Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

The Daily Montanan @dailymontanan.com · 6h

While the Trump administration and Montana’s elected officials continue pushing to expand the state’s coal industry, companies on the ground appear to have a waning appetite.
By @mddrew.bsky.social: dailymontanan.com/2025/10/15/m... #mtnews #mtpol #montana

Market for new coal leases at odds with federal platform • Daily Montanan

The largest Montana coal lease sale in more than a decade received a single bid of less than a penny per ton, as Congress opens millions of acres in eastern Montana to possible extraction

dailymontanan.com

4

The Daily Montanan @dailymontanan.com · 16h

Judge denies Molnar’s motion to stop suspension by governor
#mtnews

(@keilaszpaller.bsky.social)

dailymontanan.com/2025/10/14/j...

Judge denies Molnar's motion to stop suspension by governor • Daily Montanan

Gianforte has the authority to investigate a complaint filed against Montana Public Service Commission President Brad Molnar.

dailymontanan.com

1 2

The Daily Montanan @dailymontanan.com · 1d

Inmate, family members, report ongoing problems at Montana State Prison, but DOC said it is making progress on fixes to "water pipe break." #montana #mtnews #mtpol
dailymontanan.com/2025/10/14/m...

More resources called to Montana State Prison, water leaks found

National Guard, more state agencies on scene in Deer Lodge as water issues at facility continue to cause problems.

dailymontanan.com

1 3

The Daily Montanan @dailymontanan.com · 1d

Attorney General approves, rewrites, second nonpartisan judges ballot initiatives, which then drew a lawsuit. #mtnews

(@mddrew.bsky.social)
dailymontanan.com/2025/10/14/a...

Attorney General approves, rewrites, second nonpartisan judges ballot initiatives • Daily Montanan

Lawsuit before state Supreme Court asserts rewritten ballot measure is ‘misleading and prejudicial;’ now a second measure has identical language

dailymontanan.com

2 4

The Daily Montanan @dailymontanan.com · 7d

The Department of Environmental Quality is looking for public input on greenhouse gas emissions guidelines. #mtnews

(@mddrew.bsky.social)
dailymontanan.com/2025/10/07/d...

Department of Environmental Quality seeks public input on greenhouse gas emissions guidelines • Daily Montanan

DEQ will host three listening sessions this month to enhance greenhouse gas emission framework for state agencies to use during MEPA evaluations

dailymontanan.com

1

The Daily Montanan @dailymontanan.com · 12d

Students at MSU-Billings say their academic careers and, in some cases, their lives, were upended when the administration abruptly put two longtime, tenured professors on indefinite leave on the first day of class. By @darrellehrlick.bsky.social: dailymontanan.com/2025/10/03/m... #montana #mtnews

MSU-B profs placed on leave after raising concerns about prison program, students left scrambling • Daily Montanan

Two professors at Montana State University Billings have been placed on suspension for what students and faculty say are whistleblower complaints about a prison program.

dailymontanan.com

Reposted by The Daily Montanan

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 13d

State insurance commissioners, including Montana Auditor James Brown, a Republican, sent a letter to Congressional leaders last month urging them to continue the enhanced tax credits that began during the pandemic, report @dailymontanan.com and @statesnewsroom.com

State insurance auditors, including Montana's, urged Congress to renew health insurance subsidies • Daily Montanan

Montana Auditor James Brown, a Republican, signed onto a letter seeking the extension of ACA subsidies, a partisan issue that fueled the government shutdown

buff.ly

1 1

The Daily Montanan @dailymontanan.com · 13d

Attorneys argued a Kalispell man’s constitutional free speech rights were violated when he was arrested after filming police officers during a traffic stop. By @jordyhansen.bsky.social: dailymontanan.com/2025/10/01/s... #montana #mtpol #mtnews

State Supreme Court hears arguments in police filming case

ACLU seeking to reverse conviction of man who was arrested after filming a traffic stop in Kalispell in 2022.

dailymontanan.com

1 5 8

The Daily Montanan @dailymontanan.com · 14d

“This shutdown will make it harder to deliver care, to access care, to keep rural hospitals and clinics open, and to ensure patients get the treatment they deserve and need.” - Vicky Byrd, CEO of the Montana Nurses Association. #mtpol #montana #mtnews

