Supreme Court to Review Hawaii Gun Restrictions as Montana Leads Coalition of States
Today the U.S. Supreme Court agreed it will consider overturning a Hawaii law that imposes strict restrictions on where people can carry guns. Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen lead a coalition of 26 state attorneys general in convincing the court to take up the case. To make a long story short, today on Voices of Montana Knudsen explained the situation.
AG Austin Knudsen
Montana Plans for New Data Centers as NorthWestern Energy Seeks Solutions to Meet Growing Energy Demand
There are an estimated 5 data centers in the planning stages in to be built in Montana and they will all need lots of energy to do their job and NorthWestern Energy is stepping up to figure out what it can do to fill the need. At the recent Montana Electric Cooperative Association meeting the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association CEO Rob Richard talked about something that from our neck of the woods is hard to imagine but the need for energy is the same.
Rob Richard
Montana Health Experts Urge Flu Vaccination as Cases Expected to Rise
Medical experts in Montana are urging residents to get their flu shot this month. October is considered the ideal time for vaccination because flu cases typically begin to rise in November. During the 2024–2025 flu season, tracked from last September through May, Montana reported more than 15,000 cases. Of those, 1,000 led to hospitalizations and 68 resulted in deaths.
Montana National Guard Responds to Government Shutdown
The Montana National Guard is reviewing guidance from the Office of Management and Budget and the National Guard Bureau to determine procedures during the government shutdown. Certain full-time staff and mission-essential personnel will continue reporting to work, but their pay may be delayed until the government reopens.
Nonpartisan Courts: Montana Campaign Cleared to Begin Signature Gathering Ahead of 2026
A campaign to keep Montana’s judicial races nonpartisan has been cleared to begin signature gathering for Constitutional Amendment 132. Montanans for Fair and Impartial Courts now has nine months to collect roughly 60,000 signatures in order to qualify for the November 2026 ballot.
UnitedHealth to Exit Medicare Advantage Plans in 109 U.S. Counties
UnitedHealth has announced it will stop offering Medicare Advantage plans in 109 U.S. counties starting in 2026. While Montana is unaffected, the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming will be dropped entirely. The decision will impact about 180,000 members as the company navigates rising costs and reimbursement pressures.
Security Cameras Dispute Raises Montana Privacy Concerns
As personal privacy concerns grow, Montana law already sets limits on surveillance. According to Montana Code 45-5-223, residents may install security cameras around their homes but cannot point them in ways that violate someone else’s reasonable expectation of privacy. Secretly recording people in private spaces such as their yards, windows, or decks could cross a legal line.
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Many Forest Service employees in Montana whose work is unrelated to law enforcement, wildfire response, or timber production are now on furlough due to the federal shutdown. The agency has already lost about 30% of its workforce since President Donald Trump took office, due to hiring freezes and early retirements.
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A new shared-use path along Four Mile Drive in Kalispell will open this fall. The path, designed for student athletes, families, and local residents, will extend from the sidewalk at Foxglove Drive, run past the Kidsports Complex, and connect to another path at Champion Way.
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Montana State University Billings and Billings Public Schools have launched Direct Admit, a new program granting local high school graduates automatic admission to MSU Billings. It is the first initiative of its kind in Montana and aims to simplify the college application process for students from Billings Senior, Billings West, Billings Skyview, and other area schools.
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Over 21% of total earnings in Prairie County come from federal employment—the highest share in the state. A prolonged government shutdown there means furloughs, delayed paychecks, and interruptions to crop insurance, conservation programs, and technical assistance, impacting both household income and local spending.
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The Stillwater Conservation District has been ordered by Carbon County District Court Judge Matthew Wald to halt work on a $5 million project repairing flood damage along Armstrong Creek in the Custer Gallatin National Forest. A preliminary injunction will remain in place until the court rules on whether to issue a permanent injunction.
