New data suggests downtowns have picked up activity in the last year. According to data from the University of Toronto's School of Cities, cellphone activity in large downtowns in the U.S. and Canada increased 9.3% from March 2023 through February 2024, compared to the same 12-month period a year prior. Out of 64 cities monitored, 50 had increased cellphone usage, while 14 saw a decline. The researchers say cellphone usage can be a proxy to give researchers insight into whether downtowns are recovering post-pandemic. Minneapolis, Chicago and Louisville had the most significant recoveries in th ..read more

President Joe Biden said Friday that he is willing to debate his presumptive Republican opponent, Donald Trump, later this fall his most definitive comment yet on the issue. The comment came during an interview with the Sirius XM radio host Howard Stern, who asked President Biden whether he would participate in debates against Trump. I am, somewhere. I dont know when, he said. But Im happy to debate him. So far, President Bidens reelection campaign had declined to commit to participating in the debates, a hallmark of every general election presidential campaign since 1976. The president himsel ..read more

BUTTE Sharyl Allen, a candidate for Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) Superintendent, is facing a misdemeanor charge in Madison County for allegedly obstructing a criminal investigation at Harrison Public School. Allen, the superintendent-principal of Harrison Public School, reportedly unlawfully prevented law enforcement from interviewing students who had been identified as potential crime victims, according to court documents. Court documents say on Monday, April 22, Allen prevented an agent from the Montana Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and a Madison County Sheriff's O ..read more

A federal judge has blocked Montana from enforcing one section of a 2023 law that established requirements for voters changing their registration. Last year, the Montana Legislature passed House Bill 892, sponsored by Rep. Lyn Hellegaard, R-Missoula. Supporters said the bill was intended to ensure people couldnt vote twice in one election. While Montana already had a law in place saying no one could vote more than once in a single election, HB 892 added a specific prohibition on voting once in Montana and in an equivalent election in another state. One provision of HB 892 said voters cant purp ..read more

Each week, we take a moment to respond to some of the calls we receive on our toll-free Scripps News Viewer Hotline. Several of you have called in recently to thank or critique our coverage on international conflicts. Vivian from Arizona: "I think if anything may be helping some of the politicians to open their eyes and realize that we have to help Ukraine because it's for the good of everyone including the United States it's because of people like you and reporting like yours. Thank you so very much for keeping democracy alive that's what I call it. Good information is tantamount to good demo ..read more

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker continued his testimony Friday as he was cross-examined by attorneys representing former President Donald Trump. Pecker is providing testimony before a New York jury as prosecutors allege that Trump falsified business records in a scheme to influence the 2016 election. The defense has indicated that it should wrap up questioning of Pecker early Friday afternoon. Pecker first took the witness stand Monday and was questioned by prosecutors, where he claimed that former Trump attorney Michael Cohen provided payments to the National Enquirer to captu ..read more

The Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture issue recall alerts nearly daily for various food products that could be contaminated, mislabeled, or contain some other sort of hazard. According to a new report, there has been a significant increase in such recalls. The U.S. Public Interest Research Group found that the number of recalls issued in 2023 was 8% higher than in 2022. The biggest culprit for the increase is undeclared allergens. PIRG reported a 27% increase in recalls related to undeclared allergens in 2023. One reason for the increase is that sesame is now ..read more

ANACONDA A helicopter crashed in Anaconda Friday morning and the coroner has been called to the crash site, according to Anaconda-Deer Lodge Chief Executive Bill Everett. Everett said the helicopter crashed about 7 a.m. in the area just south of the Murdochs Ranch and Home Supply store off Fillmore Street. The chief executive said he didnt know about any specific casualties from the crash. Everett told MTN News the helicopter was contracted by the Atlantic-Richfield Co. to do restoration work, such as seeding reclamation areas around the city. This story will be updated once more information b ..read more

A small-town Texas mayor received a package with a noose and threatening letter inside. The package was delivered to Arcola Mayor Fred Burton, with a typed note that read, Get out of the race now!! Police in Arcola said they are investigating the incident. This threat is being treated with the utmost seriousness and the Arcola Police Department has requested assistance from the FBI in investigating this criminal act, the department said in a post on Facebook. Chief of police Arika Carr said the department has increased the mayors security due to the threat, according to local reports. The thre ..read more

Top stories from today's Montana This Morning, Friday, April 26, 2024 - Latest local news and headlines from across the world. TRENDING VIDEOS: Zach Norman found guilty on 1 deliberate homicide count, not guilty on other Zachary Norman found guilty on 1 deliberate homicide count, not guilty on other 100-year-old Montana WWII vet honored with Congressional Gold Medal 100-year-old Montana World War II veteran honored with Congressional Gold Medal US births fell last year, marking end to the late pandemic rebound US births fell last year, marking an end to the late pandemic rebound Is pickleball ..read more