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1 week ago | 
mtpr.org | Victoria Traxler |Austin Amestoy |Elinor Smith
Heat and drought trigger unusually early fishing restrictionsVictoria TraxlerMontana Fish Wildlife and Parks and Yellowstone National Park implemented the first "hoot-owl" restrictions of the summer Thursday. These restrictions go into effect to protect fish populations when rivers are warm and water levels are low. Officials say this is unusually early.
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1 month ago | 
mtpr.org | Elinor Smith
The governor signed a bill last week that allocates $250 million to address overcrowding in Montana’s correctional facilities. Lawmakers this session and to study other potential changes to the prison system. Republican Sen. John Esp carried the legislation in the Senate. “ What this bill does is it recognizes the fact that we need beds," Esp said.
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1 month ago | 
mtpr.org | Victoria Traxler |Elinor Smith
Governor signs ban on lab-grown meat into lawVictoria Traxler | Montana Public RadioGov. Greg Gianforte Tuesday signed into law a bill in Montana. In a statement, Gianforte said the law will “defend” ranchers who produce meat in the state. The ban applies to all cell-cultured meat, or meat grown from animal cells in a controlled environment. Lab-grown meat is a developing science under review by the federal Food and Drug Administration.
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1 month ago | 
mtpr.org | Shaylee Ragar |Ellis Juhlin |Austin Amestoy |Elinor Smith
Taxes – Income tax cutsThe bill cuts the top marginal income tax rate by about .5% and raises the income ceiling for a lower rate bracket.
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1 month ago | 
mtpr.org | Elinor Smith
Elinor Smith: Research into the on-duty deaths and long-term health of firefighters has been cut under the Trump Administration. Investigative journalist Mark Olalde wrote for ProPublica about the impact of these cuts ahead of fire season. He's here with me now in the studio. Mark, thank you so much for being here today. Mark Olalde: Of course, thanks for having me. Elinor Smith: Of course. You reported that Trump laid off most of the federal workers who investigate firefighter deaths.
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1 month ago | 
mtpr.org | Elinor Smith
Federal budget cuts and economic uncertainty are raising questions about what this summer will look like in gateway communities, the towns surrounding national parks. A group of businesses in Yellowstone recently asked Montana’s congressional delegation for help. That’s according to a report from Montana PBS’ AJ Williams. She sat down with MTPR's Elinor Smith to discuss what she found. Elinor Smith: AJ, thank you so much for being here today. AJ Williams Thanks for having me, Elinor.
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1 month ago | 
mtpr.org | Elinor Smith
[This story first aired April 22, 2025]Three foreign men have been arrested in northern Montana for either illegal entry or reentry into the country. Border Patrol agents claimed those men held gang affiliations, but defense attorneys say there’s no proof of that and criminal cases against two of them men were dismissed. MTPR's Elinor Smith sat down with Montana Free Press’ Matt Hudson to break down the details of the case. Elinor Smith: Matt, thank you so much for being here today.
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2 months ago | 
mtpr.org | John Hooks |Victoria Traxler |Elinor Smith
Milltown dam water right will be used to support fish, state, CSKT sayJohn Hooks | Montana Public RadioMontana wildlife officials and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) this week gain control of the water right used for over a century to power the Milltown Dam and old Bonner Mill east of Missoula.
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2 months ago | 
mtpr.org | Elinor Smith
Under state and federal law, health insurance companies are required to cover mental health care at the same level they do for physical health conditions. Montana PBS's Anna Rau dug into nationally reported discrepancies in how insurance companies handle physical and mental health claims, and if those discrepancies impact Montanans. She sat down with All Things Considered host Elinor Smith to explain. Elinor Smith Can you start by explaining what mental health parity laws are supposed to do?
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2 months ago | 
mtpr.org | Elinor Smith
Humanities Montana receives just under a million dollars a year from The National Endowment for the Humanities. The money funds programs across the state providing Montanans with access to education on history, literature, philosophy and more. Jill Baker is the executive director of Humanities Montana. She received word Wednesday from the National Endowment for the Humanities that its grant funding would be terminated.
