With primary ballots set to go out to Montana voters starting May 10, fundraising is heating up in the states races for U.S. House. The crowded race to replace U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale in the eastern congressional district now has eight Republicans and four Democrats actively running including three candidates whove now put hundreds of thousands of dollars of their own money into the campaign. In the Republican primary, State Auditor Troy Downing reported raising more than $602,000 during the first three months of 2024, including $200,000 in a personal loan to his campaign. He had previously ..read more

After months of anticipation, the cicadas have finally made their grand entrance ... and promptly overstayed their welcome. They've become the talk of one county in South Carolina, but not in the way these little bugs had hoped. In fact, things have gotten so out of hand that people called the police to deal with the buzzing madness. But the Newberry County Sheriff's Office took to social media on Tuesday to let their community know that while those chirping critters might be a bit too loud, it's best to resist the urge to call the cops over their racket. We have had several calls about a nois ..read more

In the video above, Paul Sanchez reports on the Montana Envirothon, an annual event held on Earth Day and organized by the Cascade Conservation District to challenge youth in a competition involving Range, Soils, Aquatics, Wildlife, and Forestry. The competition on Monday, April 22, 2024, involved a written test along with an oral presentation to solve a current issue. Top Overall: 3rd place tie Missoula FFA & Corvallis FFA 2 2nd place Big Sky High School Champion Hamilton High School --- $500 prize and qualifiers for the international event in upstate New York the end of July. Top Scores ..read more

New abstract art classes are available at Hopper & Ro Paint and Design in Great Falls. I think the paint store was the inspiration because you always end up with extra paint. I thought, what can I do with all this paint? So I just started playing with it and it turned into this business explained Rachel Campbell, owner of Hopper and Ro Paint and Design. "Pour your art out" is different from other art classes in the area since you dont use paint brushes. You literally pour the paint on to either a 12x12 canvas or a tile trivet of the same size. Rachel explains that the magic happens when yo ..read more

United Way of the Lewis & Clark Area recently received a $500,000 donation from an anonymous donor, providing them the necessary funding to help secure the Helena Inn. Its like a jumpstart to this process, says Community Impact Coordinator with United Way, Jeff Buscher. The United Way is working to purchase the Helena Inn to turn it into a 48-unit permanent supportive housing apartment building. Tenants would be required to pay rent or go through housing assistance, but not by more than 30% of their income. The space would support men, women, children, and families with the support of Hele ..read more

Eleven Republicans who submitted a document to Congress falsely declaring that Donald Trump beat Joe Biden in Arizona in the 2020 presidential election were charged Wednesday with conspiracy, fraud and forgery, marking the fourth state to bring charges against fake electors. Seven others were indicted, but their names were blacked out of records released by Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes. Her office said the names will be released after they're served with the charges. Joe Biden won Arizona by more than 10,000 votes. Of the eight lawsuits that unsuccessfully challenged his victory in t ..read more

On Tuesday, April 23, a loaded gun was found in the backpack of a student at CR Anderson Middle School. The Helena Police Department released the following information: <i>On 04/23/2024, officers responded to the 1200 block of Knight for a report of an individual who was located with a loaded handgun in their backpack.&nbsp; School Officials located the handgun in the search of a backpack and contacted the School Resource Officer.&nbsp; </i> <i>The School Resource Officers began their investigation into the matter.&nbsp; In cooperation with the Helena School Distr ..read more

In the video above, James Rolin continues his "Odd Jobs" series - this time talking with Scott Sivumaki, a "yard boss" at Western Livestock Auction in Vaughn. Not growing up in a farming community myself, I thought it was an antiquated myth, but in Montana, cowboys are real! The livestock industry In 2021 alone created three quarters of a billion dollars in household income in Montana. To say that ranching and cowboy life is an important thing for our state would be a massive understatement. In this edition of Odd Jobs, I met with Scott a yard boss at Western Livestock Auction. The process may ..read more

This weekend, the Electric City Dirt Riders will host rounds one and two of the Central Montana Motocross Series. The Electric City Dirt Riders is a nonprofit motocross club, so all of the proceeds from memberships and events go back into the club, such as helping pay for improvements to the track and, recently, adding more space for spectators. They offer a variety of memberships where members can come to the tracks and ride anytime, and hold spectator events that bring in revenue for the club. Sean Williams, President of the Electric City Dirt Riders, explains, We're anticipating, hopefully ..read more

The Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS) Board of Trustees held a hearing and ultimately ruled against a complaint brought forward by a community member over Pride flags being displayed in Sentinel High School classrooms on Tuesday evening. The person raising the complaint Nate Kalkofen argued pride flags promoted an ideology and asked the board of trustees to take action by removing flags from the school. Therefore I am asking for a policing action to be taken at all MCPS facilities and for all all ideological or political flags, posters, etc..., regardless of meeting or group affiliation, t ..read more