancy s’mores and Liege waffle sandwiches. The owner, Arnold-Ladensack, along with his partner Benjamin, own Clydesdale Outpost near Whitefish. Whenever possible the ingredients are sourced locally.

  The new license year opens March 1. That is the day you can buy your 2025 hunting, fishing and conservation licenses and begin applying for permits and special licenses. The deadline to apply for deer and elk permits is April 1. Applications for most species – deer, elk, antelope, deer B licenses, elk B licenses, antelope B licenses, moose, sheep, goat and bison – can be made beginning March 1.

  The Dawson County local government study commission is continuing in its mission to determine whether to put a fundamental change in the form of county government on next year’s ballot. Some attendees were in favor of establishing a commission-manager form of government, saying it would create accountability in the person of a manager position to be established by the county board of commissioners. Under the commission-manager and commission-executive forms of government allowable under Montana Code Annotated, there is a specific line item describing the manager or executive’s “duties”, whereas under the straight commissioner form there is no such language.

  An area, commonly called “Egg Mountain,”  southwest of Choteau, has been named an International Geoheritage Site. The site has been noted as the home of many fossil discoveries, including ones by paleontologists from Montana State University’s Museum of the Rockies. The designation identifies such sites “as being of the highest scientific value. They are sites that served to develop the science of geology, particularly its early history. The science organization awarded the designation to the “Cretaceous Dinosaur Nesting Grounds of the Willow Creek Anticline” at its international congress last summer.

  A Whitefish fitness and wellness center, Peak Fit, has opened a second location on East Idaho Street in Kalispell.  The new location features an outdoor space that the owners hope to turn into a community space where outdoor workouts, coffee hours and more can take place. It is a way to expand the community aspect of their usual workouts.

  The Custer County Commissioners approved a counter offer to the proposal by the City of Miles City for continued ambulance service from Miles City Fire Rescue and Ambulance Service to the entirety of the county. The City of Miles City is proposing the county provide $200,000 for the cost of sharing its ambulance service with the county for Fiscal Year 2025. The counter offer from the county was to pay a total of $350,000 to last through fiscal June 30, 2026.

  Over the past several months Williston has been without locally stationed air medical transportation services. The region’s most recent provider discontinued operations in July of 2023. Shortly the Williston’s area air medical transportation services will return thanks to a collaboration between the City of Williston, CHI St. Alexius Health Williston, and Williston Care Flight.

  Community Hospital of Anaconda was recently recognized as a 2025 Top 100 Critical Access Hospital by the Chartis Center for Rural Health. Chartis annual Top 100 award program recognizes outstanding performance among the nation’s rural hospitals. CHA, a 25-bed critical access hospital, is located at 401 W. Pennsylvania St., in Anaconda.

  Red Lodge Mountain will host its first Total Archery Challenge event from June 27-29, 2025. This three-day outdoor archery event promises to deliver an unforgettable experience for participants of all skill levels. The Total Archery Challenge is an archery event featuring professionally designed courses with over 100 lifelike 3D targets. Archers are tested on their marksmanship as they adjust for varying distances, angles, and natural obstacles. This event is designed to challenge and entertain archers from beginners to professionals.

  The Wood Duck Project in the Big Belt Mountains. has been challenged by several environmental and wildlife organizations. The suit asks the court to declare that the project violates the law and to vacate the project decision or stop implementation of the project. The plaintiffs say it is in a wildlife corridor that is critical for the recovery of grizzly bears, and highly desirable for elk hunting. The project is on 1,241 acres and will consist of logging activities and road reconstruction.

  During January, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff captured 52 elk in the Crazy Mountains northwest of Big Timber. None of the elk tested positive for exposure to brucellosis. Sixteen of the captured elk were outfitted with GPS collars that will be active for one year to help wildlife managers understand their seasonal ranges, migration routes and potential mixing with other elk herds.

  Barrett Hospital & HealthCare of Dillon has opened a second clinic in Butte on Busch St. The clinic focuses on urological care.

  A Madison County commissioner has floated possible eminent domain for the seizure of the privately held Jack Creek Road that connects Ennis and the Madison Valley to the peaks of Big Sky. The commissioner made the comment at a recent state Senate taxation committee hearing on a bill that could potentially be detrimental to the county. The threat of eminent domain may be nothing more than a political position since, it would likely cast Madison County into a lengthy and expensive legal battle against one of the state’s wealthiest communities.

