News

News from Natural Resources Conservation Service BOZEMAN — March did not bring a much-needed shift to active weather patterns that would have benefited our mountain snowpack. March precipitation was well below normal across most of Montana. As a result, most snowpack percentages decreased for the third consecutive month. “Most of the state has been in a prolonged dry period since mid-January and many stations, particularly in southwest Montana, have recorded record low precipitation since then,” said USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Hydrologist Eric Larson. Northwest Montana and the northern Rocky Mountain Front were exceptions and received near to a...

News from the office of Governor Gianforte   HELENA — Montana’s unemployment rate fell to a new record low in March to 2.3%, the fourth lowest rate in the nation. Montana’s labor force and total employment are at record highs. Inflation, however, has reached a 41-year high, undermi...

News form The Greater Polson Community Foundation POLSON —The GPCF is inviting local non-profit groups to apply for the 2022 grant funding cycle. The 2022 grant application deadline is Friday, April 29, 2022. Grant applications will be accepted from non-profit organizations with a 501 c (3) status...

RONAN — The Ronan Cooperative Brewery and the Ronan Volunteer Fire Department teamed up on April 1 to raise funds for local first responders.  According to head brewer Jim Myers, the idea to partner with community organizations for fundraisers dates back to the start of the brewery, when organi...

News from MT FWP HELENA — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is implementing a new process for elk hunting access (EHA) agreements to provide more transparency with the public and landowners and allow for a clearer process for Fish and Wildlife Commission review. EHA agreements were codified in...

News from the office of Senator Tester  U.S. Senate — As a part of the bipartisan infrastructure law, U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced on April 15 that he secured more than $30 million for Montana rural and urban public transit. Earlier this year, Tester announced $11 million in partial-year...

LAKE COUNTY — Community voices rang out together on April 10 and 11 in choir concerts benefiting both the Mission Valley Choral Society and Helping Hands.  Helping Hands is a local non-profit that addresses the needs of individuals and families in Lake County. Supported in part by area churches...

News from the offices of Senator Tester and Senator Daines U.S. SENATE — Bipartisan Senate resolution marking April 16, 2022 through April 24, 2022 as National Park Week passed the U.S. Senate recently.   “Our national parks help set us apart from the rest of the world, and in M...

News from DPHHS MONTANA — Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Director Adam Meier announced recently that Montanans eligible for food and cash assistance can now make purchases online through Walmart.com as part of a federal nationwide initiative to increase access. “We...

LAKE COUNTY — Overcast skies, snow, and brisk winds couldn’t keep hundreds of egg-cited children from having a hoppin’ good time this past weekend at various community sponsored Easter Egg Hunts held throughout the Mission Valley. “We had an eggs-traordinary turn out this year,&rdq...