Out West > The Missoula Current News – Daily News in Missoula Montana https://missoulacurrent.com Daily News in Missoula Montana Sat, 19 Sep 2026 15:21:45 GMT en-US hourly 1 https://townsquare.media/site/987/files/2022/04/attachment-logo256-1.png Out West > The Missoula Current News – Daily News in Missoula Montana https://missoulacurrent.com Carbon NW rail fans eager for Sept. 30 debut of Amtrak’s Airo fleet https://missoulacurrent.com/amtrak-airo-fleet/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 16:35:45 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> A sleek new Amtrak Cascades train passed through the Willamette Valley in July on a test run. Regular service with this next-generation train model begins in Washington and Oregon on Sept. 30. (Photo courtesy of Oregon Department of Transportation) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=68254 Tribes hit hard by wildfires face health effects, cultural losses https://missoulacurrent.com/tribes-wildfires-health/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 14:18:40 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> The Columbia Princess Ferry stays on the Gifford side of the Columbia River as the Modrite Fire exhibits extreme fire behavior just south of Inchelium, Washington. Fires in the state hit tribes particularly hard this year. (Photo courtesy of Colville Tribal Broadcasts, News and Information) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=68238 Oregon isn’t on track to meet transportation emissions goals https://missoulacurrent.com/oregon-emissions-goals/ Thu, 17 Sep 2026 16:00:59 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> (Oregon Department of Transportation) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=68228 Judge slams feds for failing to protect Sierra Nevada red fox https://missoulacurrent.com/sierra-nevada-red-fox/ Thu, 17 Sep 2026 14:15:03 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> A Sierra Nevada red fox. (Pixabay via Courthouse News) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=68208 USFS faces public land degradation caused by private wells https://missoulacurrent.com/usfs-private-wells/ Wed, 16 Sep 2026 14:28:20 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> A stunning view of desert foliage in the forest with canyonlands stretching into the distance. Arizona, Tonto National Forest area. https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=68190 Alaska judge clears way for gold mining within national park https://missoulacurrent.com/mining-national-park/ Tue, 15 Sep 2026 13:57:33 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> A plane heading to Anchorage flies over Cook Inlet waters. (Bernt Rostad/Flickr via Courthouse News) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=68177 New courses at University of Utah to eye nuclear energy https://missoulacurrent.com/utah-nuclear-energy/ Mon, 14 Sep 2026 14:21:54 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> University of Utah https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=68170 K-shaped economy taking toll on Las Vegas https://missoulacurrent.com/economy-toll-las-vegas/ Mon, 14 Sep 2026 14:17:40 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> The Sphere in Las Vegas. (Martin Kidston/Missoula Current0 https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=68168 Utah housing market remains among most expensive in US https://missoulacurrent.com/utah-housing-market/ Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:31:49 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> A residential area in Spanish Fork is pictured on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=68138 Like Montana, OR measure aims to ban corp. campaign contributions https://missoulacurrent.com/corporate-campaign-contributions/ Thu, 10 Sep 2026 15:12:52 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> Election ballots. (Martin Kidston/Missoula Current file) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=68128 Advocates delay removal of Yellowstone tree inscribed in 1893 https://missoulacurrent.com/yellowstone-tree-inscribed/ Thu, 10 Sep 2026 15:01:13 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> Phillip M. Gallaher led the survey crew that inscribed this tree in the modern-day Shoshone National Forest in October 1893. Some 132 years later, lawmakers and archaeologists want to recover the historic artifact from the backcountry. (Courtesy photo) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=68119 Oil and gas leases threaten critical Colorado wildlife corridors https://missoulacurrent.com/gas-leases-colorado/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 15:26:31 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> Gas wells operate near Interstate 70 in Garfield County near Parachute, June 9, 2023. (William Woody/Colorado Newsline) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=68105 Oregon governor pauses data centers on state land https://missoulacurrent.com/oregon-data-centers-2/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 14:25:32 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> Gov. Tina Kotek at a rally on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026 at the Oregon State Capitol, where demonstrators called for a moratorium on new data center development in the state for three years. (Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=68102 Judge blocks livestock grazing on Oregon’s sage grouse research https://missoulacurrent.com/grazing-sage-grouse-2/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 14:03:10 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> Greater sage grouse. (BLM photo) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=68093 Federal Colorado River plan leaves states guessing every two year https://missoulacurrent.com/colorado-river-plan-3/ Tue, 08 Sep 2026 13:35:54 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> Water levels in Lake Mead have fallen as the Colorado River dwindles, threatening the water supply for cities and farmers in the West. (Photo courtesy U.S. Bureau of Reclamation via Nevada Current) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=68082 Developers eye Native nations, tribes for data centers https://missoulacurrent.com/native-nations-data-centers/ Fri, 04 Sep 2026 16:41:05 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> An explosion of data center facilities, including the one pictured here in northeast Oregon on May 18 have been built along the Columbia River Gorge during the last few years. (Jordan Gale/Oregon Capital Chronicle) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=68033 Vegas Stadium Authority approves $75M in public funding https://missoulacurrent.com/vegas-stadium-authority/ Thu, 03 Sep 2026 15:28:07 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> A rendering of the proposed portico at Allegiant Stadium shown as part of a presentation at the Las Vegas Stadium Authority meeting Sept. 2, 2026. (Photo: Dana Gentry/Nevada