  The U.S. Postal Service announced recently that it will continue some local mail processing at the Missoula postal facility. It means that a single piece of mail that is sent from Missoula to be delivered in Missoula won’t travel out of Montana to be processed. A previous Postal Service decision would have shifted all Missoula mail processing operations to Spokane.

  Sampling last year found that an overwhelming number of trout from rivers in the upper Missouri River Basin were healthy according to a news release recently from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks about field work conducted in 2024 by FWP and Montana State University. FWP reported that of the nearly 8,000 adult trout captured in the fall, only three exhibited signs of an infection.   

• Montana Highlights January 15, 2025 +

  Pusuit has acquired the Montana House in Apgar Village in Glacier National Park. The  Montana House has celebrated and showcased over 500 local and indigenous artisans for nearly 65 years. The company said it will continue to showcase local artists under Pursuit ownership. 

  A recent study provides reassurance that Yellowstone Park’s famous supervolcano will unlikely erupt anytime soon. The journal Nature states that while a significant amount of magma is beneath the Yellowstone Caldera, it is stored in small, separate pockets rather than a flowing reservoir, reducing the likelihood of a major eruption.

  Guns N Things in Glendive will close. A recent sale opportunity did not pan out so Ernie and Karel Huether decided to close.

  River City Brews Rafting Tours, a Missoula company that offers guided raft trips along with local craft beverages, has been bought by Sara and Jared Forsythe.

  Applications for a permit to float the Smith River began on Jan. 2, and will be accepted through Feb. 15. The permit drawing will be held on Feb. 19. Applicants can apply for a Smith River float permit online at the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Automated Licensing System. Successful Smith River applicants will be notified via email shortly after the permit drawing is conducted.

  Zero to Five Montana, in partnership with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Bright Futures Birth to Five program, is offering a one-time grant opportunity for Montana employers through the Family Forward Montana initiative to develop an employer-sponsored child care program. Grants will range from $10,000 to $100,000 depending on the size and scope of the employers project plan.

  The permit issued by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to Tintina Montana Incorporated (now Sandfire Resources) to manipulate approximately 250 million gallons of groundwater in pursuit of a 14 million-ton copper deposit in Meagher County has cleared its second and final legal challenge before the Montana Supreme Court.

  Acropolis Gyros, a Greek food restaurant at 117 South Avenue W. in Missoula, has announced it is closing. The final day will be when supplies run out. The business has been listed for sale since July.

  A new oven weighing 84,000 pound oven has arrived at Tech Woods USA in Ronan. This Moldrup thermal modification oven is used by Tech Woods USA to produce hardwood gunstock blanks, as well as flooring and other wood products. The oven was designed in Denmark and Singapore and manufactured in Vietnam.

  Several transportation projects are in underway in the Flathead. Glacier Park International Airport is moving ahead with the next phase of its expansion project, West Reserve Drive in Kalispell is being rebuilt with additional traffic lanes and Columbia Falls is in the first stages of a multi-million-dollar road reconstruction project.  

  The Sibanye-Stillwater mine vice president Heather McDowell grew up in Bridger, near the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River. McDowell has become the face of the company over the last two months. McDowell has been the vice president for legal and external affairs for Sibanye-Stillwater,  for seven years. She has served as the spokesperson for the mine, communicating news of the layoffs to local communities.

  Big Sky Resort is opening the new year with a new gondola and the longest eight-person lift in the world. This is part of the expansion of  Montana’s biggest ski area. The Madison 8 replaces the older Six Shooter lift, offering a high-speed eight-person option with heated seats and weather shields, which has become a resort standard.

  First Interstate Bank has donated their former branch building, located at 402 N. Center, to One Health in Hardin. One Health provides in-person and virtual healthcare services to anyone in need.

  The owner of the Dakota Access Pipeline recently became the latest party to join the defense in the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s new lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Dakota Access LLC asked to join the lawsuit to protect its private business interests in the pipeline’s operation. Dakota Access spent billions developing the pipeline and has standing contracts requiring DAPL to continue transporting oil.

  Youth Dynamics Inc., a statewide children’s mental healthcare provider merged with Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch last fall. Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch is a statewide agency founded in 1957 and headquartered on a 410-acre campus west of Billings.

  Josh O’Connor, who currently serves as a senior vice president and regional publisher of Carpenter Media, has been named the next CEO of Wick Communications, owner of the Williston Herald and Sidney Herald.

