Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker this town of 5,000 touts art galleries and upscale cafes with a homegrown department store still going strong after 75 years remains a draw not just for locals but for the tourists who come to explore the surrounding mountain wilderness But many people worry that the future is at risk Hamilton has depended for decades on what seemed a reliable economic foundation – the federal government which employs hundreds at a world-renowned scientific laboratory and in the Bitterroot National Forest Now staff and funding cuts at both are shaking this pocket of deep-red Montana prompting its leaders to warn the Trump administration of “dangerous safety and economic consequences” and sending citizens into the streets to protest It’s wry recognition of the outsize role of federal employment in an area where most alternatives pay little despite a median home price of about $600,000 Hamilton leaders fear researchers at Rocky Mountain Laboratories and forest managers who lose their jobs are likely to leave firefighting skills and community contributions with them “They are participating in the local economy They’re very engaged citizens,” said Robin Pruitt “We know that our community would be devastated to lose these community members.” The dynamic has made Hamilton a prime example of the ripple effects of the administration’s efforts to drastically shrink the government The consequences of pink slips always reach beyond the individual employees fired Yet they feel magnified in a town this size main street American economic impact,” said Mary Casper who watched with alarm as the labs canceled bookings for visiting researchers at her motel in downtown Hamilton The scope of the firings and buyouts is unclear because the White House has not made numbers public a scientist who is keeping a tally counts at least 25 of 573 people gone Fourteen more are expected to leave or be terminated by June who talked on the condition of anonymity because workers are not permitted to speak publicly some 30 to 40 of 208 employees have been fired or have left through various incentive programs a Bitterroot employee who’s on the executive council of the local federal workers union A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture said via email that staffing numbers continue to be finalized; operational firefighters were not offered voluntary retirement and deferred resignation The National Institutes of Health did not respond to a request for comment about staff cuts at the labs the city council moved a listening session on the cuts from city hall to the middle school a larger venue to accommodate more than 200 attendees Though Hamilton leans more blue than the broader river valley the council had seen its share of ideological battles – a proposed rainbow-painted crosswalk sparked a “holy war” a few years ago Pruitt recounted – and was unsure how heated the meeting would get All comments were on one side: Protect federal jobs The council responded by passing a resolution opposing the cuts and pleading in letters to NIH and the Agriculture Department “We’re just about as low on the government pecking order as it comes and Ravalli County’s three Republican commissioners who represent a jurisdiction where 69% of voters backed the president dozens of residents urged them to press Montana’s congressional delegation to challenge the staff reductions “Some of the people making cuts could not tell the difference between a deer and an elk,” a former lab worker said “There’s some reason for concerns,” commissioner Greg Chilcott responded we’re 37 trillion dollars in debt as a nation Like the rest of the lush Bitterroot Valley Those jobs dried up with the closure of sawmills and few here expect even tariffs on Canadian lumber to revive the industry the town had something else: Rocky Mountain Laboratories It began more than a century ago with scientists in sheds and tents researching Rocky Mountain spotted fever And while a moat was dug around the facility in its early days to assuage residents’ fears of tick escapes the labs have long been a source of pride for many It has been at the forefront of infectious-disease research producing a yellow fever vaccine during World War II identifying the bacterium responsible for Lyme disease and contributing to immunizations for Ebola and COVID-19 Today its work draws scientists from around the globe A 2023 University of Montana report found that the labs support 1,497 Montana jobs $89 million in after-tax income for households and $232 million in annual business revenue Hamilton’s backdrop is the 1.6-million acre Bitterroot National Forest Visitation and migration boomed during the pandemic and grew more when the smash television series “Yellowstone” started filming in the county The federal government accounts for 4% of jobs but 8% of wages in Ravalli – both numbers significantly higher than the statewide figures The combination of solid salaries in a charming town next to an outdoor playground makes this place a coveted assignment Everyone in Hamilton knows someone who works at the labs or the forest Their children are on teams and in classrooms where lab employees volunteer in an after-school science program Kara Bond landed a job last year as a forest archaeologist where she rented an apartment that backed up to the Bitterroot River She began to imagine staying for the long haul in what she calls “the quietest place I’ve ever lived.” But she was still a probationary employee when the Trump administration fired thousands of workers in that category in mid-February The email came in as Bond was at a chemotherapy session for breast cancer She gave up her apartment and moved to her home state for treatment only to have a court ruling lead to her reinstatement Now she’s working remotely and hoping she will still have the job and be able to return to Hamilton after she has surgery in May “Nobody knows who’s going to get RIFs,” she said meaning reductions in-force or more layoffs a county commissioner whose district includes the labs He is also uneasy about the lack of transparency on how deep the cuts will be and how they’re being orchestrated by people in Washington He’s no drain-the-swamp guy; he thinks forest service employees have been crucial partners to the county Burrows said he understands the administration’s focus on slashing costs “I don’t think it’s going to devastate our economy from the proposal so far that I’ve seen,” he said in an interview Yet business owners are already feeling the cuts Allegra printing has long worked with the forest service and the labs producing signs and materials for presentations That generated additional business from NIH divisions based elsewhere who estimated the federal purchases typically make up 10% of Allegra’s revenue a lab employee told her his department had “just a couple of us left.” “I’m 20-something years into these relationships,” Mendenall said Casper and her husband bought the City Center Motel two years ago and spruced it up confident it could become profitable and inject more money into downtown and lab officials started booking rooms for their visitors two people from Africa stayed for three weeks Nine people came from Europe to attend a four-day conference the motel logged $15,000 in reservations from the labs the 2025 calendar already had $5,000 in lab bookings a travel freeze led to them all being canceled Such losses “can make or break your year,” Casper said supplies are low because much of the purchasing department has been let go meaning critical machines – mass spectrometers electron microscopes – cannot be fixed if they fail a scientist emeritus who remains in close contact with lab employees “A lot of those experiments are time critical,” he said beyond keeping toilets clean and maintaining trails there are concerns about how to fulfill the administration’s greater focus on timber harvest and fire mitigation with a smaller staff “You need all the people that know this stuff,” said Mary Williams a retired Bitterroot archaeologist who lives in Hamilton “There’s so much that goes into managing the forest.” Commissioner Burrows does not completely disagree and he said the forest service has struggled to stay on top of trail and road maintenance In one of the nation’s highest-risk wildfire areas Burrows and others are well aware the county relies on federal funding and workers to ensure its safety “trying to keep our roads paved and trying to keep public safety going.” “If you’re going to reduce the number of people and what are people going to tolerate?” he said to expect the same level of service with less folks on the ground.” Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible Get breaking news delivered to your inbox as it happens © Copyright 2025, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy Here in Montana that opportunity is very real—because for the price of $2.6 million you could be the proud owner of the town of Pray in Park County This town might be small—a whopping five acres with a population of one family—but Pray is large in history “Pray was founded in 1907 by Valentine Eggar And it was named after a congressman named Charles Nelson Pray,” Michael Rutkowski informs me Michael is the realtor who put Pray on the market Michael says this little town has always been a staple in the Paradise Valley community the general store was about the only place where you could get any services of any kind,” says Michael Although nowadays the general store is a bit less functional the original bronze post office boxes have helped keep history alive Michael tells me since 1907 one family has been responsible for running Pray The last member of the family to inherit this town Michael helped Barbara sell Pray in 2018 for around $480,000 That buyer added some new additions to the town: modern cabins the town of Pray is back on the market for $2.6 million “We started heavily marketing it just three weeks ago and we’ve gotten hundreds of calls from around the world It kind of went a little viral for a bit,” Michael shares he’s been fixing up the general store in hopes of opening an antique shop This used to be the spot where people would come shopping and they would weigh their babies on the meat scale So if we can sell to an owner who is ready to make this a spot with services for the community That would be the highest and best use for this property.” Report a typo Our team of Montana correspondents has been out on the water this week Whether it’s walleyes moving into the shallows or trout rising on topwater and success stories straight from the folks who live it These quick reports give you a solid edge before you hit the water this weekend Think state records are only for monster fish The Montana Outdoor Radio Show is live Saturday Mornings from 6:06am to 8:00am Think you’re fly fishing like a pro with that bobber it might be time to ditch the training wheels and rediscover the real art of nymphing—no plastic balls required slowly)—from midge hatches to streamer pulls and dry fly eats They say that if you built a bridge in a desert Fly tying can be an enjoyable yet potentially costly way to enhance your fly fishing experience by allowing you to create your own flies instead of buying them No worries — both hours of last week’s Montana Outdoor Radio Show are ready for […] Captain and Don Jamison of Park Grove hooked a couple of trophy walleyes in the dredge cuts Friday The 2025 Walleye Egg Collection is in the Books Rigger and the Captain Take a Deep Dive Into What it all Means For Montana’s Walleye Fishermen & Women… Montana FWP wants your voice in shaping the future of mule deer—join a local workshop to weigh in on the new statewide management plan and help steer the herd in the right direction We have a sneak peek into the latest amazing Montana Outdoor Podcast episode… America’s public lands are opening wider than ever for hunters and anglers with new spots and big opportunities… Bass season just kicked off—and let’s just say the opening weekend didn’t disappoint at the Echo Lake Big Sky Bass Bash… Hell Creek Marina is your year-round launchpad for all things Fort Peck and brand-new pizzas—Rock Creek Marina is back and ready to make you feel like family… A once-golden creek is being reshaped—not for fortune this time From deep water surprises to shoreline hotspots this week brought a little bit of everything at Fort Peck Snagging a river dinosaur might sound crazy to some it’s just another paddlefish season… Armored in 30,000 quills and smelling like exotic cheese the porcupine is nature’s most misunderstood it’s kind of like elk—and way more interesting than chicken The bugs are waking up and the trout are eating—Craig’s tailwater is heating up before runoff… Oklahoma’s public lands just got a little less public for outsiders Fly fishing isn’t just about catching fish—it’s a lifelong journey of beauty with a heart full of grit and a camo golf cart for cover Fox Haas reminded us all why legends never hang up their calls… The Gallatin River is fishing great right now with nymphs and worms leading the charge as runoff begins and fish are biting from the park to the valley… Your chance to shape the future of hunting on the Flathead Reservation—share your thoughts on the 2025-2026 draft regulations… A Canada goose was confirmed infected in Gallatin County on February 26 It’s time to get your goose jerky on Donald Trump Jr.’s hunting trip in Italy just went from a wild adventure to a legal quagmire after he allegedly poached a rare duck—now The Sierra County Sheriff’s Office in California reports residents are under siege from wolves posting graphic photos of a bloodied stoop where an elk was brought down just yards from a residence There have been 18 wolf attacks confirmed in 28 days released in Colorado in January after being translocated from British Columbia has made significant movements across the state covering more than 1,230 miles since translocation — an extraordinary display of the species’ natural roaming behavior IMPORTANT: The season dates for hound hunting season in the printed version of the 2025 Black Bear Regulations were incorrectly listed in the printed regulations A peaceful day of ice fishing shattered in an instant… When you need Dramamine to go ice fishing…… Some anglers are stuck dreaming of frozen lakes while others are packing their gear and chasing the last ice—where do you stand one last thrilling ice fishing adventure delivers big trout and bigger lessons—before the season slips away As Montana’s late-season ice thins and conditions become unpredictable anglers are urged to stay cautious—no fish is worth the risk the fishing has been excellent across Helena area waters Time for Your Refresher Course on How to Catch HUGE Kokanee Salmon in Holter & Hauser Reservoirs From Kit & Trevor Johnson of Kit’s Tackle Outfitters… Think again—Kit and Trevor are back to spill the secrets before the season heats up this week’s Montana Outdoor Podcast dives deep into the surprising fish behind Fort Peck’s trophy giants—don’t miss “Double Bacon Cheeseburger with Fins.” What do deep-water monsters and a double bacon cheeseburger have in common Tune in to the Montana Outdoor Podcast to find out… That “special” new scent your dog is rocking here’s one way to get rid of that… Tired of playing keep-away with your dog while you’re at hunting camp Learn the secret to achieving total recall—no chasing required When it comes to filleting a northern pike When your Ring doorbell says there’s someone at the door you just never know what to expect in Florida… Yellowstone National Park recorded its first officially documented fatal grizzly bear attack has filed a lawsuit against the Triangle C Ranch near Dubois This smart and friendly elk has serious footwork when it comes to soccer © 2025 Montana Outdoor Radio Show All Rights Reserved RSS Feed Facebook Page YouTube Channel SoundCloud NewsBreak Profile Privacy Policy BUTTE — Montana's 2025 Legislative session wrapped up earlier this week didn't pass which has left an Anaconda family heartbroken all you can do is sit back and go I hope a tragedy like ours doesn't have to affect you," says Keith Worl While on her way to work on a March morning nearly four years ago 25-year-old Chloe Worl was struck head-on and was killed instantly by a distracted driver in Dillon Keith and Connie Worl stood before legislators pleading for safer roads in Montana Montana still remains the only state that does not restrict cell phone use in vehicles Connie says Senate Bill 359 would have restricted hand-held devices while driving in order to eliminate distractions like texting or scrolling on a