Current) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=68013 Groups reopen suit to block Utah national monument reduction https://missoulacurrent.com/utah-national-monument/ Thu, 03 Sep 2026 15:04:11 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> Evening in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (U.S. Bureau of Land Management) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=68008 California Democrats claw back $450 million for climate projects https://missoulacurrent.com/california-democrats-climate/ Wed, 02 Sep 2026 15:15:54 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> The California State Capitol. (Alan Riquelmy/Courthouse News) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=67992 Colorado graduated income tax proposal qualifies for 2026 ballot https://missoulacurrent.com/colorado-income-tax/ Wed, 02 Sep 2026 14:43:53 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> Canvassers received petition packets as they prepared to gather signatures in support of a graduated income tax ballot measure at a Protect Colorado’s Future event in Denver on July 18, 2026. (Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=67989 Two dead, others still missing after Grand Canyon floods https://missoulacurrent.com/grand-canyon-floods/ Tue, 01 Sep 2026 14:55:36 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> Toroweap Overlook above the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon (Brian Richter/Courthouse News) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=67969 Quagga mussels detected again in Idaho, but numbers are down https://missoulacurrent.com/quagga-mussels-idaho-2/ Mon, 31 Aug 2026 14:09:10 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> In 2024 and 2023, contractors and officials with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture treated the Snake River with a copper-based chemical called Natrix to kill quagga mussels. (File photo courtesy of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=67958 Front Range cities to vote on Colorado Connector rail service https://missoulacurrent.com/colorado-connector-rail-service/ Mon, 31 Aug 2026 13:59:02 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> A next-generation Amtrak Airo train carries Colorado state and local officials for a ride on the test track at the federal Transportation Technology Center near Pueblo on Friday. (Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=67952 Alaska tribe sues feds to stop logging in Tongass National Forest https://missoulacurrent.com/logging-tongass-forest/ Fri, 28 Aug 2026 15:19:08 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> Tongass National Forest near Ketchikan, Alaska (Mark Brennan/Wikipedia via Courthouse News) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=67910 American flags in Idaho to be flown half-staff in honor of Dolly https://missoulacurrent.com/idaho-dolly-parton/ Thu, 27 Aug 2026 17:02:51 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> (KGVO image) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=67903 California court halts SoCal town's water utility takeover https://missoulacurrent.com/water-utility-takeover/ Thu, 27 Aug 2026 14:25:38 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> (Pixabay) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=67883 Oregon economic growth catching up with nation https://missoulacurrent.com/oregon-economic-growth/ Wed, 26 Aug 2026 16:41:33 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> Imports in Oregon outpaced exports for first time in years following Trump tariffs. (Courtesy of the Port of Portland) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=67872 Vail Resorts faces third class action over Epic Pass pricing https://missoulacurrent.com/vail-resorts-pricing/ Wed, 26 Aug 2026 15:17:33 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> View of Breckenridge Ski Area from the west peak of Dercum Mountain, as the start of Ranger run just west of the Summit House. (Courthouse News via Ahodges7 at Wikimedia) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=67866 Arizona water use up in the air pending Nevada lawsuit https://missoulacurrent.com/arizona-water-use/ Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:15:58 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> Toroweap Overlook above the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon (Brian Richter/Courthouse News) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=67838 Nevada files suit over Colorado River plan https://missoulacurrent.com/nevada-colorado-river/ Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:11:07 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> Water levels in Lake Mead have fallen as the Colorado River dwindles, threatening the water supply for cities and farmers in the West. (Photo courtesy U.S. Bureau of Reclamation via Nevada Current) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=67836 Border wall construction threatens iconic Southwest species https://missoulacurrent.com/border-wall-species/ Mon, 24 Aug 2026 13:35:13 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> U.S.-Mexico border wall construction continues west of Nogales, Arizona, on June 18, 2026. (Joe Duhownik/Courthouse News) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=67796 Three Colorado River states agree to massive water cuts https://missoulacurrent.com/colorado-river-water-cuts-2/ Mon, 24 Aug 2026 13:30:12 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> The Hoover Dam, located on the Nevada-Arizona border, controls the flow of the Colorado River. It was constructed in 1936 for $49 million and stands a whopping 726 feet tall. (Chris Marshall/Courthouse News) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=67792 Officials warn of a bleak Colorado River future https://missoulacurrent.com/officials-warn-of-a-bleak-colorado-river-future/ Fri, 21 Aug 2026 16:01:17 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> Rafters float down the Colorado River in Horsethief Canyon near the Colorado-Utah border on May 15, 2023. (Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=67787 California lawmakers kill grizzly bear reintroduction bill https://missoulacurrent.com/california-grizzly-bear/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 15:10:31 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> A grizzly bear (Photo by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Endangered Species Program via FLICKR | Creative Commons license). https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=67773 Wildfire threats to Colorado watersheds far exceeds funding https://missoulacurrent.com/wildfire-colorado-watersheds/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 15:05:25 GMT Continue reading…]]> Continue reading…]]> The Yamcolo Reservoir, a water storage project owned by the Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District, is pictured on Aug. 17, 2026. (Photo by Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline) https://missoulacurrent.com/?p=67770