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 14d

The Montana Nurses Association said the failure to extend subsidies through the Affordable Care Act and protect funding for Medicaid in the federal shutdown will have “devastating consequences,” report @dailymontanan.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Shutdown to have 'devastating consequences,' Montana nurses say • Daily Montanan

The Montana Nurses Association said shutdown will have "devastating consequences" on rural clinics and hospitals.

buff.ly

4 5

Reposted by The Daily Montanan

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 15d

Environmental groups are suing the Montana Department of Environmental Quality accusing the state agency of failing to follow the state Supreme Court’s order to consider a power plant's impact, report @dailymontanan.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Environmental groups sue Montana DEQ for ignoring impacts of Laurel power plant • Daily Montanan

Two groups are taking the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to court because they say the state officials are ignoring environmental impacts of the Laurel power plant.

buff.ly

3 3

The Daily Montanan @dailymontanan.com · 16d

Production of a mineral considered key to U.S. military and industrial interests is set to increase at a facility outside of Thompson Falls. #mtnews

(@mddrew.bsky.social)
dailymontanan.com/2025/09/29/m...

Montana antimony facility to expand, increase production of ‘critical mineral’ • Daily Montanan

The only antimony smelting facility in the nation is outside of Thompson Falls, where U.S. Antimony Company is finishing an expansion project

dailymontanan.com

2

The Daily Montanan @dailymontanan.com · 16d

An extension to the timeline for "forever chemical" cleanup at over 100 military installations across the U.S. includes Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls. Trump Administration says costs for investigation and cleanup have skyrocketed. #mtnews

(@mddrew.bsky.social)
dailymontanan.com/2025/09/26/f...

Feds extend timeline for cleaning up ‘forever chemicals’ at military bases • Daily Montanan

Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls is among those with extended timeline for cleanup for PFAS

dailymontanan.com

Reposted by The Daily Montanan

Patricia Kime @patriciakime.bsky.social · 16d

Nuclear missile workers are contracting cancer. They blame the bases. via @dailymontanan.com dailymontanan.com/2025/09/25/n...

Nuclear missile workers are contracting cancer. They blame the bases. • Daily Montanan

The Air Force said it's studying the rate of sick missileers getting cancer in America's land-based nuclear arsenal, but other watchdog groups say they're not doing enough.

dailymontanan.com

7 8

The Daily Montanan @dailymontanan.com · 16d

An appeals court has overturned the conviction of Billings man who ‘patrolled’ near elementary campus with gun, saying he had a plausible defense. #mtnews

(@darrellehrlick.bsky.social)
dailymontanan.com/2025/09/26/a...

Appeals court overturns conviction of Billings man who 'patrolled' near elementary campus with gun • Daily Montanan

A Billings man convicted in federal court of violating guns laws in a school zone has had his conviction overturned by the Ninth Circuit.

dailymontanan.com

1

The Daily Montanan @dailymontanan.com · 20d

Intralot wins Montana’s lotto contract again, though the state may be missing out on millions, says an industry expert.

(@darrellehrlick.bsky.social) #mtnews
dailymontanan.com/2025/09/25/e...

Even after bidding controversy in Legislature, Intralot wins Montana's latest lotto contract • Daily Montanan

Despite concerns about a no-bidding process that almost allowed the state to re-ink a deal with its current vendor, Intralot, the company was the successful bidder for the Montana's lottery contract.

dailymontanan.com

3

The Daily Montanan @dailymontanan.com · 20d

A MSU-Northern professor is on leave as influencers targeted people in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death.

This included state employees, public school teachers and even a business who got threats after an employee posted a meme.

(@jordyhansen.bsky.social) #mtnews
dailymontanan.com/2025/09/24/m...

MSUN professor on leave over comments after Charlie Kirk's death

Charlie Kirk’s death led to many speaking their mind online. Some of those people ended up with real-world threats.

dailymontanan.com

1 1 4

The Daily Montanan @dailymontanan.com · 21d

Montana tribal colleges have "baseline" funding after uncertainty, with an economic report showing an over $300 million impact on local areas near those schools.

(@keilaszpaller.bsky.social)
dailymontanan.com/2025/09/19/m...

