Montana’s legal marijuana market brought in nearly $87 million during the third quarter of 2025
Retailers recorded $30.05 million in marijuana sales this past August — the first time monthly sales have topped $30 million since legalization began in 2022 — and closed September with $27.83 million. Those figures bring the year-to-date total to $244,387,462.
Tax revenue from marijuana sales is distributed to the state’s general fund, conservation programs, substance abuse treatment, and veteran services.
Lawsuit against Blue Cross Blue Shield alleges company knew about massive data breach, failed to report it
State Insurance Commissioner James Brown is investigating a data breach involving Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, while a group of attorneys has filed a class-action lawsuit in Helena. The lawsuit alleges the company failed to notify customers and did not take standard precautions to safeguard their personal information.
The breach affects roughly 462,000 Montana customers, about one-third of the state’s residents. On Friday, the company posted a notice on its website stating that the breach was caused by third-party vendor Conduent and that notification letters were being sent to affected customers.
Blackfeet Nation culls buffalo to combat food insecurity amid shutdown
Responding to economic challenges from the ongoing federal government shutdown and potential reductions in food-assistance funding, the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council has authorized the culling of 18 buffalo from the Blackfeet Nation herd. The processed meat will be distributed directly to community members.
Additionally, the Blackfeet Fish and Wildlife Department and the Blackfeet Commodity Office are coordinating an elk harvest to further supplement food distribution efforts.
Trump administration posts notice that no federal food aid will go out November 1
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has posted a notice stating that federal food aid will not be distributed on November 1. The announcement follows the Trump administration’s decision not to tap roughly $5 billion in contingency funds to continue Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
As of September, approximately 77,679 Montanans — about 7% of the state’s population — were enrolled in SNAP.
Supporters of three judicial election initiatives challenge attorney general’s legal review
There are currently three active proposals in Montana for constitutional amendments that would keep state judicial elections nonpartisan. All three are awaiting a ruling from the Montana Supreme Court after supporters objected to Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s legal review of the measures.
To qualify a constitutional amendment for the ballot, supporters must collect at least 60,241 signatures from registered voters, including a minimum number from 40 of Montana’s 100 legislative districts.
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Operation Warm has distributed more than 7 million coats to children nationwide over the past 27 years. This fall, the nonprofit helped students at Butte’s Margaret Leary School stay warm by providing hundreds of free coats. Volunteers from FedEx assisted in making sure each student received a proper fit.
The Max S. Baucus Institute is expanding its presence in Montana with the addition of Ambr Vestal as its Bozeman-based program manager. The new role is part of an effort to connect students to public service and leadership opportunities around the world. Her position is supported by a $500,000 two-year grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
NorthWestern Energy has named Wes Feist as its new community relations manager for the Helena area, succeeding Howard Skjervew, who retired earlier this summer. Feist also serves on the East Helena City Council and has held several leadership roles in state government.
The helicopter crash that killed four people near Ekalaka in southeast Montana last week was one of six fatal general aviation crashes in the state so far this year. According to a Montana Free Press analysis of data from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Montana has one of the nation’s highest small-aircraft crash rates per capita — ranking third, behind Alaska and Wyoming.
Missoula Indigenous artist Kendallynn Charging was selected to create this year’s Native Griz design for the University of Montana’s Nike N7-inspired campaign. The design will debut in January on the Griz and Lady Griz basketball teams’ shooting shirts and turquoise Nike uniforms during games at the Adams Center.
