Montana's independent, nonprofit source for in-depth news coverage of politics, government, and other issues that matter to the people of this great state. montanafreepress.orghttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.orghttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mu63idulef2yWho are the largest private landowners in Montana? It seems like a straightforward question, but answering it isn’t as simple as sorting a spreadsheet. The state doesn’t keep an easy-to-read list of the state’s top landowners, so we built our own. https://bit.ly/45VWkqx https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/28/top-10-montana-landowners/28 Aug 2026 19:21 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu63idulef2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mu5rn4ibaa2y“Every single part of who they were makes me incredibly proud,” said Erica Jarussi Schneider, mother of two of the victims. “In their last moments, they showed unbelievable amounts of bravery.” https://bit.ly/3SG6Hvo28 Aug 2026 16:25 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu5rn4ibaa2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mu44dnp62w2yA federal district court judge has heard arguments in a class action lawsuit in which petitioners held in federal detention on civil immigration charges allege they have been unlawfully detained. https://bit.ly/46r7yDz28 Aug 2026 00:31 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu44dnp62w2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mu3ugkwg4k2oPresident Donald Trump lowered tariffs on ground beef imports on Aug. 21. Cattle producers and agriculture experts told MTFP that Trump’s shoot-from-the-hip approach creates uncertainty and risk for ranchers. https://bit.ly/4cdOGeL27 Aug 2026 22:10 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu3ugkwg4k2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mu3t3vxsh52zThe move comes after analysts for the Montana Public Service Commission found deficiencies with NorthWestern Energy’s plan that estimates power needs and how it will cost-effectively supply that power to its customers over the next two decades. https://bit.ly/4qDXbFE https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/27/northwestern-energys-power-plan-found-deficient-by-independent-review/27 Aug 2026 21:46 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu3t3vxsh52zhttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mtzgycvxq223How Hardin teens, elders and teachers incorporated an endangered language into a contemporary story. https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/26/crow-language-animated-movie/26 Aug 2026 23:04 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtzgycvxq223https://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mtz4lg55ds2fSheriff dispels rumors, says crime victims, including four children, were ‘Your typical American household family.’ https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/26/billings-mass-shooting-fire/26 Aug 2026 19:57 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtz4lg55ds2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mtytk72r2k2bBenefis Health System in Great Falls brought in an out-of-state cardiologist, and paid her handsomely, to ‘stabilize’ its emerging and troubled TAVR program that faced criticism from other doctors. https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/26/benefis-tavr-salary/26 Aug 2026 17:16 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtytk72r2k2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mtwx7vhyg22kA group of Montana students, families and tribes has reached a settlement with the state Office of Public Instruction that’s set to bring closure to a yearslong legal dispute about how the state implements its constitutional requirement to provide Indigenous education. https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/25/indian-education-for-all-settlement/25 Aug 2026 23:16 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtwx7vhyg22khttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mtwwxmsc5c2sThe Missoula County commissioners approved new guidelines to help manage horses roaming the Miller Creek area on the south end of Missoula. The resolution outlines a process for the capture and, if necessary, removal of horses from the Miller Creek herd. https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/25/missoula-county-adopts-rules-to-manage-feral-horses/25 Aug 2026 23:12 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtwwxmsc5c2shttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mtwmzmdsnc2vMarburger talks with MTFP political reporter Tom Lutey about the Senate brouhaha, her plans to rebuild the state party from the grassroots up, and the rising influence of Toasty the endorsement dog. https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/25/democratic-party-executive-director-emily-marburger/25 Aug 2026 20:14 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtwmzmdsnc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mtuam4ygd626The state's public defender office acknowledged several challenges, including difficulty filling vacant positions, a shortage of contract attorneys and growing caseloads. https://bit.ly/4wI6iXz https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/24/judges-say-public-defender-backlog-taking-a-toll-in-great-falls-city-court/24 Aug 2026 21:26 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtuam4ygd626https://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mttuvs6gos2gIn a state where Republicans have won all but two of the last 26 statewide or federal races, Alme is flying under the radar as the unchallenged conservative candidate for Montana’s third open U.S. Senate seat in 64 years. https://bit.ly/4wLD2iw https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/24/republican-montana-senate-kurt-alme-low-profile/24 Aug 2026 17:57 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mttuvs6gos2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mttms33orz2gThis year's dangerous fire season hit as the Trump administration has reshaped how America fights wildfire — consolidating crews from across Interior Department agencies into a new U.S. Wildland Fire Service. https://bit.ly/46hJByr24 Aug 2026 15:32 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mttms33orz2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mtmutotxr22nGreat Falls History Museum & Research Center’s first major exhibition is built around historical records recently donated by a Roman Catholic religious order. https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/21/boarding-school-records-montana-museum/21 