Montana tribal colleges have ‘baseline funding’ after uncertainty • Daily Montanan

Tribal colleges in Montana will receive more federal dollars for the 2025 fiscal year after initial “confusion” and “uncertainty.”

dailymontanan.com

2 3

The Daily Montanan @dailymontanan.com · 22d

Energy demand in western states is project to increase 20% over the next decade, Gov. Greg Gianforte said this week, asking his newly minted Energy Advisory Council to "be creative." (@keilaszpaller.bsky.social)

dailymontanan.com/2025/09/23/e...

Energy task force kicks off, governor calls for creativity, action • Daily Montanan

Electricity demand is projected to increase 20% during the next decade — double what has been expected, Gov. Greg Gianforte said Monday.

dailymontanan.com

1

The Daily Montanan @dailymontanan.com · 22d

Today, @mddrew.bsky.social looked into the numbers released in a new University of Montana tourism study. That study found nonresidents spent $5.28 billion while visiting the state in 2023 and 2024.
dailymontanan.com/2025/09/23/r...

Gallatin, Flathead see highest nonresident visitor spending

Nonresident traveler spending trends analysis shows $5.28 billion spent in Montana. Glacier Country tourism region accounted for a third.

dailymontanan.com

6

The Daily Montanan @dailymontanan.com · 22d

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has a new way to test your bear spray reaction time — a robotic bear, which has four wheels and reaches speeds of over 30 miles per hour. (@jordyhansen.bsky.social)
dailymontanan.com/2025/09/22/r...

FWP using robo-bear to help residents to be more ‘bear aware’

Robotic bear on wheels simulates bear speed, your reaction time as FWP gets creative with ways to engage public on bears.

dailymontanan.com

2

The Daily Montanan @dailymontanan.com · 22d

A methamphetamine burn that went awry and sickened over a dozen people in Billings is under state investigation, as documents show FBI asked for disposal of drugs. (@jordyhansen.bsky.social)

dailymontanan.com/2025/09/19/f...

FBI drug burn mishap target of DEQ investigation

Yellowstone City-County Health Officer did not approve meth burn, though other drugs were approved to be burned at Animal Control facility.

dailymontanan.com

1 2 3

The Daily Montanan @dailymontanan.com · 22d

The Public Service Commission's vice president is looking to make it easier to remove elected commissioners from the body, @keilaszpaller.bsky.social writes:
dailymontanan.com/2025/09/22/p...

PSC vice president floats policy to lower bar for commissioner removal • Daily Montanan

The Montana Public Service Commission vice president wants to make it easier for the PSC to ask the governor to remove a commissioner.

dailymontanan.com

1 1

The Daily Montanan @dailymontanan.com · 23d

Montana FWP suspects a hemorrhagic disease is the culprit behind several dozen white-tailed deer deaths in northwest Montana. @mddrew.bsky.social: dailymontanan.com/2025/09/22/f... #mtnews #mtpol #montana

FWP suspects viral deer disease outbreak in NW, SE Montana

Wildlife officials say hemorrhagic disease suspected in white-tailed deer deaths in Eureka and Plains, as well as others in southeast Montana

dailymontanan.com

3

The Daily Montanan @dailymontanan.com · 28d

Do youth need their constitutional rights protected from effects of Trump's bid to "unleash" fossil fuels? Or do they need to take the fight elsewhere, as the fed'l government argues? Arguments began in Lighthiser v. Trump. By @mddrew.bsky.social: dailymontanan.com/2025/09/16/y... #mtnews #mtpol

Youth, scientists, argue for court to halt Trump executive orders 'unleashing' fossil fuel industry • Daily Montanan

Youth, scientists, argue for court to halt Trump executive orders unleashing fossil fuel industry in Lighthiser v. Trump climate change lawsuit

dailymontanan.com

3 6

Reposted by The Daily Montanan

States Newsroom @statesnewsroom.com · 28d

ICYMI from @dailymontanan.com: Staff are still struggling and some animals are dealing with the effects of smoke following a methamphetamine burn mishap last week that sickened more than a dozen employees of the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter.

www.newsfromthestates.com/article/anim...

Animals displaced, staff struggling after drug burn mishap at Billings animal shelter

Staff are still struggling and some animals are dealing with the effects of smoke following a drug burn mishap last week that sickened more than a dozen employees of the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shel...

www.newsfromthestates.com

1 7 25