phone the bill would have allowed victims and their families to seek justice in accidents involving distracted driving "We don't feel that Chloe received justice from the judicial system the way we were received during the legislative committee—the House legislative committee—you know I don't think her tragedy was even validated Connie says almost 50 people died on Montana roads it's difficult to know if those deaths are connected to distracted driving Despite the legislature's failure to pass Chloe's Law a bill did pass that increases penalties for drunken driving "The House and the Senate did some really good work with passing Bobby's Bill The Worls say they will bring Chole's Law before the legislature again They also host an ATV fun run in July to raise money for scholarships in Chloe's honor Montana food banks are expecting federal cuts to The Emergency Food Assistance Program to decrease supply in the next food shipments Montana Food Bank Network lost $2.5 million of their federal emergency food assistance funding in March which led to a 600,000 pound decrease of food statewide for the year The food bank network distributes food from the program is losing an estimated 140,000 pounds worth of TEFAP food this year Program Manager of Warehouse Development Debbie Anderson says while the cuts did not show up in the last shipment of TEFAP food the organization will see reductions in the upcoming shipment “We are anticipating protein is gonna be the first kind of thing that's gonna be the hardest protein is kind of high on the list for Montana's diet preferences,” she said Billings Family Service may turn to the community for help Board member Ed Ulledalen says while he is concerned about how the TEFAP cuts could affect the Billings area he is also hopeful that the community will help replace those missing resources “We want to continue to broaden our support in the community both from people that are supporting us financially but also businesses that are supporting in terms of giving food and that type of thing,” he said “but I think we also need ongoing full of volunteers There's a lot of work that's done down here by volunteers to help get the food distributed I think those are a couple critical parts of our mission to move forward.” Food Bank Network President and CEO Gayle Carlson says the number of Montana residents asking for assistance is growing She attributes the reason for the increase to high grocery prices and federal employee layoffs, including the 360 U.S. Forest Service employees who were laid off in February ‘We're starting to see a lot of demands on our partner agencies for needing that assistance because a lot of individuals have been laid off that are federal employees,” she said Carlson remains positive despite her concerns She is confident food banks will figure out how to fill the need “There's a lot of other resources that we're working with and our hope is to make that up so that they don't feel that hit,” she said “Hopefully it might just take us a little bit of time but I think we can be safe in saying that we'll be doing our level best to try and meet those needs continuing.” If you are interested in volunteering at Billings Family Service, you can sign up here these nine towns prove that Montana's quiet corners hold just as much magic as its famous landmarks When you think of best-kept secrets in Montana, you don't often think of France but the French city is the inspiration for Havre Havre does boast the Montana State University-Northern shows visitors a buffalo jump that Native American hunters would herd buffalo through in days gone by History enthusiasts can visit Fort Assinniboine to glimpse 19th-century military life Probably the most unique name on this list is Anaconda Anaconda has around 9,500 citizens who call the area home it has an impressive blend of art and outdoor sports to entertain many There is the Copper Village Museum and Art Center to appreciate the historic buildings and attractions this smelting community used in the early days The Washoe Theater is an Art Deco throwback listed on the National Register of Historic Sites where you can still catch a movie or sometimes a play tourists can visit the Upper Works Trails or the Smoke Stack State Park to see one of the tallest free-standing brick structures in the world the old Anaconda Copper Company smelter stack Sitting in eastern Montana is a town of just under 9,000 people, Miles City. This under-the-radar town prides itself on being an authentic western town with vast stretches of plains and benefiting from the Yellowstone River running across the northern section If you're in town during the right time of year you can check out the Bucking Horse Sale Parade Take advantage of the big sky area by checking out the Dean's Reservoir which Native Americans used for communication This next town on our list might be the most recognizable option. Whitefish is a resort town in the northwest part of Montana, located directly west of one of the most famous parks in the country, Glacier National Park mostly known for its skiing opportunities at Whitefish Mountain Resort it still only has 7,700 year-round residents This small Northern Rocky Mountain town is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts have fun at the Aerial Adventure Park at Whitefish Mountain Resort or try the unique Alpine Slides on rolling sleds Beware that both activities need reservations Want an unforgettable view of Glacier National Park Reserve a backcountry flight that will give you world-class views Not everything needs to be for the thrill seekers Check out the O'Shaughnessy Center for art shows a town only 15 miles southwest of Billings on Interstate 90 this small town has a surprising multitude of sites to check out The Yellowstone National Cemetery is north of the city or you can visit the Chief Joseph Monument which remembers the Nez Perce Indians' battle against the U.S which is an underrated area for hikers in southern Montana There are also several family parks and an 18-hole golf course for entertainment Tucked away in the northeast part of Montana is the small town of Sidney, which is home to around 6,500 people and only a short 10-minute drive from the North Dakota border This small town has the Yellowstone River tucked away on the eastern portion of town and is a great fishing opportunity for the unique paddlefish You can visit the national historic Fort Union Trading Post between Sidney and the North Dakota border The town also has the MonDak Heritage Center which is a museum celebrating the history of the citizens of the area in both western Montana and eastern North Dakota enthusiasts can visit part of the Lewis and Clark Trail in the area Our next under-the-radar town is Columbia Falls This town of 5,300 people is only a short drive southeast of another entry on our list it hugs the world-famous Glacier National Park east of town It also has the benefit of being in the northeast part of the memorable Flathead Valley which has over 900 feet of river frontage of the Flathead River You can also take advantage of the Columbia Mountain Trail #51 which overlooks Columbia Falls and the greater Flathead Valley Polson is a small town of 5,000 residents in the Flathead Valley on the southern shores of Flathead Lake This northwestern Montana town is actually on the Flathead Reservation and has the advantage of being surrounded by the snow-capped Mission Mountains to the south of town This area is known for being a cherry-growing region so there are numerous cherry orchards to visit The area offers whitewater rafting on the Flathead River and access to the nearby National Bison Range in Moiese where visitors can see large herds of bison the town is home to two notable museums: the Miracle of America Museum which features an eclectic collection of Americana which offers insight into the local heritage and early pioneer life Deer Lodge is a small town of just under 3,000 people in western Montana This small town blends the importance of mining and ranch living throughout the area Your first stop should be the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site which gives visitors a look into the development of the cattle industry through the 19th century since the town has been home to the Montana State Prison for decades this retired building became