  The Williston Basin International Airport has seen a steady increase in boardings so far in 2024. XWA recorded 10,239 boardings in October 2024, a 14.63% increase from 8,932 boardings from the same month in 2023.

  Choteau’s Magon Miller is purchasing Meraki Coffee from Mary Shore. She is renaming the drive-up coffee shop “Latte Lane”

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  Workers in Montana’s manufacturing sector saw their wages increase by nearly $8,000 on average over the past year, according to a report by the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center at Montana State University.

  The Red Lodge Area Community Foundation and Roosevelt Center will Red Lodge Summer Fest 2025 on Aug. 1-2, 2025. Headliners and additional acts will be announced in January with ticket sales. Red Lodge Summer Fest will be held at the Roosevelt Center and adjacent property at 519 S Broadway.

  The Montana Department of Commerce has issued grants more than $350,000 to agricultural operations to support and promote agritourism. Montana Moments, LLC, an agritourism business based on the Mahlstedt Ranch east of Circle, was one of 17 recipients of the grant. Montana Moments’ grant will be used to permanently expand attendance capacity at Montana Moments by funding the purchase of tables, chairs and tents, a utility trailer and riding helmets. Montana Moments offers branding weekends, women and girls’ cattle handling retreats on foot and on horseback, a family ranch and rodeo package, children camps, homestead homemaking retreats plus a variety of other

  Logan Health in Kalispell is closing its inpatient rehabilitation facility in February with plans to turn the facility into a surgical unit.

  Jacksons Food Stores, a convenience store chain based in Idaho, has taken over the operation of three Noon’s convenience stores in Missoula.

• Montana Highlights November 1 2024 +

  Glacier Park International Airport was awarded another $2.5 million in federal funding recently for its ongoing terminal expansion project. Awarded through the FAA Airport Terminal Program, the dollars will expedite work on the expansion. A portion of the latest grant will go toward a third bag claim device which costs around $1 million.

  U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced recently that the first sections of the 90-inch replacement pipe for the St. Mary Siphon had arrived. This sets the stage for replacing the infrastructure that delivers water to the Milk River Project, a lifeline for north-central Montana. As an irrigation project the Milk River Project and the St. Mary Diversion and Conveyance works were one of the first projects the Bureau of Reclamation was authorized to build after it was created in 1902. The St. Mary Canal Siphon suffered a catastrophic failure June 17, 2024. It was constructed in two phases, with the downstream barrel completed between 1912 and 1915 and the upstream barrel after 1925.

  The Stafford/McClelland Ferry will be removed from the Missouri River on October 31.

  Whitefish’s Stack Financial Management climbed from #72 to #57 on the 2024 CNBC Financial Advisor 100 list. Stack Financial Management is a nationally recognized, independent Registered Investment Advisor based in Whitefish managing over $1.9 billion in assets for individuals, families and business owners across the U.S.  

  The University of Montana has hired Dr. Jeffrey Michael to serve as the next director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research. Michael joins BBER from the University of the Pacific where he has served as director of Public Policy at the McGeorge School of Law. Michael has decades of experience in regional economic forecasting,

  Independence Bank has announced the promotion of Lauren Kato to Teller Supervisor and Accountant Relations Specialist. Lauren is a native of Havre.

  Independence Bank recently announced the promotion of Sydne Haider to Account Relations Supervisor. Sydne joined the bank October 13, 2021, as an Account Relations Specialist.

  Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has finalized its plan for managing grizzly bears. Last month, FWP Director Dustin Temple formally adopted a 326-page outline for how the state will address conflicts between bears and people, approach an eventual trophy hunt and respond to the state’s growing grizzly population.

  Sarah and Rob Ratkowski, owners of the Montana Milk Moovers home delivery service, are now offering   regular access to fresh, local goods through the Neighborhood Market. The market opened recently off Montana 35. The shop offers dairy products, eggs, produce, meat and other pantry items . The market receives its goods through the Western Montana Growers Cooperative.

  Stephanie Cole, a fourth-generation Montanan from Bozeman, is the new chief executive officer of Red Ants Pants, the company announced. Red Ants Pants, based in White Sulphur Springs, sells work wear for women.

  The Montana Public Service Commission announced that as of Oct. 1, a typical NorthWestern Energy residential electric customer using 750 kilowatt-hours per month saw a decrease of $6.13 or 5.57% of their monthly electric bill. The decrease comes due to a recent submission to the PSC of NorthWestern’s Annual Power Costs and Credits Adjustment Mechanism (PCCAM).

