Line around the block at the Missoula County Elections Office #mtnews

Election Admin Terry Thompson said it's possible people will be in line to register/vote through midnight. Campaigns and politicos everywhere will be chomping at the bit to see results from Cascade County, but they'll probably be waitin' a while. #mtnews

Caucus day for Montana Senate Republicans. #mtleg #mtpol

Obituary today in paper for C. David "Dave" Carlson, former IR reporter nominated for Pulitzer for coverage of fatal plane crash of Montana Gov. Donald G. Nutter in 1962. Thank you, Mr. Carlson ... legacy.com/us/obituaries/…

Blaine County, MT - which overlaps with the Fort Belknap Reservation - has voted for every presidential winner since 1992. Local officials say the county's demographic diversity may be a reason why it's served as a bellwether for 30+ years. #mtpol missoulian.com/news/local/ind…

For six months I trailed a new Christian nationalist group in Montana, from Jordan, to Ennis, to the state Capitol. Thanks to Poynter, this series will publish with no paywall. Citizen grand juries and county militias: The quiet rise of Tactical Civics helenair.com/news/state-reg…

Breaking: 5 years after achieving federal recognition status, the Little Shell Tribe announces plans to build a massive event center and resort in Great Falls. Chairman Gray said it's long been a goal for the tribe to achieve self-sufficiency. missoulian.com/news/local/ind… #mtnews

NEW: For 9 months, @carlykgraf and I have been working on a series about tribal colleges. The first story - on how these schools revitalize language and culture "for the sake of a nation" - is out today with no paywall. #mtnews #mtpol missoulian.com/news/local/edu…

#mtnews #mtleg via Austin Amestoy. A list of lawmakers who did and didn't waive access to junque files included here --> mtpr.org/montana-news/2…

Scoop from Seaborn Larson and me: A Hamilton senator recently signed a state-funded contract with a longtime business associate all without legislative leadership's knowledge or parktaking in the public bidding process. helenair.com/news/state-reg…

Day 10 #mtleg

Ellsworth first tried to enter into 2 contracts in a move that would not trigger public notice laws, but staff said no. “They are missing multiple elements that make them problematic," staff emailed to a dept head. More on this by Victoria Eavis and me: helenair.com/news/state-reg…

Ellsworth this morning brings the press a copy of the contract termination form with Agile Analytics, says he hopes to “end the manufactured controversy” #mtleg #mtnews

The language around this contract is getting more serious, with Regier calling it an "illegal deal" and plans for an ethics complaint coming together #mtnews #mtleg helenair.com/news/state-reg… via Independent Record

Our final story in the tribal college series explores funding challenges. While COVID relief money offered a glimpse of what's possible, future funding remains in limbo. It was a joy to work with Carly Graf on this project. #mtnews #mtpol missoulian.com/news/local/edu…

BREAKING: Fort Peck Tribal Chairman urges members to carry IDs to avoid deportation amid Trump's new immigration orders. The tribal enrollment office has already seen an uptick in appointments. "People are scared," an enrollment officer said. #mtpol missoulian.com/news/local/ind…

Montana Supreme Court has upheld District Court's ruling granting summary judgment in favor of St. Peter’s Health in case against Dr. Thomas Weiner. Story coming.

“It's a direct impact on military readiness and U.S. national security,” A $6.5 million University of Montana grant for training special forces in language and regional histories cut by the Department of Defense. Via Nicole Girten

May 5 is a National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. As groups lead marches, panels, protests and other events nationwide, a Blackfeet father demands justice in his daughter’s case. montanafreepress.org/2025/05/05/on-… #MMIW #MMIP #MMIWG2S

Our paywall is down for everyone for the next five days. In Cascade County, Democrats continue losing local candidates to the GOP #mtpol #mtnews helenair.com/news/state-reg…