a complex for a theater they expect to be immersed in the world of ranching and everything that bleeds the culture of life "out west" But these smaller Montana towns surprise people with their versatility Being able to learn the ways of cherry farmers and a deep root in Native American history highlights the non-traditional activities that you can find in this wide-open state Learning and experiencing something new is a cornerstone of any location that is new to a visitor and these nine best-kept secret Montana towns highlight that fact under this state's "Big Sky." photos and original descriptions © 2025 worldatlas.com BILLINGS — Montana food banks are expecting federal cuts to The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) to decrease supply in the next food shipments The food bank network distributes food from the program to 73 partner agencies in Montana She attributes the increase to higher grocery prices and federal employee layoffs Forest Service employees who were laid off in February (Editor's note: Information provided by Montana and Montana State athletics.) Idaho — New records were established over the weekend by Montana and Montana State track and field athletes at Idaho State's Bengal Invitational A pair of record-breaking marks from two familiar stars headlined the weekend's action for the Bobcats junior Hailey Coey shattered her own school record in the long jump before Saturday sophomore Sydney Brewster obliterated her own school and Big Sky Conference record in the shot put Ahead of her sixth and final attempt at the Davis Field sand pit Coey did something the humble superstar from Billings rarely ever does—she asked for the 'clap' from the gathered spectators clapping in unison to spur the reigning indoor Big Sky champion down the runway where she launched herself from the board and straight into rare air 3½ inches to beat her previous personal-best by nearly four full inches The jump shattered the school record she set two weeks ago in Long Beach 2 all-time in Big Sky Conference history behind Eastern Washington's Caitlin Simmons (21-04¾) Coey has enjoyed one of the more special seasons by a Bobcat in program history this year breaking the Big Sky Conference indoor long jump record in February at the conference meet and setting new school records in both the indoor long jump and indoor triple jump multiple times it was Brewster's turn to make history — though she didn't wait around until her sixth and final attempt to do it Stepping into the shot put ring for her very first throw of the meet spun twice and rocketed a throw out further than any Big Sky Conference competitor has dared to go The throw was an astounding two feet further than what her own previous conference and school record had been (54-09.¼) set two weeks prior in Long Beach at the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate when she surpassed Cal State Northridge's Beth Burton (1998) the reigning indoor Big Sky champion in the event the highlight of Saturday came on the track in a pair of races Tara Ohlwiler broke the Montana school record last week and ran the second-fastest time in program history on Friday to reach the finals She then smashed her own record on Saturday pulling away from the field early and cruising to a win in 11.53 seconds The time beats her own record and matches Jaeden Wolff The Grizzlies broke another school record in the final event of the night The women’s 4x400-meter relay team of Whitney Morrison and Lily Meskers shattered a 12-year old record by nearly three full seconds The team ran a time of 3:37.75 to move into 18th in the West Region this year the official Possessed Instagram account  – handled by  Becerra  – posted a lengthy tribute to Montana “I just feel like people should know that Brian Montana was a very nice guy,” adding: He was into martial arts and he was an excellent guitar player Brian was always cracking jokes and he was a good person Although we weren’t in touch often and more than a phone call here and there The Brian I know is from when we were still just kids back in the beginning of Possessed He was nothing like what I’m seeing being written about him I think that’s one of the reasons that led to him leaving Possessed He just wasn’t willing to be as dark as we wanted him to be at that time He was obviously going through some struggles and I think this is the time to be respectful towards the Montana family and friends as this is a tragic time for them I’m sure there’s a lot more to this story but that would be up to Brian‘s family to tell or not to tell I know that I still feel this is a great loss and I’m deeply saddened Although there are no comments on that tribute there are several replies to Becerra’s May 2 post on Possessed’s X account (in which he uploaded several images of Montana while commenting: “Rest In Peace Brian #possessed”) “Rest in power!” while another fan responded: “What a legend rip Brian.” You can see those replies – and more – below: Plus, Blabbermouth mentioned that “Possessed shared a comment about the shooting via the band’s Instagram Story early Friday Our sympathies to the Montana family and friends’ above an image of a news article.” READ MORE: 31 Essential Rock + Metal Albums Turning 40 in 2025 Per The Daily Journal the shooting took place on April 28 and resulted from Montana being “involved in a dispute with his neighbor in South San Francisco.” As Loudwire wrote on May 1: “Authorities said it started because Montana was bothered by the neighbor's tree branches and leaves falling in his yard.” The police were dispatched when they received reports that Montana threatened his neighbor with a gun By the time they arrived the situation had escalated and Montana was firing multiple guns at the neighbor's home Montana then fired at the police from his driveway seeking cover between vehicles and landscaping The neighbor was taken to the hospital after sustaining a graze wound during the shootout there was some alcohol involved,” District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said but it’s fortunate that nobody else wasn’t hit or injured more seriously.” Montana's identity was revealed by authorities the following day You can read more about the shooting via the South San Francisco Police Department’s press release During an interview with Voices From the Darkside I was the original guitarist besides [Mike] Torrao so when I joined we were still just a garage band; didn’t even have our first gig yet we bonded more and had a lot more fun with it I left the band because Torrao had a terrible attitude problem and wouldn’t stop ragging at me He was like some senile old lady that just wouldn’t shut up He didn’t think I was evil enough or something He was always ragging on me to wear an upside down crucifix and be satanic Gallery Credit: Chad Childers, Loudwire Montana, who was Possessed's original guitarist, was killed in a police shootout on April 28, 2025.\nRead More This past Friday (May 2), the official Possessed Instagram account  – handled by  Becerra  – posted a lengthy tribute to Montana. Becerra begins, “I just feel like people should know that Brian Montana was a very nice guy,” adding: View this post on Instagram A post shared by POSSESSED OFFICIAL INSTAGRAM (@possessed_official) Rest In Peace Brian #possessed pic.twitter.com/zhczCwlcno Plus, Blabbermouth mentioned that “Possessed shared a comment about the shooting via the band’s Instagram Story early Friday READ MORE: 31 Essential Rock + Metal Albums Turning 40 in 2025 Per The Daily Journal You can read more about the shooting via the South San Francisco Police Department’s press release During an interview with Voices From the Darkside Located in Bozeman, MT For questions or comments contact the Ask Us Desk      D2L/Canvas      Showers and thunderstorms are looking to continue tonight with gusty winds of near 40 mph and occasional lightning Snow levels are looking to fall to around 5000 ft bringing some snow showers through Monday morning Scattered showers continue tomorrow with snow and graupel being possible above 5500 feet Warm and dry conditions are expected to return on Tuesday and last through Friday Unsettled weather will begin once again by the weekend The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big Winning Lucky For Life numbers from May 4 drawing12-26-31-35-43 Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here. Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here. Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers. Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network Where can you buy lottery tickets?Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form. Our News Automation and AI team would love to hear from you. Take this survey and share your thoughts with us. Georgia just proved you don’t need a lunker to land a state record Angler Wesley Daniels tied the state record for Spotted Sunfish with a 12-ounce “stumpknocker” caught on a chunk of shrimp in the Suwannee River—yes While it may not tip the scales like a trophy trout it’s a reminder that state records come in all sizes Just ask Montana anglers: our state record Pumpkinseed weighs a dainty 0.995 pounds and the top Bluegill is just under three pounds These pint-sized powerhouses may not fill your cooler but they can still land you in the record books take a second look—you might just be holding a tiny titan Read more on Montana natives from Montana Grant here… BOZEMAN — As the spring season comes to a close for the Montana State rodeo team the men sit atop the Big Sky Region standings A large part is due to senior standout Wes Shaw "Wes has been the center point of our team the bareback rider is going to get a lot of points for the team," Montana State coach Kyle Whitaker said so he gives us four chances at every rodeo Shaw transferred to Montana State from the College of Southern Idaho last year The support from the community has made the past two seasons special for him "I couldn’t believe what they’re willing to do to help us They sent me down to a couple different clinics to better myself I couldn’t believe what I was expecting to what I actually got." Montana State is very strong in the all around Cole Gerhardt and Holden Atkinson are all among the top three in the region standings The ability to compete together every week pushes the group to be their best "It’s really good to have people that are pushing each other in multiple events and I think that sets us apart from a lot of rodeo teams." "Having everybody that knows what they’re doing in every event it’s fun going at each other and pushing each other farther and farther more than what we thought we could," Shaw said "I take a lot of mental hits and drawing kind of doesn’t help if you’re not drawn good but all in all it’s just I’ve got to go out there and have fun and lay it out there and let God take the wheel from there." Shaw plans to go pro after the season ultimately wraps at the College National Finals Rodeo The college rodeo spring season wrapped up with Championship Saturday at the University of Montana Spring Rodeo in Missoula This week's edition of Sports Extra leads off with feature stories on a couple of the key athletes on the Montana State and Montana teams The episode then goes to the track for stories on one of the best decathletes in the NAIA and some high school standouts A meaningful piece with an important message and a fun feature on Special Olympics athletes close out the show Watch this week's edition of MTN Sports Extra in the video above James Rolin reports on the retail side of the marijuana industry in the Treasure State: A visit to Rocky Mountain Remedies shows how dispensaries manage the legal sale of cannabis products while adhering to strict state regulations When customers enter a cannabis dispensary like Rocky Mountain Remedies they encounter a carefully regulated retail environment designed for both legality and safety "When someone comes in to purchase cannabis in our dispensary it's definitely about legality and safety and making sure you follow the rules so we don't ruin this for everyone," said Roger Paul explaining that every sale is tracked through a government system called "metric" that monitors inventory and transactions "Our point of sale system will actually report that sale to the metric government system and they have to leave with an exit bag," said Paul The dispensary provides customers with special packaging that complies with state regulations Paul recommends specific handling of purchases after leaving the store "I always suggest people put your exit bag in your trunk because if you have it open just a little bit in the front seat or in the back seat you're just going to get yourself in a trouble that you don't need to," said Paul Cannabis products are displayed with detailed information including THC and CBD percentages when in stock State laws govern nearly every aspect of the dispensary operation from packaging and tracking to signage and taxation marijuana retailers provide an important service beyond just selling products: "To me I think dispensaries are key because they keep the control there and then everyone safe." and lots of eager traders come together as collectors gathered for the state's largest expo in Missoula it's been about 3 years," 406 Draft Cards and Collectibles owner Scott Jablonski said Collecting cards takes a lot of money and energy Jablonski is showing his son valuable skills for the business world “Teach him how to sell and purchase and whatnot the duo was showing their collection at the Montana Sports Cards and Collectibles Show “Anybody here that wants to sell everything that they've got that's kind of what we do," Jablonski said With buyers and sellers of all ages taking part in the show Passing on the love of the trade to the next generation is what Jablonski says collecting cards is all about obviously the young kids to come in and see all the cards and stay with the card business for the most part The following is a news release from Frontier Credit Union has entered into an agreement to acquire First Citizens Bank of Butte the wholly-owned subsidiary of Butte Bank Shares marking its first expansion into the Treasure State this strategic move would bring Frontier’s 90-year legacy of member-focused financial services to a new market while honoring First Citizens Bank of Butte’s community banking tradition Frontier Credit Union CEO | Courtesy photo The acquisition would provide First Citizens Bank of Butte customers with access to Frontier’s full suite of financial products and quick online loan applications—all while maintaining a commitment to personalized we’re not just expanding our footprint—we’re extending our mission of helping people build better lives,” said Dan Thurman it’s a dream having this chance to share Frontier with my home state We can’t wait to be a part of the fabric here in Butte and serve this great community.” “This transaction brings tremendous opportunities for our customers and employees,” said First Citizens Bank of Butte CEO “It’s a natural fit—I’m excited our customers will be in the hands of someone who knows what makes Montana special and appreciate the uniqueness of Butte.” The transaction is subject to the approval of bank and credit union regulators and the shareholders of Butte Bank Shares Until the proposed acquisition is finalized both organizations will continue to conduct business as usual First Citizens Bank of Butte customers can expect to hear from their banking team during the transition and the local branch will remain open during this time keeping the personalized banking experience that customers value SUBMIT A CORRECTION We hope you appreciated this story.  A small team of local journalists runs EastIdahoNews.com – not a big business or corporation. 