  Glacier National Park saw a record number of visitors in September, according to data from the National Park Service. More than 600,000 visitors passed through one of Glacier’s entrances during September, nearly 50,000 more than in 2023. So far in 2024, 3,001,595 people have visited the park, just the third time that number has eclipsed 3 million and a 9% increase over last year.

  The Montana Public Service Commission denied an interim rate increase requested by Montana-Dakota Utilities earlier this year. MDU filed a rate case with the PSC in July requesting a natural gas rate increase of 16.4% for residential customers. As the PSC considers the rate case as a whole, the utility company requested an interim rate increase. The temporary increase would bring the cost to the average residential customer using 78 dekatherms of natural gas up $5.17 per month.

  Yellowstone National Park hosted 838,458 visitors in September. So far in 2024, the park has hosted 4,349,689 recreation visits, up 5% from 2023. The year-to-date numbers are just 120,000 lower than in 2021, the park’s record-setting year.

  Sagebrush Boutique, a new business has opened in Miles City. Owned by Shawna Christofferson, the boutique celebrated its opening on Saturday, Oct. 26.

  Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport set a September record for passenger traffic. In all, 249,773 passengers came through the Belgrade airport in September up 6.5% over the previous mark of 234,589 set in 2023. The busiest month was July, with 322,732 passengers.

   The Treasure Chest of Hobbies and Crafts in Missoula is closing after over 45 years in business.

  The Montana Department of Transportation has applied for federal funding to reduce collisions along U.S. Highway 191, one of Montana most wildlife collision-prone highways. The Center for Large Landscape Conservation, a Bozeman-based nonprofit announced that MDT has submitted a grant application.

  The Missoula Family YMCA has received a $500,000 matching grant from the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation. The gift was given in honor of Mike Halligan, the foundation’s outgoing executive director, who is set to retire in January of 2025.

  Bloom Montessori School in Helena has announced it will close its child care center in December. Bloom is licensed to serve 132 students aged 0-6 years old.

  Gov. Gianforte presented his annual Forest Products Award to the Weyerhaeuser Raw Materials Team at their Flathead Valley facility during Montana Forest Products Week. While the forest products marketplace continues to evolve, companies like Weyerhaeuser Raw Materials are helping support our economy and responsibly manage our forests,” Gov. Gianforte said. The honorees of the award included Weyerhaeuser team members Shaney Neuharth, Zack Miller, Milo Funk, and Jacob Parent. Miller and Parent focus on sustainable forest management and raw material procurement to ensure non-sawlog materials are used productively. Funk manages by-product procurement, handling over 400,000 tons annually, and Neuharth leads initiatives to utilize slash material for heating systems, reducing reliance on natural gas and lowering emissions. 

  The North Dakota Public Service Commission voted to approve a Certificate of Site Compatibility for Cerilon GTL North Dakota. Cerilon has proposed a gas-to-liquids facility that will transform natural gas into synthetic products. These products include Group III+ base oils, ultra- low sulphur diesel and naphtha. The site, near Trenton ND, was selected for several reasons— its proximity to abundant natural gas supplies, access to road and rail transportation, and existing local infrastructure. It also has access to sufficient electrical power for startup and interconnection to the power grid.

  Four landmark properties are for sale in Livingston. They are Riverside Hardware and The Stockman Bar on Main Street, the 49er Diner, Bar and Casino on Park Street, and the former Livingston Enterprise building on South Main Street.

  The Cascade County Detention Center in Great Falls is facing many of the same changes as Yellowstone County faces with overcrowding and having to detain inmates who should be treated for mental illness. Typical population numbers are over 400 inmates, occasionally exceeding 500, while the official jail capacity is 372. Officials are instituting two programs that could help relieve the jail of low-level offenders and offering mental health care.

  North Dakota and South Korea will work together on energy and carbon capture technologies. North Dakota and South Korean officials signed a memorandum of understanding during North Dakota’s trade mission to South Korea. Their goal is to be carbon neutral by 2030, in part through carbon capture, utilization and storage. One of North Dakota’s largest manufacturers, Fargo-based Bobcat Co., is part of the South Korea-based Doosan Group.

  Missoula has been awarded over $130,000 of federal funding to “improve energy efficiency and meet the city’s climate goals.” Missoula city government wants to make its operations carbon neutral by 2025, and to require the broader community be carbon neutral by 2050. The funds will pay for staff to develop new voluntary construction codes for building projects that improve weatherization and electrification above state requirements.