Aug 2026 23:07 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtmutotxr22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mtmlht523k2cThe father and daughter released from immigration detention this week were originally arrested in Billings after attending a free school supplies event, according to the charity that hosted it. https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/21/immigration-arrest-school-supplies/21 Aug 2026 20:19 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtmlht523k2chttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mtltor5sfs2wHunters and trappers can kill 300 wolves this season. The state estimates the total population sits at 725. https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/20/montana-scales-back-wolf-harvest-after-new-estimate-shows-population-decline/21 Aug 2026 13:14 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtltor5sfs2whttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mtjuaf7c522iA federal district court judge late Wednesday afternoon ordered the federal government to release a Billings father and his 9-year-old daughter from immigration custody in Havre, where they have been detained since Aug. 11. https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/20/child-immigration-detention-released/20 Aug 2026 18:18 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtjuaf7c522ihttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mtjfzordnk2qIn a unanimous ruling, a five-justice panel upheld a decision that stopped the attorney general’s opinion from taking effect. https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/19/montana-supreme-court-knudsen-bid-block-legislators-november-ballot/20 Aug 2026 14:04 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtjfzordnk2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mthkc7taf22yTwo Republican candidates for the state Legislature will remain eligible for the general election ballot, a Lewis and Clark County District Court judge ruled Wednesday, as a case about term limits that’s wrought with long-simmering political hostilities proceeds. https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/19/judge-allows-legislators-remain-on-ballot/19 Aug 2026 20:15 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mthkc7taf22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mthe3wpixs2oEfforts to weigh in on a massive data center planned for north of Billings erupted into cheers and boos at a Yellowstone County Commission meeting this week, where residents fruitlessly tried a new legal avenue to push their concerns. https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/19/data-center-opponents-make-noise-in-yellowstone-county/19 Aug 2026 18:24 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mthe3wpixs2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mtfca3cyec2rNearly 45 million acres of national forest land could be opened to logging and development. https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/18/end-of-roadless-rule-millions-of-acres-development-logging/18 Aug 2026 22:45 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtfca3cyec2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mtf2v3csz22aThe vote was spurred by a legal opinion on the state’s term limit law issued last week by Montana Republican Attorney General Austin Knudsen that effectively blocked Jones from being eligible to run for the state Senate this election cycle. https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/18/republicans-vote-replace-llew-jones/18 Aug 2026 20:34 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtf2v3csz22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mtckh46qjs2bWildfire’s explosive early growth stalls under mid-August rainfall as owners brace for return of dry weather. https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/17/sand-creek-fire-maverick-mountain-resort-spared/17 Aug 2026 20:34 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtckh46qjs2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mtcajrh4f22aRecent improvements are setting the stage for Black Eagle’s next chapter, but aging leaders wonder who will carry the torch. https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/17/once-thriving-company-town-reckons-future/17 Aug 2026 17:37 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtcajrh4f22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mt3ebopjfc2fA request for a temporary restraining order to block the attorney general’s term limits opinion could determine whether two veteran Republican lawmakers remain on the November ballot. https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/14/term-limit-opinion-collides-ballot-certification-deadline/14 Aug 2026 23:55 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt3ebopjfc2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mt3chsxzmc2vA nonprofit working to put local data center development decisions in the hands of Butte-Silver Bow County voters sued the county this week after its signature-gathering deadline was changed to a date in the past. https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/14/butte-nonprofit-sues-county-over-initiative-reversal/14 Aug 2026 23:23 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt3chsxzmc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3mt33ym5b2c2dA group of Missoula County residents are moving ahead with plans to create a new county, which organizers say will be more responsive to rural needs. https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/14/a-missoula-county-without-the-seeley-swan/14 Aug 2026 21:27 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt33ym5b2c2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3msyrdcelac27Wildfires are pushing smoke around Greater Yellowstone and across the country. But one fire’s smoke may be harsher than another’s. https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/13/smoke-plumes-have-unique-fingerprints-theyre-all-bad-for-your-health/13 Aug 2026 23:11 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3msyrdcelac27https://bsky.app/profile/montanafreepress.org/post/3msykzpplkk2vThe Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board on Monday voted to ban all future discussions between the tribal government and individuals or entities proposing to build data centers on the northeast Montana reservation. https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/13/fort-peck-tribes-ban-discussions-data-center-development/13 Aug 2026 21:18 +0000at://did:plc:6wd6s3q5kkmdviqfyfqcodeb/app.bsky.feed.post/3msykzpplkk2v