The court sided with the state and local group Shelter WF, among other defendant-intervenors, in the legal dispute over four 2023 bills aimed at helping to address Montana’s affordable housing crisis.

The governor’s ask, if accepted by the state Supreme Court, would bypass a potentially lengthy legal process to rule on the constitutionality of a bill that provided Montanans with property tax rebates.

Should Christy Bortz accept the role, she’ll replace longtime superintendent Amy Piazzola, who is retiring at the school year’s end. The board hopes to have her final answer next week.

The county Republican central committee plans to endorse candidates in local legislative races again as campaigning ramps up. Democrats have also fielded candidates in each of the area’s legislative races, a feat the local chair called “a sign of growing energy.”

All four candidates running in the primary on the left side of the aisle participated in a roundtable hosted by the Beers, Buds and the Big Sky Podcast, discussing a number of high-profile issues that could be at-play in the looming midterm elections

ACCT Searches, a group affiliated with the Association of Community College Trustees, will head the nationwide search for Jane Karas’ replacement. The board has yet to finalize a timeline.

Jennifer Fee’s selection is not yet finalized as the district waits for final background checks and goes through contract negotiations. She was offered the role from a bench of three finalists, the other two of which had Flathead roots.

The senator’s departure from the race minutes before Montana's filing deadline caused an outcry from some members of his own party — and beyond — who argued the move sets a “dangerous precedent”

Daines said he had 'wrestled with this decision for months,' and that it was time for new leaders to 'spearhead the fight for Montana.'

The announcement comes after more than a month of speculation that the former University of Montana president might jump into the race. In his announcement video, Bodnar argues Montanans ‘deserve an independent voice.’

In letters submitted to the board, faculty and staff members called for transparency when it comes to administrative pay and promised to document any indicators of a hostile work environment on FVCC’s campus

Karas will finish her 25-year tenure as the president on Dec. 31. The board said it will develop a presidential search process and timeline in the coming weeks and months.

Candidate filing for 2026 officially opened last Tuesday. After the first week, a handful of Flathead County state House and Senate seats, along with the Public Service Commission district, have competitive primaries taking shape.

Like other districts in the valley, without a levy, the rural school is facing a potential budget deficit in the wake of COVID-era funds drying up, high inflation and decades since it last passed a general fund levy.

After months of deliberation, the district settled on an amount that would maintain current programming, provide a cost-of-living adjustment to its teachers and allow it to bring more support staff onboard. Without the levy’s passage, the school could face programming cuts.