Political
Need information regarding current political news? Here we'll keep you updated on the latest political news, locally and nationally.
Familiar names vie for Libby county commissioner seat
Libby area Republicans will pick between two men with plenty of previous experience as local elected officials to …
USFS forest plans receive 60 objections
MISSOULA — Hundreds of pages of objections by 60 individuals or organizations have been filed against a U.S. Forest Service draft management plan concerning two national forests with borders stretching into norther…
Nelson Mandela, South Africa's peacemaker, dies at 95
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Nelson Mandela was a master of forgiveness.
Utility ordered to refund up to $3 million to customers
HELENA — The state Public Service Commission has ordered NorthWestern Energy to refund to customers nearly $3 million it collected after overestimating how much revenue it lost from energy-conservation programs.
FWP to refund $25,000 for river project
HELENA — The director of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has ordered the agency to return about $25,000 to an account used to benefit the Smith River after a conservation organization complained about how the money …
DCI to aid investigation into drug-bust shooting
HELENA — State investigators say an undercover Missoula police detective was shot during a drug sting when the suspect pulled a gun and tried to take the contraband, the state Department of Justice said.
Some states want delay in wolverine listing
SALT LAKE CITY — An organization of wildlife officials for Western states is asking the federal government to delay a possible listing for wolverines as a threatened species, which could mean an end to trapping out…
UM Regents consider changes to student insurance
MISSOULA — The state Board of Regents is looking at making some changes to the insurance plan it offers university students because fewer of them are purchasing the plan and premiums aren’t covering the full cost o…
Gun advocates appeal Firearms Freedom Act ruling
HELENA — Gun advocates asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a lower court’s ruling against state laws designed to buck federal gun rules.
Couple fined for buying, owning bear parts
HELENA — The owners of a Chinese restaurant in Helena have been fined nearly $5,000 for buying and possessing black bears and bear parts, including a bucket of 12 bear paws found at the restaurant.
Rosauers, other grocers resume card usage
Updated Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013
Wind energy company guilty in eagle death
WASHINGTON — The government for the first time has enforced environmental laws protecting birds against wind energy facilities, winning a $1 million settlement Friday from a power company that pleaded guilty to kil…
Despite weakened filibuster, GOP senators have options
WASHINGTON — Two Californians proposed for the federal bench and two Texans offered as U.S. marshals are collateral damage, at least for now, in the suddenly escalated Senate confirmation wars.
Baucus proceeds with tax plan
HELENA — U.S. Sen. Max Baucus is forging ahead with his aggressive plan to rewrite the nation’s tax code in the next year, confident he can find common ground amid the intense partisanship stalling budget debates i…
House OKs bills to speed oil, gas drilling
WASHINGTON — The House approved two bills Wednesday aimed at speeding up drilling for oil and natural gas on public lands.
Nuke troubles run deep; officers 'burned out'
WASHINGTON — Trouble inside the Air Force’s nuclear missile force runs deeper and wider than officials have let on.