Montana State

Montana Free Press

HELENA — With roughly $1.5 million in pandemic-era education funding set to expire next month, Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen announced a plan Tuesday to route those federal dollars directly to classrooms across Montana. The spending strategy, crafted in partnership with the nonprofit crowdsourcing platform DonorsChoose, will let...

OPI announces last-ditch spending strategy for federal COVID-19 funds

Missoula County, MT

MISSOULA — Gov. Greg Gianforte this week requested that President Joe Biden declare a disaster for Missoula’s late July windstorm that caused widespread damage and left thousands without power. The request, which includes Missoula and Powell counties, makes way for federal relief to help pay for the estimated...

Gov. Gianforte appeals for federal help to pay for damages from July windstorm

The MT Lowdown is a weekly digest that showcases a more personal side of Montana Free Press’ high-quality reporting while keeping you up to speed on the biggest news impacting Montanans. Want to see the MT Lowdown in your inbox every Friday? Sign up here. Come November, Montana voters...

They’re on the Ballot Now

This excerpt is published by agreement with The Permissions Company, LLC on behalf of Milkweed Editions, milkweed.org. Copyright © 2024 by Chris La Tray. All rights reserved. It may not be republished without the express consent of The Permissions Company, LLC. Chris La Tray wil host book release events...

‘They were always here’

Belgrade, MT

Gallatin County, MT

BOZEMAN — The man law enforcement officials say is responsible for the long-unsolved death of 15-year-old Danielle Houchins at a popular fishing access site a few miles south of Belgrade nearly 28 years ago has been identified. Investigators, family members and other sources with direct knowledge of the details...

Gallatin County sheriff says 28-year-old cold case solved

After a nearly 21-year career with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the agency’s lead fisheries expert has resigned. Eileen Ryce, a fisheries biologist with a PhD, said inadequate support from her superiors while she ran a division that touches on two areas of critical interest in Montana — water and wildlife management — led her to resign.

FWP ‘fish chief’ Eileen Ryce resigns, citing lack of support from upper management.

This story is excerpted from the MT Lowdown, a weekly newsletter digest containing original reporting and analysis published every Friday. As of Aug. 1, the Office of Public Instruction’s employment portal listed 853 active job postings for licensed public school positions in Montana. The postings include openings for teachers, counselors, administrators and paraprofessionals in school districts across Montana, and may capture some redundant listings or positions that have recently been filled.

Teacher head count comes up short again

Florida State

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Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville Today

Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said he will consider more DUI patrols if voters legalize recreational marijuana use in Florida. Voters will consider Amendment 3 in November. It would allow adults 21 or older to possess, purchase or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical purposes.

More DUI patrols possible if marijuana issue passes

Montana’s relatively modest 2024 fire season escalated quickly over the weekend with the rapid growth of the Remington Fire and an increase in fires across the state’s western half. The Remington Fire is burning over more than 100,000 acres in southeast Montana, threatening to single-handedly double the total...

Remington Fire grows into the largest fire of the season while blazes continue in western Montana

Virginia State

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Margaret Minnicks

According to WTKR, Big Lots is closing about 315 of its stores across the United States. An earlier version of this story stated that 42 stores in Virginia would close. However, an updates states that only nine stores in Virginia are closing.

Big Lots will close nine stores in Virginia

A highly anticipated update to how Yellowstone National Park manages bison is setting the stage to expand the animal’s range in Montana, tribes and conservationsts say. After years of work, Yellowstone released its new bison management plan this summer. More than 27,000 people commented on the document, which calls for more bison compared to the previous plan from 24 years ago. It also incorporates management changes that have been put into effect over the past two decades, including a surge in bison hunting near park boundaries and a new program to transfer live, disease-free bison to tribal nations.

Yellowstone National Park plan sets the stage for bison expansion in Montana

Douglas, GA

Daily Coffee Press

A local Walmart employee was recently arrested on a misdemeanor charge after allegedly stealing over $60 worth of merchandise from the store. Additionally, she faced a felony charge after officers discovered suspected methamphetamine in her locker during the arrest.

Douglas Walmart Employee Arrested for Methamphetamine Possession and Shoplifting

Oregon State

This story is excerpted from the MT Lowdown, a weekly newsletter digest containing original reporting and analysis published every Friday. High humidity and low temperatures slowed the pace of new fire growth in Montana toward the end of the week, enabling fire responders to quickly contain several new fires. The Grouse, Miller Peak and Black Mountain fires remain the three largest active blazes in the state.

The Montana Wildfire Report: Aug. 2–9

Salem, OH

Northern Kentucky Tribune

Every day, 8-year-old Emma sits in a small garden outside her grandmother’s home in Salem, Ohio, writing letters to her mom and sometimes singing songs her mother used to sing to her.

Thousands of parents die of overdoses; advocates say their kids need more help

Two years ago when Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks quietly unveiled a proposal to put Habitat Montana funds toward 30- and 40-year conservation leases, proponents described it as a “new conservation planning tool” while opponents warned of a “sea change” that could weaken one of the state’s most popular habitat protection programs.

Habitat conservation in Montana undergoing a ‘sea change’

Helena, MT

When families, hospitals and other nursing homes call Wes Thompson to see if he can take new patients, his instinct is to try and help. The senior care home he runs in Glasgow, Valley View Home, is licensed for 96 beds and includes a secure unit for patients with dementia. The walls are adorned with decorations and typed memos about patient safety. Residents walk the carpeted, air-conditioned halls or sit in small groups, chatting with staff or watching television.

How one rural nursing home keeps its doors open — and hopes to grow

Massachusetts State

This story is published by agreement with the Associated Press. It may not be republished without the express permission of the Associated Press. At least 973 Native American children died in the U.S. government’s abusive boarding school system, according to the results of an investigation released Tuesday by officials who called on the government to apologize for the schools.

‘A forgotten history,’ remembered

Tennessee State

Wise River, MT

Brandi Bartscher bustled around the back room of H Bar J Saloon and Café, looking over long rows of paper bags for the last time that day. Over the last few hours, she and a small team of friends and family members had prepared and neatly organized 350 meals. It was Wednesday, which meant this was one of the last mass assemblies she would perform. She flitted back and forth between the backroom and bar, busy with the dual responsibilities of restaurant owner and dinner-bag organizer.

Feeding the firefighters

Texas State

Missouri State

CJ Coombs

When I learned the brown tarantula is also native to Missouri, I gasped, and when I say I'm not too fond of spiders of any genus is an understatement. It's psychological. They have too many legs.

It's mating season for the Texas brown tarantula also known as the Missouri tarantula

NewsBreak

Attorney general sues Biden administration over Title IX revisions

Revisions to a federal rule expanding legal protections for LGBTQ students nationwide are drawing fire from several statewide Republican officials in Montana, fueling the state’s entry...

Attorney general sues Biden administration over Title IX revisions

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