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)...
Carroll College Calls For Masks On Campus
Carroll College will now require masks on campus when the new school year begins on Wednesday. Our Helena Correspondent Troy Shockley has the details. https://northernbroadcasting.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/8-23_832.mp3
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 ...
New Report Highlights Voting Challenges For Native Americans
A new report by the Campaign Legal Center scores how restrictive states’ access to early voting and vote-by-mail are. Montana checked off many of the criteria, but the center’s Caleb Jackson says the state still makes it hard for Native Americans to submit their ballots. https://northernbroadcasting.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/8-16_73...
Governor Gianforte Sticking With COVID-19 Management Despite Case Surge
With COVID-19 cases rising in Montana and the start of the school year approaching, Governor Greg Gianforte recently reiterated his message to Montanans about the importance of getting vaccinated. He said recently that the uptick in cases is concerning and while he still recommends that everyone check with their doctors and consider getting th...
Senator Tester Details Potential Improvements To Water Infrastructure
Included in the $1 trillion infrastructure bill approved by the U.S. Senate last week is 8.3 billion dollars of funding for Western water projects that farmers, water providers and environmentalists say are badly needed across the parched region. Across the Western states, around one billion dollars would go towards water storage, water recycl...
Attorney General Knudsen Brings Attention To Robocalls In Montana
Attorney General Austin Knudsen today called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to combat the scourge of illegal phone calls pouring into the state and help prevent Montanans from becoming victims of scams. In a comment filed with the FCC, Knudsen and 50 other attorneys general urged the FCC to move up the deadline for all telephon...