Montana Lawmakers Consider Taxpayer-Funded Emergency Medical Services
A state legislative interim committee is studying whether EMS should be designated as an essential service. That designation would require county governments to provide a minimum level of EMS, which could necessitate taxpayer funding. The committee will report its findings and recommendations to the 2027 Legislature.
Highest Nonresident Visitor Spending in Montana, 2023–2024
Over the past two years, nonresident tourists spent an estimated $5.28 billion annually in Montana. This marks a roughly 9% decrease compared to the previous two years, but still ranks among the highest spending estimates on record. In 2023 and 2024, 27 Montana counties recorded at least $20 million each in out-of-state tourism-related spending.
U.S. House Votes to Scrap Montana Land Use Plan, Testing Congressional Power
The future of a land use plan covering tens of millions of acres of public land in eastern Montana is uncertain after the U.S. House of Representatives voted to overturn it. More than 100 resource management plans have been finalized since 1996, meaning this case could set a precedent for using the Congressional Review Act to revisit any of them. The contested plan was developed over several years with input from producers, tribes, and energy companies.
Blackfeet Tribal Council Bans Kratom Sales and Use on Reservation
The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council has banned the sale, use, and possession of kratom on its reservation in north-central Montana. Kratom, a plant-derived and unregulated substance, can be addictive. Marketed as a mood stabilizer, it has become widely available in gas stations, vape shops, and online.
USITC Advances Probe Into Russian Palladium Imports After Montana Push
The U.S. International Trade Commission has voted to continue investigating imports of raw or partially processed palladium from Russia, ruling there is reasonable indication the U.S. mining industry is being harmed by unfairly priced and subsidized imports. The Sibanye-Stillwater Metallurgical Complex in Columbus—the nation’s only primary source of palladium and platinum—has been directly impacted, with nearly 700 jobs lost due to market pressures from Russian dumping.
More Headlines
-
Amazon Delivery Station in Butte: Amazon’s new $110 million delivery station on Ascension Drive in Butte has been scaling up since its August opening. The 12,000-square-foot facility employs about 50 people and partners with 40–50 contract drivers. Amazon says the new hub will speed up regional package deliveries.
-
Missoula Redevelopment Agency Explores Ice Skating at Caras Park: The agency is seeking a consultant to study the feasibility of adding a winter ice-skating rink to Caras Park on the Clark Fork River. Officials say the idea aligns with the Downtown Master Plan, but cost and viability remain unknown.
-
Naturalization Ceremony in Glacier National Park: District Court Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto will preside over a Naturalization Ceremony at Glacier National Park’s Apgar Amphitheater on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. Fifteen candidates for citizenship from 12 countries will take part.
-
Billings Becomes Home to FBI Field Office: Beginning October 1, Billings will officially host the FBI’s 56th field office. Previously, Montana had only satellite offices overseen by the Salt Lake City Field Office. The upgrade means more resources, stronger partnerships, and faster response times.
-
Montana Job Market Holds Strong: Despite national job growth slowing in August—only 22,000 new jobs were added—Montana continues steady growth across most sectors. The state’s unemployment rate was 2.9%, breaking a record with the 11th straight month under 3% and more than four consecutive years at or below 3.4%.