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We sincerely appreciate your consideration. © 2015 - 2025 EastIdahoNews.com LLC University of Montana AthleticsPhoto by: Ryan Brennecke/ University of MoMontana born and raised Montana ’til he dies5/2/2025 8:04:00 PM | Women's Basketball The Missoula Valley Corgis will hold the 2025 Western Montana Corgi Derby this weekend — The Missoula Valley Corgis will hold the 2025 Western Montana Corgi Derby this weekend Director Anna Adams stopped by NBC Montana Today on Friday along with last year's champion "We are not accepting any more registrations," Adams said and we are looking forward to having people come out and just watch Co-director Rachel Kamura said the event is special because the dogs are high energy "A lot of people don't realize how athletic corgis are," Kamura said "The ball is her baby," Kamura said "We have to hide it from her and at the finish line someone will pull it out and this girl is ready to race." Dogs will race in the following categories: Seniors Admission is $5 for adults or $10 for a family or group of three Montana's fire season is off to an unexpected early start after a major fire erupts at the north end of the Big Hole Valley Immediate access to the area on the south side of the Big Hole River was difficult because of high water and snowmelt on the river      -The blaze is adjacent to two other major burns that happened in 2021 READ MORE: Summer Could Be Dangerous on This Popular River Some Montana Towns Still Worried About Border Crossings We're hearing much more about the drop in illegal border crossings recently. But Jason Laird reports communities along the HiLine are still worried where more than 20 people were caught in two vans during an early morning attempt Helena Woman Killed in Late-Night ATV Crash Montana Highway Patrol investigators say speed and alcohol may have all been factors in an ATV crash that killed a 53-year-old Helena woman over the weekend Troopers say the victim was driving the Polaris side-by-side on Stemple Pass Road near Canyon Creek when she lost control going around a curve catching a tire and then going into a roll      -The victim wasn't restrained and was thrown from the vehicle and killed The Montana Club in Helena, not to be confused with the chain of restaurants Now, the Montana Free Press reports the club is reopening under new ownership And additional areas of the club are coming back online as well with owner Ajitpal Pannu saying the club will offer limited memberships giving patrons an updated chance to experience the historic club the "way it used to be." The Montana Club was started in 1885 by a group of 50 leading men in Helena, including bankers, attorneys, politicians (of course, in Helena), as well as leaders in mining, ranching, and timber. It was touted as the "longest-continuously open private club" between Seattle and Minneapolis before it was reopened as a cooperative in 2018 The current building was constructed in 1905 Gallery Credit: mwolfe Montana's fire season kicks off early with the Sawlog Fire burning in the Big Hole Valley.\nRead More Montana's fire season is off to an unexpected early start after a major fire erupts at the north end of the Big Hole Valley READ MORE: Summer Could Be Dangerous on This Popular River We're hearing much more about the drop in illegal border crossings recently. But Jason Laird reports communities along the HiLine are still worried Montana Highway Patrol investigators say speed Troopers say the victim was driving the Polaris side-by-side on Stemple Pass Road near Canyon Creek when she lost control going around a curve The Montana Club in Helena, not to be confused with the chain of restaurants Now, the Montana Free Press reports the club is reopening under new ownership The Montana Club was started in 1885 by a group of 50 leading men in Helena, including bankers, attorneys, politicians (of course, in Helena), as well as leaders in mining, ranching, and timber. It was touted as the "longest-continuously open private club" between Seattle and Minneapolis Photos from the University of Montana Spring Rodeo at the Missoula County Fairgrounds on May 2-3 Vocalist/bassist Jeff Becerra of pioneering death metallers POSSESSED has commented on the passing of the band's former guitarist Brian Montana According to a press release from the South San Francisco Police Department "South San Francisco Police Department received a 911 call [on Monday] regarding an active disturbance where a suspect was brandishing a firearm at a neighbor on the 300 block of Arroyo Drive Officers began arriving on scene at 5:55 pm and immediately requested additional units because the suspect with the firearm was now actively shooting into an occupied residence The suspect then re-positioned himself into a driveway of that neighboring residence and concealed his location behind parked vehicles while still armed the suspect armed himself with three different types of firearms (handgun and rifle) and fired at officers from different locations within the driveway while seeking cover and concealment using both vehicles in the driveway and landscaping Officers used police vehicles as cover from the barrage of gunfire and were able to return fire effectively preventing him from continued shooting at officers and nearby residences "Once the suspect was confirmed he was no longer a threat to officers an approach to take him into custody was made and he was found to be non-responsive Life saving measures were performed and medical personnel were called to the scene The suspect succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene "One resident from the home that the suspect was shooting at sustained a non-life threatening injury and was transported to a local trauma hospital Nearby residences were also checked and officers confirmed no one else was injured No officers were injured during this critical incident." A witness told CBS News about the incident: "My understanding is they had a dispute over a tree that was hanging A dispute over a tree that one of them cut back which is his right …and then somebody tried to settle it with a gun." The South San Francisco Police Department said it will release more information POSSESSED shared a comment about the shooting via the band's Instagram Story early Friday Our sympathies to the Montana family and friends," above an image of a news article The band also posted a message that read "Rest In Peace Brian Montana" via Instagram Story on Wednesday A longer tribute to Montana from Becerra via the official POSSESSED account added: " I just feel like people should know that Brian Montana was a very nice guy Although we weren't in touch often and more than a phone call here and there The Brian I know is from when we were still just kids back in the beginning of POSSESSED He was nothing like what I'm seeing being written about him I think that's one of the reasons that led to him leaving POSSESSED He just wasn't willing to be as dark as we wanted him to be at that time Jeff continued: "He was obviously going through some struggles and I think this is the time to be respectful towards the Montana family and friends as this is a tragic time for them "I'm sure there’s a lot more to this story but that would be up to Brian's family to tell or not to tell I know that I still feel this is a great loss and I'm deeply saddened." Montana joined POSSESSED after answering a newspaper ad placed by founding members Mike Torrao and Mike Sus He played on the band's 1984 demo titled "Death Metal" which is credited with giving the genre its name Montana left POSSESSED shortly after the demo's release and was replaced by future PRIMUS guitarist Larry LaLonde "I left the band because Torrao had a terrible attitude problem and wouldn't stop ragging at me," Montana said in an interview with Voices From The Darkside "He was like some senile old lady that just wouldn't shut up He didn't think I was evil enough or something He was always ragging on me to wear an upside-down crucifix and be satanic." leaving behind a short but highly influential legacy most notably the band's 1985 "Seven Churches" debut widely considered to be the first-ever death metal album Internal tensions after the release of 1987's "The Eyes Of Horror" EP led to the band's dissolution with LaLonde joining Bay Area tech-thrashers BLIND ILLUSION guitarist Mike Torrao and drummer Mike Sus each going separate directions Becerra was the victim of a failed armed robbery attempt subsequently leaving him paralyzed from the chest down and sending him into a spiral of drug and alcohol abuse POSSESSED was reactivated by Torrao in 1990 with a completely different lineup but only released two demos before dissolving in 1993 Becerra then reformed POSSESSED in 2007 with his own lineup which released its first studio album in 33 years SSFPD responded to a 911 call on the 300 block of.. Posted by South San Francisco Police Department on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 A post shared by POSSESSED OFFICIAL INSTAGRAM (@possessed_official) MTN News presents "Positively Montana" - featuring uplifting stories of good people and good things across Montana Watch the video below for this week's edition Danny Tenenbaum Something big is brewing in Big Sky Country: an ongoing bipartisan revolution in housing policy.  