Author: Brian Bennett

Montana FWP Details Handling Of Big Game To Avoid CWD

With hunting season ready to begin in Montana, Fish Wildlife and Parks will continue its surveillance for Chronic Wasting Disease in specific areas in northwestern, northcentral, southwestern, and southcentral Montana. Disposal Requirements In 2021 for deer, elk, and moose indicate that carcass parts should be left at the kill site.  If the an...

Superintendent Stands By Mask Mandate

Following a group of COVID-19 cases in Billings high school students, School District 2 Superintendent Greg Upham made the decision over the weekend to instate mask mandates in public schools after previously stating they would be optional. This has been met with criticism from local parents, but he defended his decision this morning as the sc...

FWP Sets New Guidelines For Hunting Wolves

Wolf hunting will look much different in Montana this year, with the Fish and Wildlife Commission approving new quota and hunting methods for the upcoming season at their Friday meeting. In a split 3-2 decision, a quota of 450 wolves was approved, almost 40 percent of the estimated population according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP)...

Montana School Districts Short On Bus Drivers

A Montana school district is offering $4,000 bonuses as they struggle to fill bus-driving positions and kids start returning to in-person classes. First Student, a company that contracts bus service for school districts, recently held the “Big Bus, No Big Deal” test driving event in Helena to generate interest in transporting kids to school, b...

Mask Debate In Public Schools Heats Up As School Year Begins

Following a last-minute reversal by School District 2 Superintendent Greg Upham to require students, teachers and staff to wear masks in school, a crowd of about 200 people gathered in Pioneer Park in Billings yesterday to express their disapproval of this decision and to pressure the district into revisiting the issue. Options mentioned at th...

New Research Shows Montana Had Successful Recovery From Pandemic

Montana has seen a strong and quick rebound from the economic impacts of the COVID crisis, according to a recent mid-year report sponsored by the Montana Chamber of Commerce. Head of the UM Bureau of Business and Economic Research Dr. Patrick Barkey reported that the COVID-19 pandemic brought down predicted growth in personal income and gross ...

Weather May Provide Relief For River Spring Fire

Firefighters are currently facing red flag conditions on the Richard Spring Fire that will persist all day and will increase the risk of spot fires, but cooler, humid conditions may take hold afterwards and provide some relief. They are also expecting increased smoke from the Richard Spring fire’s interior as warming and drying over the ...