Justin Franz

The Montana Department of Transportation is trying its best to keep the 12,923 miles of road in its care clear of snow and ice. But this year, it’s doing that with about 60 fewer people than normal, thanks to a national labor shortage that continues to impact nearly every facet of life. 

With five months until Montana’s adult-use marijuana market opens up, municipalities from Kalispell to Billings are figuring out what legal cannabis will look like in their communities.

Three years ago, Montana's Department of Environmental Quality moved to label the company's CEO a 'bad actor' per a 1980s-era state law. This spring a district court gave DEQ the greenlight — a development that could derail Hecla's plans.

While housing prices have been rising in the Flathead Valley over the last decade, the pandemic has fueled what some have called a “land grab.” That inflated demand is now starting to push renters out of the market as property owners cash in.

Conservation advocates say the governor’s plan to implement recreational marijuana is ignoring the will of Montana voters by taking money that was earmarked for public lands and redirecting it into the state’s General Fund. 

Republican Greg Gianforte has promised to sign any bill that puts new limits on abortion. Abortion-rights advocates worry the court ruling that former Gov. Steve Bullock based his vetoes on — the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision — is on shaky ground.

In the wake of the election, 15 states including Montana will have legalized recreational marijuana and 35 will allow medical marijuana. But will the measures survive state legislators' attempts to overturn election results?

Hospitalizations and other COVID-19 indicators point to mounting danger signs in Flathead County. But the county health board has twice refused to put a limit on crowd sizes, even a 500-person maximum.

The average sales price for homes and property in western Montana has increased by more than $115,000 since June, to $455,472 in September.

Only about 1 in 5 fairs took place as scheduled this summer, while the rest were dramatically modified or outright canceled because of the pandemic, according to data provided by the International Association of Fairs & Expositions.