In 2023 Montana passed an ambitious package of land use reforms making it easier for the state to meet its growing demand for housing This year the legislature’s cross-partisan pro-housing caucus kept its foot on the gas and passed an even more ambitious package of changes to the rules that have contributed to the state’s housing shortage.  The most significant reforms won’t take effect until 2026 but other states would do well to study Montana’s strategy for success.  House Bill 492 sets a high bar for other states pursuing parking reform any home smaller than 1,200 square feet in Montana’s ten largest cities will be exempt from costly local parking mandates Because more than 80 percent of apartments and condos in the United States are already smaller than 1,200 square feet this effectively means that multifamily buildings in those cities will no longer be required to have any particular number of off-street parking spaces And it strikes down excessive parking mandates in many smaller cities giving property owners there almost as much flexibility over how many parking spaces they need.  HB 492 originally set limits on parking mandates for other commercial uses as well While these were removed from the bill in committee legislators indicated they’d like to reintroduce the idea in a future legislative session.  Where HB 492 concerns what builders can do on the ground, Senate Bill 243 The bill overrides local height restrictions to allow buildings up to six stories in downtown (“Heavy commercial” zones are not defined in the bill; however the sponsor’s floor speeches indicate it’s where “commercial uses cluster” and not “standalone corner stores in the middle of a single-family neighborhood.”)  Several narrower bills tackle other obstacles to housing construction.  this year’s pro-housing legislation advanced without much fanfare Intraparty feuds and a large number of competing property tax reduction schemes took up attention in Helena Yet with such a broad reform of municipal parking mandates the impact of this year’s package could be significantly larger.  What can pro-housing lawmakers in other states learn from the Treasure State?  During two legislative sessions now—note that the Montana legislature only meets every other year—a bipartisan group of Montana lawmakers shepherded an array of bills through the legislative process with support from a diverse pro-housing coalition that included environmental organizations nearly all the bills in this legislative session originated as recommendations from a housing task force set up by Republican Gov consider giving cities time to adjust to the still-novel concept of statewide zoning reforms Montana’s most significant reforms were amended to go into effect after a year for cities to prepare This concession was key to moving bills out of committees that are usually hesitant to infringe upon “local control.”  Gianforte has consistently supported pro-housing reforms during his five years in office and these reforms originated from his task force’s recommendations Future legislatures may want to limit commercial parking mandates establish permitting “shot clocks” that speed up project approvals and begin collecting data on the speed and volume of local government permitting.  No legal reform will instantly end a housing shortage that was decades in the making Collecting evidence and seeing what works will be a task for policymakers in Montana and beyond.  Danny Tenenbaum is a Contributor with Sightline Institute working on housing and land use policy in his home state of Montana Whatcom County Eyes a Prime Election Upgrade sustainable communities by allowing more homes Sign up for the Housing + Cities newsletter Sightline Institute is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and does not support or oppose any candidate or political party Find the author's contact information on our staff page to reach out to them, or send a message to editor@sightline.org nonprofit research and analysis to support strong communities Instagram Contact Us Climate + Energy Democracy + Elections Farms + Forests Housing + Cities Press Releases News Coverage Funding + Financials Ways to Support Us Our People Careers Contact Us Ⓒ 2025 Sightline Institute • All Rights Reserved Site Policies We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences This website uses social media to collect anonymous information such as which platform are our users coming from Keeping this cookie enabled helps us better reach our audiences More information about our Site Policy Montana State track and field will turn the corner towards the home straightaway of their season this weekend at the Bengal Invitational in Pocatello the Bobcats head to the Gem State on Friday for a two-day meet hosted at Davis Field The penultimate meet of the regular season pits the Cats against host Idaho State and Montana in what will be the final tune-up for many competing athletes before the 2025 Big Sky Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Sacramento begin May 14-17 "It has been a really good meet for us over the last three years that we've gone there," head coach Lyle Weese said "There are trials and finals in the sprint events which is a good preview for the conference meet There tend to be a good number of teams that are good in the jumps so it's a bit of a conference preview for us in many ways between the level of competition and the trials and finals in the sprints It's kind of a run-through for the sprints Action begins with the women's hammer on Friday at 1 p.m. with track events getting underway at 3 p.m A full meet schedule can be viewed here.  Only the main distance squad will hang back in Bozeman to train with all other event groups a full-go on Friday in Pocatello under sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 60s In their last three weekends of competition Montana State has set nine new school records including seven on the women's side (shot put 4x400 meter relay) and two on the men's side (4x100 meter relay "It's been impressive that the success has been across all of the event groups," Weese said "It seems like all of the event groups for both men and women are putting up some great marks and great performances the most exciting thing is that we're going to be heading into conference championships and then into NCAA regionals and beyond with individuals that are competitive across the entire array of events."  the Cats' distance squad turned in a handful program all-time top ten marks at the Payton Jordan Invitational while the rest of the team competed at the Montana Open in Missoula 3 in the USTFCCCA Week Five Mountain Region Rankings released on Monday The Bobcat men still own the top-ranked 3,000 meter steeplechase group in the country according to the USTFCCCA Event Squad rankings while ranking No Following the Bengal Invitational this weekend in Pocatello the Bobcats wrap up the regular season with the Tom Gage Invite the following Friday in Bozeman at the Bobcat Track & Field Complex Admission is free for the lone outdoor home meet of the season Thanks for visiting ! The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Montana Democratic Minority Leader Sen. Pat Flowers, left, speaks with Republican Sen. Josh Kassmier during a committee meeting at the state Capitol, April 16, 2025, in Helena, Mont. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown) The Montana Senate debates a bill during transmittal week in the state Capitol, March 5, 2025, in Helena, Mont. (Thom Bridge/Independent Record via AP) Republican state Senate President Matt Regier speaks during an interview in his office at the state Capitol, April 16, 2025, in Helena, Mont. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown) Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte speaks at a press event hosted by Americans for Prosperity championing tax cuts on the steps of the state Capitol on March 28, 2025, in Helena, Mont. (Thom Bridge/Independent Record via AP) Montana Democratic Minority Leader Sen. Pat Flowers speaks at a news conference as state Rep. Katie Sullivan listens, at the state Capitol, April 15, 2025, in Helena, Mont. