Bison Grazing Rejected
The U.S. Department of the Interior is revoking seven grazing permits in Phillips County. The decision directly impacts the American Prairie Reserve, which had been acquiring the permits to graze its herd of bison.
The 1934 Taylor Grazing Act requires that grazing on publicly owned federal lands be “limited to cases where the animals to be grazed are domestic and will be used for production-oriented purposes.”
Best and Worst States to Start a Business in 2026 — WalletHub Study
With more than 20% of new businesses failing within one year, and inflation making entrepreneurship even more difficult, the personal-finance company WalletHub has released its report on the best and worst states to start a business in 2026.
A score of 56.3 was considered the best overall. Montana scored an even 50. WalletHub compared all 50 states across 25 key indicators of startup success. The data set ranges from access to financing and labor costs to office-space affordability.
BLM Conducts First Lease Sales of 2026, Opens Public Comment Period for August Leases
The Bureau of Land Management generated more than $8.6 million in its first round of lease sales for Montana and North Dakota in 2026. The BLM leased 19 parcels totaling 4,116 acres across the two states.
The agency also opened a public comment period for its scheduled August 2026 lease sale, which could include 64 oil and gas parcels totaling 29,058 acres. The public comment period closes February 19.
Commerce Launches Montana Main Street Mural Project to Highlight Community Art
The Montana Department of Commerce has launched a new online mural project showcasing exterior murals located in communities participating in the Montana Main Street Program.
Visitors to the website can explore an interactive map showing mural locations and learn about the meaning and stories behind each artwork. The Montana Main Street Program currently includes 38 communities statewide.
Montana Secretary of State Mailers Cost Nearly $200,000; Funding Source Unclear
Postcards sent earlier this month to hundreds of thousands of Montanans by the state’s top elections official cost nearly $200,000 to print and mail.
The Montana Secretary of State’s Office has repeatedly declined to comment on both the cost of the mailers and the source of the funding when asked by reporters and legislators during open meetings. It remains unclear where the funding for the 466,638 mailers came from or whether additional costs were associated with them.
More Headlines
The Great Falls City Commission has approved a new housing development at Seventh Avenue North and 42nd Street that will include 154 home sites. Previous plans to develop the location stalled when contractors withdrew due to unstable soil conditions. A Missoula-based developer now plans to install manufactured homes on concrete slabs to address the issue.
Montana’s Board of Public Education has approved two new public charter schools: Stevensville Health Sciences Academy and Park Pathways School in Livingston. This is the smallest number of approvals since public charter schools launched in Montana in 2023. There are now 24 public charter schools statewide, all overseen by local public school districts.
Elementary students in the Butte area are participating in a program that provides a free book and an assignment to read with their parents. The Town Pump Charitable Foundation purchased a book for every public elementary school student in Butte.
Grandstreet Theatre celebrated its 50th anniversary with a concert featuring 200 former and current performers at the Helena Civic Center this weekend. Hundreds attended the event, which included remarks, songs, and monologues from artists who have appeared on the stage over the decades.
Lolo’s water and sewer system has cleared key financial hurdles to expanding its capacity through new local construction fees and federal earmarks. Last week, Missoula County commissioners increased the fee for new system connections, which will help fund upgrades over the next 25 years. Missoula County, which owns the system, has been unable to connect new residences or businesses since April 2025 as rapid growth has outpaced system capacity.
