
Anne James


New Wildfire Spotted on Jericho Mountain
Jericho Mountain Fire
A new wildfire start was reported over the weekend. On Sunday, the Jericho Mountain Fire was found to be burning in heavy dead and down fuel about 5 miles to the south of Macdonald Pass, west of Helena. Forest Service, Montana DNRC, Baxendale and Elliston Volunteer Fire Department all assisted with initial response...

Mopping Up the Hilger Valley Fire
HELENA (NR) --Command of the 285-acre Hilger Valley fire north of Helena was turned over to a local team Thursday evening. Firefighters completed a containment line around the entire perimeter of the fire earlier in the week, and mop-up operations continue, to make sure there are no hot spots within 130-feet of the perimeter...

Ride ‘Em, Bobcats!
BOZEMAN — Sixteen Montana State University Bobcats will travel to Casper, Wyoming, this week to compete in the College National Finals Rodeo. Competition is scheduled for June 15-21 at the Ford Wyoming Center, and the complete schedule is available HERE.
The Bo...

Grizzly Sighted in the Bears Paw Mountains
HAVRE – A grizzly bear was shot and killed early Wednesday morning, after it threatened a landowner at his home on the northeast side of the Bears Paw Mountains. The Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks said in a press release that the man heard a disturbance with his dogs and when he opened the door to his porch, he encountered the bear and shot it. This is ...

Hilger Valley Firefighters Get an Assist from the Weather
Hilger Valley Fire
Good news from commanders in charge of the Hilger Valley fire north of Helena. On Wednesday afternoon, firefighters completed a containment line around the entire perimeter of the fire, and those lines held as several storms with gusty winds moved through the area...

DNRC: Hilger Valley Fire Now 300 Acres and Counting
Hilger Valley Fire
Department of Natural Resources and Conservation officials say they're throwing everything the have at the day-old Hilger Valley Fire. The fire was first reported Monday afternoon (June 9th) about 20 miles north of Helena, and east of I-15...

Great Falls Counter-Protests PETA with Class…and Barbecue
GREAT FALLS -- It surely wasn't the response PETA - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals - was looking for, when it announced on its website last week that it would be protesting yesterday (Wednesday) at SMOKED American Barbecue in downtown Great Falls...

Cut Bank’s Hadley Barbie Earns Governor’s Award for Community Service
BOZEMAN — A Montana State University sophomore has been recognized for her civic engagement through a volunteering award from the governor’s office.
This spring, Hadley Barbie, a nursing student at MSU, received the Montana Student Volunteer Award, which is sponsored by the governor’s Office of Community Service and Montana Campus Network for Civic Engagement.
Barbie is from Cut B...

Nominations Now Open for the 2026 Montana Teacher of the Year
HELENA -The Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) is pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the 2026 Montana Teacher of the Year. This prestigious honor recognizes excellence in teaching and celebrates educators who are making a lasting difference in the lives of students across the state
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Is Your Dog the 2026 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year?
Farmers and ranchers are invited to submit nominations for the 2026 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest, which comes with cash prizes and bragging rights for you, and a year's worth of Purina chow for your dog.
The grand prize winner – Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year – will win a year’s worth of Purina Pro Plan dog food and $5,000 in prize money. The winner will be re...

First Case of Tick that Transmits Lyme Disease Found in Montana
A tick removed from a hunting dog in Dawson County was confirmed to be the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis, also called the deer tick), which is the primary tick that carries and transmits Lyme disease in the eastern United States. The geographic range of I. sca...

23andMe’s Bankruptcy: Here’s How to Protect, Delete Your DNA Data
HELENA – Following 23andMe’s bankruptcy announcement, Attorney General Austin Knudsen issued the following advice on how Montana residents can protect their genetic data and reminding them of their right to delete genetic data from DNA testing companies:
"23andMe announced March 23 it was declaring bankruptcy and would be looking for a buyer. Montana law requires companies, lik...