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown) HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Following Montana Republicans’ dominance in the fall election, a group of GOP lawmakers kicked off the 2025 Legislature with an unexpected move: ceding power to Democrats. The partnership seemed to defy divisions between America’s two major political parties that have played out in Washington, D.C., and in many statehouses. But it may prove fleeting if elections in the Big Sky State continue mirroring national trends that have hardened party lines. Montana’s conservative and moderate Republicans alike express allegiance to President Donald Trump. Lawmakers meet for just a few months every two years inside Montana’s Capitol, perched on a hill overlooking Helena, a city of about 35,000 people founded during an 1864 gold rush. It remains a true citizen legislature, opening the playing field for compromise, said political analyst Jeremy Johnson. “Montana’s becoming an outlier on how a state legislature is operating with this sort of dynamic,” said Johnson, an associate professor at Carroll College. As lawmakers wrapped up the session Wednesday, GOP legislative leaders went home frustrated at their failure to remodel the state’s judiciary, rein in spending or fix rising property taxes. Republican Sen. Barry Usher, a GOP whip, said the majority got “steamrolled” during the 85-day session. Republican Senate President Matt Regier repeatedly called the turn of events “weird.” “There’s always politics. You’re jockeying for control,” Regier said in an interview. “But I think at the end of the day, what’s weird about it is that I think the conservative faction has been largely left out of conversations, left out of a seat at the table.” Republican leaders tried to shame party members they viewed as defectors, censuring nine senators in February. In April, the party declared it would no longer recognize those lawmakers as Republicans and would stop funding or otherwise supporting their campaigns. The senators were unbowed and have continued to side with Democrats on key votes. “Really all we did is make sure everybody was treated fairly,” said Sen. Josh Kassmier, one of the nine lawmakers. They were not alone in bucking party leadership: The defeat of Republican proposals to make Montana’s judicial system more partisan came in the state House, where GOP moderates hold sway. Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers said Montana’s embrace of libertarianism — as seen in its aversion to big government and its tradition of gun ownership — transcends party lines. Montanans “don’t want just hyperpartisan battles where there are winners and losers, because then there are winners and losers among our citizens too,” Flowers said. Nationwide, Republicans control both legislative chambers in 27 states, versus 17 for Democrats. Republicans have held more statehouse seats and chambers than Democrats since 2002, and the political lines have become more static in the last several election cycles with fewer chambers flipping control, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. But in states with partisan control, factions often emerge. Until recently, Montana had a tradition of “ticket splitting” — electing a mix of Democrats and Republicans to higher office. That forced state lawmakers to work together out of necessity. “Every legislative session I’ve asked myself, ‘Are we going to see this bipartisan effort, particularly without having a Democratic governor anymore?’” said Johnson, referring to former Gov. Steve Bullock, who left office in 2021 after serving two terms. “And, so far, the answer is yes. You have this group that keeps reemerging. I don’t know how much longer it will keep happening that way.” University of Montana AthleticsTuesday, May 6Greeley, Colo.1:30 PMMontana Photo by: Tommy Martino/University of MontanaGrizzlies head to Greeley for Big Sky Championship5/2/2025 10:40:00 AM | Softball University of Montana AthleticsPhoto by: Ella Palulis/University of MontanaGriz off to Pocatello for Bengal Invitational5/1/2025 3:14:00 PM | Men's Track and Field Texas — The Montana men’s tennis team’s dream run came to a close on Saturday in the first round of the NCAA tournament as No 3 Texas defeated the Griz 4-0 at the Texas Tennis Center The Big Sky champion Grizzlies end their season with a school record 19 wins at 19-7 overall after making the program’s second appearance in the national tourney The Longhorns advance to the round of 32 and will face Cornell on Sunday to see who advances to the round of 16 Montana had the chance to take small victories in the match but was generally overpowered by the third-ranked Longhorns 1 player in the nation and the best overall UTR in the nation Team captain Fernando Perez and his doubles partner Baltazar Wiger-Nordas were tied 15-15 at five-all in the No 1 doubles match and were two games away from winning the set over UT’s No The Grizzly duo didn’t get the chance to finish their match and take the upset as Texas took quick wins on courts two and three to claim the doubles point Montana freshman Moritz Lesjak was on pace to become the first player in Big Sky Conference history to win a match in the NCAA tournament when he also ran out of time for an upset Lesjak beat Evan Burnett 6-2 in the first set and was up 3-1 in the second when Texas finished its third win in singles to clinch the overall dual 4-0 Montana completes the year with one of the most historic seasons in program history The Griz won just the program’s second Big Sky tournament title to advance to the NCAA tournament under Big Sky coach of the year Jason Brown earning three wins at the Big Sky tourney to advance to nationals and capping the year with five wins in their last six matches The Griz are expected to return the bulk of the roster next season and flows to our local waters and across the state In-flow from Lake Koocanusa:  approximately 10,000cfs Water temperature at stilling basin below Libby Dam: approximately 39 degrees Runoff has started and discharge from Libby Dam has increased  It will be holding steady at 10,500cfs until later this month  That means conditions will still be favorable depending on daily temperatures  It’s sunny and lovely but that also means snowmelt throughout the day and possibly even through the night  Keep an eye on tributaries and don’t be afraid of a little color  You’ll know when it’s not fishable Water temps are still chilly so there’s no need to hit the water early  Most of the action is from 10:00 am to about 5:00 pm  Pat’s rubber legged stoneflies in coffee color and size 16 or 18 mayfly beadheads will get the job done  Four to five feet to indicator with a one BB has been the rig of choice for the crew the last few days Streamer fishing is best bet if you’re looking for one solid fish.  Again get the fly down.  Fish it slowly and thump and pulse like it’s a wounded minnow.  If you get a pull stop it.  Let it sink.  Then pulse it again  While not as productive as nymphing throughout the day pulling junk will move a nicer fish or two This time of year fish will be found in slower currents and soft runs.  Skip fast water for the most part.  Concentrate efforts on walking speed or slower unless you see bugs coming out of faster current Dry fly action has been pretty good in the afternoons March browns and caddis are coming off on both upper and lower river during afternoons  Fish are ready to eat and rising affirmatively when bugs are hatching  This time of year they’re generally going to be grabby but the water is slick and low so getting a good drift is still necessary hatches can be sparse so fish will be moving around in runs  Don’t assume you’ve had a refusal if you don’t move a rising fish on first cast  The same fish will rise again the near vicinity The Boston Red Sox have been steadily improving over the last couple weeks  Bats are finally contributing and we’re moving men around the bases  Pitching led by Garrett Crochet has been perfectly good  It’s still early and we’ve shown moments of greatness especially with pitching  So long as the arms stay healthy we’re definitely competitive on the mound  Trevor Story is healthy for the first time since July of last year and hitting the ball well and with Bregman next to him at third they make a tight left side infield   It’s early and this team is exciting