  The North Dakota Aeronautics Commission (NDAC) has released its monthly report detailing airline passenger traffic at the state’s eight commercial service airports. With 98,371 passengers boarding flights within North Dakota this past month, it marks the busiest September on record, surpassing the previous high of 92,703 passengers set in September of 2014. The September 2024 figures reflect a year-over-year increase of 7,101 passengers, representing an 8% rise over September 2023. Additionally, this marks the fifth consecutive month of record-breaking passenger numbers for the state. 

  Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) Region 7 staff is increasing public access at the Isaac Homestead Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Hysham. The WMA was purchased by FWP in 1969 and was recently expanded with a purchase of a 414-acre parcel, totaling to 1,532 acres of native wildlife habitat and cultivated farm ground. The Montana Outdoor Legacy Foundation (MOLF), acting as Trust Manager for the Montana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Trust has finalized the sale of a 414-acre tract to FWP from the Lackman Family. The acquisition is located between the two existing units of the Isaac Homestead WMA, connecting the east and west portions and providing the only land-based access to the Yellowstone River.

  Montana Knife Manufacturing in Missoula is building a $18 million, two-story, 50,000-square-foot facility that the owner says will eventually house 150-200 employees. Co-founded  in a garage just four years ago, by Josh Smith and Brandon Horoho, the new state-of-the-art facility will include corporate offices, a coffee shop, and a viewing area to observe the knife-making process. They manufacture knives for various purposes, including hunting, professional cooking, and tactical use for law enforcement and the military.

  Enrollment at the University of Montana jumped nearly 6% this fall. When including Missoula College, total enrollment at UM increased nearly 5%, marking the largest year-over-year jump in 15 years. In total, the university has 484 more students enrolled this fall when compared to last year, bringing total enrollment to 10,811.

• Montana Highlights October 15, 2024 +

  As of June, Forever French, a baby and lifestyle brand owned by Chantelle French of Arizona, now has roots in Kalispell, offering the local community a boutique children’s and lifestyle store. Forever French began as an online business in 2019 after Chantelle French received her daughter’s autism diagnosis. Inspired by the beauty and resilience of her daughter, French began selling the store’s iconic soft, stretchy and breathable fabrics from her home in Arizona. Over time, the brand grew. In 2021, French opened her first physical store in Gilbert, Arizona. Then Arcadia, Arizona followed suit with a new storefront in July of 2023. Kalispell.

  The Sidney-Richland Regional Airport will receive $3.1 million in funding to help repave and repair its runway. The funding, which totals $3,3134,500, will be used for a project involving milling the runways and resealing them. The construction will take place until next summer.

  The City of Glasgow has decided to return part of the downtown parking to angle-in parking. Angle parking will be implemented on the south side of 2nd Ave. S., and the east side of 3rd St. S. The other side of the street will remain parallel parking. This project will increase available parking in downtown Glasgow by 20 to 30 percent. The project was awarded to LSC, Inc., in the amount of $27,850.80.

  Plum Creek Timber Company opened a fiberboard plant in Columbia Falls in 1974. The plant cost Plum Creek, which was spun off from a division of Burlington Northern Railroad, $10.5 million and was expected to utilize 108,000 tons of wood waste annually. The initial plant was expected to produce about 70 million square feet of fiberboard a year and would employ about 115 workers.

  Alliance for the Wild Rockies has announced its intent to sue the U.S. Forest Service over potential impacts to endangered species in the area of the Gold Butterfly Project located in the Sapphire Mountains. The Gold Butterfly project aims to harvest, thin, and prescribe burn forest stands to improve resilience to insects, disease, and wildfire and restore the fire return intervals.

  The new Town Pump has opened recently on Huffine Lane outside of Bozeman. It is the largest of the businesses 200 plus locations in the state. The store offers the usual items besides fuel – beer cave, coffee, casino, sports bar and liquor store. 

  Celebrated rodeo entertainer Flint Rasmussen will be among rodeo greats inducted into the National Rodeo Hall of Fame in November. The award tradition will continue as rodeo icons are recognized at the Rodeo Hall of Fame Weekend at The National Cowboy Museum on Nov. 8-9. Rasmussen grew up in Choteau, where he was an all-state football and track star in high school.

