Montana Morning Headlines: Wednesday, October 15, 2025

WESTERN MONTANA — Here's a look at Western Montana's top stories for Wednesday. On Tuesday, 29-year-old Michael Cain appeared in Missoula County District Court for felony hate crime charges. Accused of assaulting a man over his Star of David...

Bozeman Health and Billings Clinic join forces to expand local care

BOZEMAN, Mont. – Bozeman Health and Billings Clinic have announced a partnership aimed at expanding healthcare access in west Bozeman. The two healthcare systems, both based in Montana, will share equal ownership of undeveloped land at the...

BNSF appeals $8M asbestos judgment in Montana contamination case

MISSOULA — Decades after asbestos contamination was discovered in Libby, Montana, families and courts are still grappling with the health impacts. On Tuesday, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals heard a case, Wells & Walder vs. BNSF, that...

State land board approves 53,000-acre northwest Montana conservation easement

The Montana Land Board voted 4-1 to approve a conservation easement across a more than 50,000-acre swath of land spanning three counties in northwest Montana, permanently providing public access and protecting wildlife habitat. Phase Two of the...

United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry advances the Fix Our Forests Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry on Tuesday advanced the Fix Our Forests Act, a significant step in federal wildfire policy aimed at combating wildfires and restoring forest health. The bipartisan...

Logan Health Shelby Receives Cardiac Recognition Award

Logan Health Shelby was recognized recently with the Cardiac Recognition Award, which is sponsored by the Cardiovascular Health Program within the state health department. The Recognition Award singles out critical access hospitals who demonstrate...

Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame announces 2026 Inductees

The Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame & Western Heritage Center (MCHF & WHC) announces their 18th class of inductions into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame. The inductees were chosen from a field of candidates nominated by the general public. Inductees...

Idaho universities propose hundreds of new state-supported medical school seats

Lawmakers this year set a goal to subsidize tuition for 30 additional medical school students annually, an effort to ease state’s doctor shortage. But university leaders want to go well beyond that. On Monday, medical education administrators from...

Eric and Kate Morrisett named Montana 4-H Volunteers of the Year

Eric and Kate Morrisett of Cut Bank, Mont. received the 2025 District 3 Volunteer of the Year and the Montana State Volunteer of the Year award at the recent state Volunteer Institute in Billings, Mont. Together, Eric and Kate Morrisett are an...

Town Pump working to combat hunger in Montana

The Town Pump Charitable Foundation is providing more than $2 million in grants this fall to combat hunger in Montana. The Foundation is matching $1.2 million to help raise $4 million during its annual “Help Those in Need” fundraising campaign for...

How Dixie Can Be The Perfect Family Companion In Montana

Imagine a dog who’s both your calm couch companion and the life of the party on mountain hikes—Dixie is just that! MEET DIXIE It was another Take Me Home Tuesday at the radio stations with the Humane Society of Western Montana, presented by our...

Can Alcohol Really Help A Cold? Montanans Sure Think So

Before you know it, cold and flu will be rearing their ugly heads in Big Sky Country. There are a lot of medicines you can run to the store and get. Or maybe, just try opening the liquor cabinet. In Montana, Home Remedies For Cold And Flu...

Why two Montana asbestos victims may never receive an $8 million judgment

Long before she joined a major legal case for asbestos victims, Joyce Walder had a bold streak, according to her sister, Judith Hemphill. On a recent Monday in October, walking through the forests of northwest Montana, Hemphill recalled how she...

From Arlington Ingenuity to National Impact: How the Le Brothers and Luraco Turned a Local Success Story into a Wellness Movement

ARLINGTON, Texas, Oct. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- What began as a humble family dream has become a national wellness movement. When the Le family arrived in Arlington from Vietnam in 1995, they carried little more than determination and hope. Their...

No criminal charges filed in Meagher County teen shooting death

MISSOULA, Mont. — Meagher County Attorney Burt Hurwitz said he will not pursue criminal charges related to the death of a 16-year-old boy in Meagher County on Oct. 29. The decision follows a comprehensive investigation conducted by the Montana...

How a Montana sawmill is adapting to industry changes

CLANCY — Healthy forests depend on a strong forest products industry. Sawmills help support thousands of Montana jobs, reduce wildfire risks, and provide a renewable resource. Despite recent mill closures in Missoula and Seeley Lake, Marks Lumber...

Great Falls mother has concerns about police handling of mental health crises

GREAT FALLS — A Great Falls mother is appealing for change after her deaf son was hurt during what she described as a mental health crisis gone bad. Trudy Fisher, an advocate for the deaf community, says that her deaf son Jeremy, who suffers from...

ZooMontana receives $500,000 gift for Animal Health Center

BILLINGS, Mont. — A gift given to ZooMontana will be matching donations for the Animal Health Center through the end of the year or until $500,000 is raised. The gift was made in honor of Sue Bentley, a long-time guest and friend of ZooMontana....

Why Montanans Are Curious About The New Coca-Cola Flavor

My kid is a BIG fan of the "Mexican Coke." You know, the Coke in the glass bottles? Not because of the bottle. But because he can taste the difference in REAL sugar. Well, now, fans of "Mexican Coke" are getting excited over what some locals are...

Under the Big Sky Festival Announces Zach Top, Chris Stapleton, and Cody Jinks as 2026 Headliners

The most popular festival in the Americana and outlaw country music scene is Whitefish, Montana’s Under the Big Sky Festival. In years prior, the festival has entertained Americana, bluegrass, country, indie, alternative, and rock fans with...