A Shelby woman with prior immigration convictions received just three months in prison for harboring undocumented immigrants across three Montana counties. The case involved multiple traffic stops and revealed a pattern of transporting people from Canada.
www.westernmt.news/2025/12/11/r...
Montana declares disaster as atmospheric river brings record rainfall to northwestern counties. 6.5 inches fell in 24 hours, washing out bridges and closing major highways. Multiple communities affected as rivers reach flood stage.
www.westernmt.news/2025/12/11/r...
Two Mexican men sentenced to 39 days after November traffic stop near Malta, where Highway 191 from Canada intersects Highway 2—a key corridor for north-south traffic from the international border. Part of Operation Take Back America nationwide initiative.
www.westernmt.news/2025/12/11/t...
$800,000 to build a bridge. $800,000 to remove it. Less than 10 years between. Travis Mateer warned about the "bridge to nowhere" in 2019. Now Missoula officials want to create what one citizen called a pipeline of hole digging and filling projects.
www.westernmt.news/2025/12/11/m...
Governor Gianforte donated a quarter of his annual salary to the NeighborWorks Great Falls High School House Program, which has built 48 affordable homes while training students in construction skills since 1998.
www.westernmt.news/2025/12/10/g...
A Mexican man with eight prior deportations has been sentenced in Montana federal court for his second felony illegal reentry conviction, marking one of the most extensive removal histories in recent federal immigration cases in the state.
www.westernmt.news/2025/12/10/m...
A Billings man has been convicted of sexually assaulting a child on the Crow Indian Reservation in 2019. Matthew Paul Stopsatprettyplaces, 49, faces up to life in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for April 2026.
www.westernmt.news/2025/12/10/s...
The House has passed legislation reauthorizing the Secure Rural Schools program, delivering $48 million in backpay to 32 Montana counties. The bipartisan measure extends funding through 2026 for schools, roads and public safety.
www.westernmt.news/2025/12/10/h...
Montana AG Knudsen leads GOP attorneys general calling for Virginia AG-elect Jones to be denied membership to national organizations following disturbing 2022 text messages fantasizing about violence against political opponents and their children.
www.westernmt.news/2025/12/10/k...
Four years after eliminating a green roof from the library design to save money, Missoula is spending $1.25M to add it back—approved just weeks after the city adopted a budget with a $2.5M deficit.
www.westernmt.news/2025/12/09/m...
Montana’s first openly gay judge rules denial of “nonbinary” drivers license violated state constitution's equal protection guarantee.
www.westernmt.news/2025/12/08/j...
OPINION: Instead of stewarding our natural resources to provide prosperity, the Treasure State has locked them away behind red tape, activist lawsuits, and federal micromanagement, writes HD69 candidate Trevor Walter.
www.westernmt.news/2025/12/08/m...
A Texas man has pleaded guilty to buying eagles killed in a massive poaching operation on the Flathead Indian Reservation that resulted in approximately 3,600 bird deaths. The illegal trafficking ring used PayPal to conduct transactions across state lines.
www.westernmt.news/2025/12/05/t...
Montana approved $39 million in federal tax credits for 160 apartments across five communities—averaging $247,000 per unit. Taxpayers are financing a substantial portion of development costs through the credits.
www.westernmt.news/2025/12/04/m...
A Belgrade woman has pleaded guilty to harboring 12 illegal aliens and operating a fake ID document business from her residence. Eustolia Casarreal-Morales faces up to 10 years in prison and significant fines at sentencing in April 2026.
www.westernmt.news/2025/12/04/b...
Chick-fil-A Missoula is hosting a Community Care Event on Friday, December 5. Mobile app orders will direct 15 percent of sales to Bitterroot Mommy & Me, supporting free diaper distribution and pregnancy support services for local families.
www.westernmt.news/2025/12/03/c...
Montana hit a new record with over 70,000 business registrations in 2025, but the Secretary of State won't reveal how many are actually based in the state or contributing to the local economy.
www.westernmt.news/2025/12/03/m...
OPINION: Thomas Jefferson warned us: judges are not philosopher-kings above politics. Montana's CI-132 would enshrine a dangerous lie into our constitution. The money tells the real story.
www.westernmt.news/2025/12/03/t...
Senator Daines is pushing to save 37 stalled hydropower projects nationwide, including Montana's Gordon Butte facility. The bipartisan bill would extend construction deadlines and protect $6.5 billion in energy investment before year-end.
www.westernmt.news/2025/12/01/d...
OPINION: After three years inside Montana's veteran support system, one military wife discovered a painful gap: the public narrative about veteran care does not match the reality families are living. Her story demands honesty.
www.westernmt.news/2025/12/01/t...
Six Fairfield High School students are now registered officials with the Montana Officials Association, helping solve a statewide referee shortage while developing crucial leadership skills. Meet the teens keeping games on the court.
www.westernmt.news/2025/11/28/f...
DHS calls Missoula sexual assault case example of failed vetting as Afghan man fights deportation four years after arrest
www.westernmt.news/2025/12/01/d...
Montana Family Foundation is building a multi-million dollar policy hub three blocks from the Capitol. The new facility will house policy staff, Christian attorneys, and a nonprofit incubator in its first vertically integrated center.
www.westernmt.news/2025/12/01/m...
Two Box Elder men pleaded not guilty Monday to federal murder charges stemming from a July 29 armed robbery attempt on Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation that left one person dead. Both face potential life sentences if convicted.
www.westernmt.news/2025/11/26/t...
A second downtown gun incident in 10 days has reignited concerns in Missoula about public safety and how officials share crime information with residents. The latest incident raises questions about mugshot transparency.
www.westernmt.news/2025/11/26/t...
Montana veteran and attorney Katie Verderber has been selected to represent Team USA in wheelchair curling at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Italy. The Valier native will make her Paralympic debut competing for America.
www.westernmt.news/2025/11/26/m...
Montana leads 27 states asking the Supreme Court to overturn Hawaii's gun carry ban. The law flips the traditional default rule, requiring explicit permission to carry firearms on private property. A coalition of AGs argues it violates Second Amendment rights.
www.westernmt.news/2025/11/25/m...
Starting Jan. 1, 2026, Glacier and Yellowstone will charge international visitors an additional $100 per person, prioritizing American families. The new policy affects 11 of the nation's most visited parks.
www.westernmt.news/2025/11/25/g...
Montana's Missoula and Billings courts now require disclosure when AI is used in legal filings. The move raises questions about access to justice for self-represented litigants navigating Montana's court system.
www.westernmt.news/2025/11/25/m...