  The one-year anniversary of one of the largest structure fires in downtown Glendive anticipates the pile of rubble that was once the Jordan Inn is set to be cleared. The cleanup of the property at the corner of Merrill Avenue and Benham Street will begin Sept. 30, funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The cleanup effort will also include debris from the adjacent lot where the former Rose Theatre once stood.

  The Wallace Works project is located at Wallace Avenue and Tamarack Street in Bozeman The developers got a boost recently when city commission planners voted to approve an urban renewal plan that will reimburse the developers for $2 million in taxes.

  The U.S. Department of Transportation has approved the Essential Air Service proposal that provides  subsidies to SkyWest airlines to provide daily flights to and from Salt Lake City and Denver into Butte.

  The United States Supreme Court will not hear an emergency appeal effort by power plant owners and utility companies that requested the high court to halt new pollution rules set out by the Biden administration and the Environmental Protection Agency.

  The Miles City Parks Initiative is searching available options for a more sustainable way to maintain public spaces in and around Miles City. Funds for parks projects are often being redirected to fill in gaps in other general fund areas, such as police or fire.

  Montana will raise the minimum wage by 2.53%. The minimum wage will be $10.55 starting January 1, 2025. In 2023, the industry with the largest number of workers earning minimum wage was the accommodations and food services industry.

  Recently the Carbon County Planning Board approved a Development Permit for Croell, Inc., to establish a Concrete Batch Plant in Carbon County. the permit was approved with conditions by the Carbon County Planning Board acting as the County Zoning Board.

  Montana State University officials have acknowledged that the university’s online learning platform, Desire2Learn (D2L), allows  the faculty to monitor student activity and potentially track their locations using their Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. IP addresses can be used to determine approximate user location such as city and zipcode.

  Kalispell-based Mann Mortgage, operating as a family-owned business, has announced a deal to merge with a national lending company. The business will merge with Synergy One Lending of California.

  Cousins Pub has the goal of being a welcoming door to walk through. Cous ins opened recently on  East Main Street in Bozeman.

  A group of local, state and nonprofit entities is several years and millions of dollars into a project to clean up and redevelop the 180-acre railyard in Harlowton. The coalition plans to transform the land into a recreation area with trails, campgrounds and fishing access on the Musselshell River.

  Rock Creek Resort, in Red Lodge is set to reopen next summer. The property, was sold in April to RCR Holdings, LLC., which includes David and Simona Krug of Krug Development and Daniel Cauley. Columbia Hospitality is acting as the hotel operator. Plans also include bringing the ballroom and the swimming pool closer to the creek experience by updating the windows in the ballroom and swimming pool and installing an outdoor hot tub.

  The City of Miles City has adopted its budget for Fiscal Year 2025. The City is preparing for the impacts of significant cuts it had to make. When approved during a special meeting of the city council the budget for the next fiscal year included cutting three positions in the Miles City Police Department and three more in the Fire and Ambulance Department. Chief of Police Doug Columbik provided a statement in which he warned that demand for his department’s service are outpacing the city’s ability to provide them.

  Chanelle Hayden has recently promoted to Operations Officer for Stockman Bank in Sidney. Her responsibilities include supervising all operations-related functions for Stockman Bank Sidney. Hayden has been with Stockman Bank since 2014, starting as a CSR and most recently serving as Teller Supervisor.

  Misty Anderson has been promoted to Eastern Montana Cash Management Officer for Stockman Bank, Sidney. Her responsibilities include providing assistance to customers and continuing development of Stockman Bank’s eBiz/cash management online banking services.

  The North Dakota Public Service Commission has approved a Certificate of Site Compatibility for Calgary, Alberta-based Cerilon Inc. to house its future gas-to-liquids (GTL) facility location southwest of Williston. The press release states the project will include two GTL facilities on the same site. Each facility will be capable of converting 240 million standard cubic feet per day of natural gas to 24,000 barrels per day of liquid hydrocarbon products. It will also generate electric power as a secondary benefit.

  The excitement with which Big Sky has greeted a report about more flights out of Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport is an indication of why there is such an emphasize on improving connectivity for Bozeman – it’s called skiing.  The airport will offer flights to Washington, D.C. , on Saturdays, flights to Boston and New York Friday through Sunday and flights to Boise all week. The flights to Boise will increase connectivity between California and the southwest through Alaska Airlines. There will also be flights from Los Angeles, Boston, New York, Chicago, Seattle, Dallas, Denver and Washington, D.C., that land in Bozeman before noon.