The City of Kalispell voted unanimously Oct. 20 to authorize the transfer of the historic Central School property to the Northwest Montana History Museum, subject to eight conditions including reversion if the property is used for purposes other than a historic museum.

The Access and Functional Needs (AFN) subcommittee and Missoula Public Health reported recent meetings and topics including the state G197 ICS AFN class, the brain-health initiative, an uptick in vector-borne disease (West Nile) and a Rocky Mountain spotted fever fatality, increased testing for HIV/hepatitis C, a strep A investigation with CDC, and

Panelist Rachel Klein described how families and local station life carried the Forest Service mission and urged action to preserve mid‑ and late‑20th century records and archives.

Panel historian Donna Sinclair described how environmental and civil‑rights laws, targeted hiring and internal civil‑rights programs changed the Forest Service workforce from the 1960s through the 1990s.

After an 18-month process and more than 1,200 public participants, the commission approved a resolution of intent to replace the 2019 growth policy with a 2025 land use plan and set a public hearing for Nov. 17, 2025.

A panel in Missoula traced 120 years of the U.S. Forest Service and said the agency’s durability comes from its employees, evolving mission and local partnerships rather than a single policy or leader.

At a Missoula event, three co-authors described how private conservation easements and partnerships have protected about 6 million acres across Montana since 1970, highlighting the Blackfoot and Rattlesnake watersheds, tribal contributions, and recurring legislative challenges to easement permanence.

James Killen warned that current national political movements threatening the administrative state differ from past regional 'sagebrush' rebellions and could undercut federal agencies' capacity to manage public lands.

The Missoula City Council on Oct. 20 unanimously approved its consent agenda, which included approval of two accounts-payable batches, a $5.514 million sewer revenue bond linked to the DNRC State Revolving Fund, professional contracts (GGLO, ImageTrend), a boundary amendment removing the Burns Addition from the city limits, and an amendment to city

On Oct. 20, 2025, the Missoula City Council approved a phase development review and phasing-plan amendment for Riverfront Trails Subdivision phases 1b and 2, adding conditions tied to water-rights transfer and irrigation restrictions after staff reported the city lacks sufficient water rights to serve the project.

A new local analysis of the Just Home project finds a cyclical link between homelessness and justice involvement in Missoula County, highlights disproportionate impacts on Native American residents and transition-age youth, and points to permanent supportive housing such as Blue Heron Place as a promising intervention.

City staff presented a draft zoning framework that implements the Missoula 2045 land use plan, proposing fewer zone types, expanded housing options, a floor-area-ratio tool, neighborhood commercial in residential areas and elimination of residential minimum parking. The public comment period runs through mid-November, with planning-board and city-c

The council conditionally approved annexation of roughly 54 acres east of Grand Avenue and adopted a planned neighborhood development zone mix for the site; annexation passed 10–1 and the zone change and ward boundary ordinance passed on first reading.

Council unanimously directed staff to schedule work-session time to (1) clarify timing for traffic impact study (TIS) submittal and (2) begin evaluating a citywide traffic impact fee system to replace the current per-project TIS/exaction approach.

The City Council approved $1,545,000 in HOME and CDBG funding to support the 101-unit LB Lofts affordable housing project in the Billings Heights, with one councilor recusing from the vote.

Airport consultant urged the board to apply for a Montana Aeronautics grant to buy a $370,000 plow and build a $700,000 storage building; the board discussed timing, funding and operational trade-offs and decided not to move forward immediately.

The Helena City Commission reviewed a recruitment plan from Communication Management Services (CMS) after City Manager Burton announced a year-end retirement. CMS proposed a roughly 12-week timeline, a higher salary range and town-hall style engagement; several commissioners and community speakers urged additional community input and concerns about

The council approved annexation of roughly 54 acres (Annexation 2504) and adopted Zone Change 1070 to a Planned Neighborhood Development (PND) mix including CMU‑1, NX‑1, N‑1 and P‑1 zoning. Council approved annexation 10–1; the subsequent zone change and a related ward boundary ordinance passed. Council and staff flagged a 20‑foot P‑1 buffer strip;

The Billings City Council unanimously approved $1,545,000 in federal HOME and CDBG funding to help fill a financing gap for LB Lofts, a 101-unit affordable development in the Billings Heights. One council member recused; council discussed unit mix, stored modular “pods,” timelines and risk.

Residents of Tradewy Village in Missoula say Oakwood Properties raised lot rents sharply after buying the park and that a newly formed tenants union has won a partial rollback and pushed the owner to do maintenance.

Riley Pavlich of the Bail Project said her office on the Flathead Reservation has paid bail for more than 300 people, reported high court-return rates, and highlighted racial disparities in Montana incarceration cited in a 2021 Department of Corrections report.

At a University of Montana lecture, researcher Ian Grimshaw summarized the 20-year campaign to remove four dams on the Klamath River, describing the project’s history, legal agreements, expected environmental effects and remaining concerns about sediment, access and long-term recovery for salmon and local communities.

Commission approves $38,250 nursing contract and establishes Board of Health mission statement.

Commissioners discuss applying for BUILD grant to fund Winston North highway project.

Commissioners debate responding to Montana's RFI for proposed women's prison in Butte.