Despite the pleas of elected officials and extreme fire conditions, fireworks across the City of Missoula lit up the night sky over Independence Day, all in violation of local restrictions. While fireworks are illegal in city limits, no citations were issued this year and the number of calls to the hotline established to report such complaints decreased, according to figures … [Read more...] about Despite laws and warnings, Missoula issues zero tickets for illegal fireworks

https://youtu.be/Zrsy-QiPHFg GARNET GHOST TOWN (KPAX) — The Anderson Hill Fire burning in Granite and Powell counties has now burned almost 800 acres, and it's moving dangerously close to one of Montana's favorite landmarks, Garnet Ghost Town. Each year, the gravel roads of this ghost town see 30,000 visitors, but this week the ghost town is living up to its name. The … [Read more...] about Fuels reduction shields Garnet Ghost Town from fire danger

(KPAX) Not even high-paying jobs in the Bakken oil fields of eastern Montana and North Dakota have been enough to fend off a growing shortage of skilled workers. The problem has reached the point where North Dakota state officials are worried that workers who lost their jobs during the pandemic slowdown won't be returning. In his monthly report on North Dakota's oil and … [Read more...] about Worker shortage curtails production in Bakken oil fields

Editors Note: This story has been updated to note that Missoula County has not approved the request, but is currently considering it. Missoula County on Tuesday heard a request from the Open Aid Alliance to shine a purple light onto the county courthouse to recognize National Overdose Awareness Day. And while it's just a purple light intended to bring awareness to a … [Read more...] about Overdose awareness campaign seeks county courthouse for display, but caution raised

When Sen. Jon Tester was in Missoula this month to promote his pending infrastructure bill, he mentioned the nation's dated power grid and a future it may not be ready to handle. “We're going to be shifting to electric cars,” Tester said. “It's the way it's going to be. We have to have a grid that's going to support charging stations.” According to the International … [Read more...] about Transportation: From plugs to communications, Missoula planners eye electric future